Meta description length is useful to watch, but it is not the whole job. A description should summarize the page, match the search intent and give the reader a reason to click. If it only exists to reach a character target, it will feel weak.
Draft the snippet with the Meta Tag Generator, then compare it with the title. If the page is technical, check whether a robots or canonical issue is more important than rewriting the snippet.
A practical length target
Many descriptions work well around 140 to 160 characters, but Google may show more, less or a rewritten snippet. Put the page value early instead of saving it for the end.
What to include
Say what the page helps with, mention the important object or tool, and avoid generic claims. The description should sound like a useful summary, not an ad stuffed with keywords.
What to avoid
Do not duplicate the title, do not repeat the same phrase, and do not promise an answer that is not on the page. For title work, read How long should a title tag be?.
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