Pinterest Description and Topic Tag Rules
Quick Answer
Pinterest allows up to 800 characters in a Pin description. Pinterest says descriptions do not appear when the Pin is viewed in the home feed or search feed, but the description is used by its algorithm to determine relevance for delivery. Pinterest therefore recommends entering a description even when viewers will not see the full text in those feed surfaces.
Pinterest also lets creators select up to 10 topic tags per Pin. Pinterest says those topic tags are not shown to people. Topic tags are a structured publishing field; they are not the same thing as filling the visible description with many hashtags.
Next, prepare the Pin image with the Pinterest Pin Size guide and keep the description matched to the destination page.
Quick Reference
| Field | Current Pinterest guidance | What it means |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pin description | Up to 800 characters | Use natural, relevant text even though it may not display in home/search feeds |
| Pin title | Up to 100 characters | Keep the main idea clear and front-loaded |
| Textbox | Up to 250 characters | Separate from the Pin description field |
| Topic tags | Up to 10 per Pin | Structured topic selections; people do not see the selected topics |
| Final check | Current Pin creation screen | Field availability and format behavior can change |
- Last checked: September 7, 2026.
Prepare in one place
Publish Action
Create a clearer Pinterest description and topic-focused text with Dokuntag Publish.
Use one preparation flow for sizes, titles, descriptions, keywords, and checklists instead of switching between separate tools.
Do Pinterest Descriptions Matter if They Do Not Show in the Feed?
Yes for relevance context. Pinterest's current Pin specs explicitly say descriptions do not appear when viewing the Pin in the home feed or search feed, while also stating that descriptions are used by its algorithm to determine relevance for delivery.
That means the description should still explain the Pin accurately. Do not write it only for visual display.
Topic Tags vs Hashtags
Pinterest Create currently tells creators to search for and select up to 10 topic tags per Pin, and says people will not see the selected topics.
That is different from typing #hashtags into the description:
- Topic tags: selected through Pinterest's publishing interface; up to 10 in the current guidance; hidden from viewers.
- Description text: up to 800 characters; used for relevance context.
- Visible hashtag text: should not be treated as a substitute for a useful description or for Pinterest's structured topic-tag field.
Pinterest's current first-party guidance is clearer about topic tags than about a universal visible-hashtag count, so this page does not invent a numeric hashtag limit.
What to Put in a Pinterest Description
Use plain language that matches all four of these:
1. what the Pin actually shows,
2. what the linked page provides,
3. the audience or use case when relevant,
4. the natural search terms a person would use for that exact topic.
A useful description can explain the benefit or destination without repeating the title word for word.
Best Practices
- Describe what the viewer will get from the Pin or destination page.
- Use natural keywords that match the image, board, and linked page.
- Keep claims factual and consistent with the destination.
- Select topic tags that accurately represent the Pin.
- Use the 800-character allowance as a ceiling, not a target.
Common Mistakes
- Leaving the description empty because it is not visible in the feed preview.
- Writing only a block of hashtags.
- Treating topic tags and visible hashtags as the same field.
- Using unrelated keywords to chase traffic.
- Writing a description that does not match the image or linked page.
- Filling all 800 characters with repetition.
Publish Action
Use Dokuntag Publish to prepare a clearer Pinterest description that matches your image, title, board, and destination page.
Source transparency
Reference context
- Reviewed
Pinterest Help's current Pin specs state a 100-character title maximum, 250-character textbox maximum, and 800-character description maximum. The same page states that descriptions do not appear in the home or search feed and are used by Pinterest's algorithm to determine relevance for delivery. Pinterest Create separately states that creators can select up to 10 topic tags per Pin and that people do not see those selected topics. Both sources were rechecked September 7, 2026.
Last checked: September 7, 2026. Pinterest can change creation fields and format-specific behavior, so verify the current Pin composer before publishing.
Official / primary sources
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