How to Add Alt Text on Pinterest (Limit, Steps & Examples)
Limits verified: 2026-10-30
Key Takeaways — Pinterest alt text
Pinterest alt text describes what a Pin shows for people using screen readers. It is a separate field from the Pin title and description.
Pinterest Help: alternative text specifies a 500-character maximum. That is slightly below Shopify’s 512, while Handykit targets a much shorter 80–125 character draft.
On desktop, open More options while creating a Pin. In the app, look under Advanced Settings. Add a description of the visible image before publishing.
Draft Pinterest alt text with the free Handykit Alt Text Generator — no signup. Upload one PNG, JPG, WebP, or GIF up to 10MB, review the 80–125 character draft, and copy it into your image’s alt text field.
How to add alt text to a new Pin on desktop
- Open Pinterest, choose Create, then Pin.
- Upload the image and enter the Pin’s title and description.
- Open More options.
- Under Alt text, describe the image in no more than 500 characters.
- Review the Pin, then select Publish.
How to add Pinterest alt text on mobile
- Create a Pin and select or take a photo.
- Tap Next and complete the Pin information.
- Open Advanced Settings, then fill in Alt text.
- Return to the Pin and choose Create when ready.
Pinterest Help documents these mobile controls. For an existing Pin, open its editing options and find Alt text; account type and device can change where the control appears. The Help page directs business-account users to the web for certain edits.
Alt text is not the Pin title or description
A title names the content, a description adds context, and alt text explains the image. Pinterest ad specifications documents title and description specifications for ads; those are separate fields and should not be used as the alt text limit.
For a recipe Pin, describe the finished dish and any meaningful overlay. Keep a full ingredient list in accessible recipe text. For a step collage, explain the sequence briefly and provide the complete instructions on the linked page. A list of search phrases does not convey either picture.
Use the 500-character space carefully
The maximum is 500 characters, not a recommended minimum. Begin with one accurate sentence. A longer description may be useful for a diagram, but adding unrelated keywords makes listening harder. Handykit’s 80–125 target is a draft length rather than a Pinterest rule.
Pinterest’s Help page covers alternative text for standard and video Pins. Handykit accepts a single image and does not schedule Pins or create a video transcript. Review any words on a graphic yourself; a model can miss small text or misread a date.
Pinterest alt text examples
Illustrative examples follow; use them only when their details match your actual image. Counts include spaces and punctuation.
- Recipe:
Roasted carrots with parsley and yogurt sauce on a white platter beside a serving spoon.
(88 characters) - Interior:
Compact reading corner with a green armchair, brass floor lamp, and wall-mounted bookshelf.
(91 characters) - Tutorial:
Three panels showing paper folded into a triangle, corners tucked inward, and a finished star.
(94 characters) - Text graphic:
Blue poster reading “Community garden planting day, April 12” above illustrated seedlings.
(90 characters)
Alt text limits compared
Field capacity and writing advice answer different questions. API limits apply to API fields; they do not establish an undocumented in-app maximum.
| Platform | Documented maximum | Writing guidance and source |
|---|---|---|
| 4,086 characters (API) | Under 120 recommended; LinkedIn Images API | |
| Shopify | 512 characters | 125 or fewer recommended; Shopify Help: adding alt text |
| Etsy | 250 (Etsy Help guidance; no published hard max) | Keep it concise; Etsy Help: listing image alternatives |
| 500 characters | Describe what is visible; Pinterest Help: alternative text | |
| 1,000 characters (API) | No in-app cap confirmed; Instagram Graph API: media |
See the full alt text character-limit guide. Handykit’s 80–125 character target is a drafting preference, not an accessibility standard.
Review the draft in context
Alt text conveys the information an image adds to the surrounding page. The W3C WAI Images Tutorial distinguishes informative, decorative, and complex images: a product photo needs a useful description, while a chart may also need a fuller explanation nearby.
Describe visible details in ordinary language. Google Search Central image guidance advises useful, contextual descriptions instead of keyword stuffing. That guidance concerns Google image search; it does not promise better reach inside a social platform.
Generate a Pin description free
Draft Pinterest alt text with the free Handykit Alt Text Generator — no signup. Upload one PNG, JPG, WebP, or GIF up to 10MB, review the 80–125 character draft, and copy it into your image’s alt text field. Free daily use: 5 generations per person and 20 per IP. Handykit handles one image at a time.
Copy the result into Alt text, not the title field. Recheck the description if you replace the image or change an overlay before publishing.
FAQ
What is Pinterest’s alt text character limit?
Pinterest Help specifies a maximum of 500 characters. A shorter accurate sentence is often sufficient.
Where is the field on desktop?
During Pin creation, open More options and fill in Alt text before publishing.
Where is the field on mobile?
During Pin creation, open Advanced Settings and fill in Alt text.
Is a Pin description the same as alt text?
No. Alt text explains the image for screen readers; the Pin description is a separate content field.
Can I edit alt text after publishing?
Pinterest Help describes editing it through Edit Pin. Controls vary by account and device; use the web if your business account’s app does not expose the field.
Does Handykit schedule Pins?
No. Handykit creates a single-image alt text draft for you to review and paste. It is free with no signup.
Sources
Official pages fetched October 30, 2026. Limits refer to the documented field or API scope described above.