What should go first, my title or my focus?

Title first is the safer default, because it is instantly readable and matches what recruiters search for. Put the focus or proof point first only if your title alone is generic.

Why does LinkedIn only show part of my headline in some places?

Search results, comments and connection requests all truncate the headline to a much shorter length than the full 220-character field, so front-loading the important part matters.

Should "open to work" go in the headline?

LinkedIn has a dedicated open-to-work setting that adds a visible banner - most people reserve the headline itself for role and focus rather than status.

LinkedIn headline generator

A LinkedIn headline is 220 characters that show up next to your name everywhere on the platform - in search results, comments and connection requests. Most people leave it as their job title, which wastes the space.

This joins your role, what you focus on, and one proof point with a separator, and checks the result against the character limit. It builds two versions: one short enough for the roughly 60 to 70 characters visible in search results, and one that uses more of the full field.

Full headline length

9 of 220

Within the LinkedIn headline limit

Full headline

Your Role

Short version (for search results): Your Role
Short version length: 9 characters

Everything above is worked out in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or saved anywhere.

How this is worked out

The three fields you fill in are joined with a vertical bar separator, in the order role, focus, proof point.
The full headline is checked against LinkedIn's 220-character field limit and trimmed if it goes over.
A second, shorter version drops the focus line, aimed at the roughly 60 to 70 characters that show in search results and connection requests before the rest is cut off.

What this does not cover

This does not know what makes a proof point credible - "ex-Google" only helps if it is true and relevant to what you are showing next to it.
LinkedIn has changed this limit before (it was 120 characters until late 2024), so treat the 220 figure as current rather than permanent.
It builds a headline from what you type; it has no view of your actual profile or how the rest of it reads alongside this line.

Questions people ask

What should go first, my title or my focus?: Title first is the safer default, because it is instantly readable and matches what recruiters search for. Put the focus or proof point first only if your title alone is generic.
Why does LinkedIn only show part of my headline in some places?: Search results, comments and connection requests all truncate the headline to a much shorter length than the full 220-character field, so front-loading the important part matters.
Should "open to work" go in the headline?: LinkedIn has a dedicated open-to-work setting that adds a visible banner - most people reserve the headline itself for role and focus rather than status.

Where these figures come from

Rates and rules on this page were last checked against the source on 31 August 2026. Tax law changes; check the source before you rely on a number for a decision.

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