Images with Long Alt Text

This error appears when the alt attribute of one or more images exceeds the recommended 100 characters. Here's what it means and how to write it so it serves its purpose.

What this error means

The alt attribute is the text that describes an image. Screen readers use it to explain visual content to people with visual impairments, and Google uses it to understand what the image is about and how it relates to the page's content. When that text exceeds 100 characters, it starts to be counterproductive. An overly long alt stops being a description and becomes a paragraph. Screen readers may cut it off and Google may interpret it as an attempt to stuff keywords artificially. The purpose of the alt attribute is to describe the image clearly and briefly. There's no need to explain every visual detail or repeat content that already appears in the page text. A short, precise phrase is more than enough. This error usually appears when the alt is written with SEO in mind instead of accessibility, or when the full image description is copied instead of summarizing it in a few words.

Why shortening alt text matters

A longer alt doesn't help more — it helps less. For both Google and anyone using a screen reader, clarity and conciseness are what make the alt attribute truly work. Shortening it is a quick change that improves both the accessibility and technical quality of your site.

Impact on SEO rankings

Google analyzes the alt attribute to understand the content of images. Text that's too long can be interpreted as filler or an attempt to force keywords, which can hurt rankings rather than help them.

Impact on user experience

Screen readers read the alt attribute out loud. If it's too long, the experience for people with visual impairments becomes tedious and interrupts the reading flow of the page.

Negative signals for site quality

An excessively long alt attribute reflects that the content hasn't been carefully reviewed. For Google, these kinds of details form part of the overall assessment of your site's technical and editorial quality.

How to fix it step by step

If this error showed up in your audit, here are the steps to leave it behind.

Step 1

Identify which images have alt text that's too long

Ruk Audit shows you which images exceed 100 characters in their alt attribute and how many characters each one has. Review them before editing anything.

Step 2

Extract the main idea from the current alt

Before rewriting, identify what's most important that the alt is describing. Everything that isn't essential for understanding the image can be removed.

Step 3

Rewrite the alt in 100 characters or fewer

With the main idea clear, write a brief and precise description. A short phrase that explains what the image shows and its function within the content is enough.

Step 4

Check that the new alt is still descriptive

A short alt shouldn't sacrifice clarity. Verify that the resulting description still explains the image's content well without needing more words.

Does your site have this problem?

Audit your website for free and discover if this and other SEO errors are affecting your ranking.

See all the errors we detect