Etsy character limits (2026)
Every limit Etsy publishes for listing and shop text, in one table. Each number links to the official Etsy Help article or the Etsy Open API v3 reference it comes from. All sources checked October 6, 2026.
All Etsy limits, with sources
Limits are what Etsy states today. Etsy changes its forms from time to time, so check the linked page before a large catalogue edit.
| Field | Limit | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listing title | 140 characters | Etsy suggests fewer than 15 words. The Open API v3 reference adds that %, :, & and + can each be used only once in a title. | Checked October 6, 2026 |
| Tags | 13 tags, 20 characters each | Letters, numbers and spaces. Apostrophes and hyphens work inside words and phrases, but a tag cannot start with them. | Checked October 6, 2026 |
| Photo alt text | 250 characters | Etsy Help asks you to keep the description to 250 characters. The Open API v3 reference lists 500 characters as the maximum for alt text sent through the API. | Checked October 6, 2026 |
| Listing styles | 2 styles, 45 characters each | Documented in the Open API v3 reference. Letters, numbers and spaces only. | Checked October 6, 2026 |
| Shop name | 20 characters | No spaces or punctuation; capital letters can separate words. After your shop opens you can change the name up to 5 times before Etsy Support has to approve it. | Checked October 6, 2026 |
| Shop title | 55 characters | The short heading on your shop homepage. Etsy names it as one of the shop fields that affect SEO. | Checked October 6, 2026 |
| About your shop (story) | 5,000 characters | The story text in your shop's About section. | Checked October 6, 2026 |
| Shop section name | 24 characters | Up to 20 custom sections, plus the default All items section. | Checked October 6, 2026 |
| Personalization field title | 1 to 45 characters | The question buyers see, documented in the Open API v3 reference. Up to 5 personalization fields per listing. | Checked October 6, 2026 |
| Personalization buyer answer | You choose 1 to 1,024 characters | For text fields you set the character limit yourself, based on what fits your design. | Checked October 6, 2026 |
| Personalization dropdown option | 20 characters per option | Etsy Help allows up to 30 options per list. The Open API v3 reference sets the 20-character label limit (45 for labeled upload options). | Checked October 6, 2026 |
| Digital file name | 70 characters | Letters and numbers, periods, underscores or hyphens. | Checked October 6, 2026 |
| Digital files per listing | 5 files, 20MB each | A size limit, not a character limit, but it is the one digital sellers hit most often. | Checked October 6, 2026 |
| Photos and videos | 20 photos and 2 videos | Videos are 5 to 15 seconds long. | Checked October 6, 2026 |
| Variations | 3 variation types | Up to 2,500 option combinations with 3 types, 4,900 with 1 or 2 types. Etsy does not state a character limit for variation names. | Checked October 6, 2026 |
Limits Etsy does not publish
Other sites list numbers for these fields. We could not find them in Etsy's own documentation on October 6, 2026, so they are not in the table.
- Listing description
- Neither the Create a Listing help article nor the Open API v3 reference states a maximum length. A good habit either way: put the key facts in the first lines.
- Shop announcement
- The help article only asks you to keep it “short and sweet” and move details into your About section and policies.
- Variation names and option names
- The variations help article lists combination limits but no character limit for names.
Check your listing against the limits
These free checkers run in your browser without an account. They count characters and flag problems; they do not predict search volume or ranking.
- Etsy title checker
Length against the 140-character limit, repeated words, ALL CAPS and symbol clutter.
- Etsy tag checker
13 slots, 20 characters per tag, duplicates and characters Etsy does not accept.
- Printable listing checker
Title, tags and description together, tuned for digital downloads.
Fitting the limit is the easy part. For how to choose the 13 phrases, read how to write Etsy tags.
Etsy character limit questions
- What is the Etsy title character limit?
- An Etsy listing title can be up to 140 characters long, according to Etsy Help (How to Create a Listing, checked October 6, 2026). Etsy also suggests using fewer than 15 words and stating clearly what the item is.
- How many tags can an Etsy listing have, and how long can each tag be?
- Up to 13 tags per listing, each up to 20 characters. Tags can include letters, numbers and spaces; apostrophes and hyphens can be used inside words but not at the start of a tag (Etsy Help, checked October 6, 2026).
- Is there a character limit for Etsy listing descriptions?
- Etsy does not publish one in its Help Center or Open API v3 reference as of October 6, 2026. Whatever the length, put what the buyer gets and the key details in the first lines.
- How long can an Etsy shop name and shop title be?
- A shop name can be up to 20 characters with no spaces or punctuation. A shop title can be up to 55 characters. Both limits come from Etsy Help articles checked on October 6, 2026.
- How long can alt text for Etsy listing photos be?
- Etsy Help asks sellers to keep alt text to 250 characters. The Open API v3 reference lists 500 characters as the technical maximum for alt text set through the API. Writing for the 250-character guidance keeps you safe in both places.
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