In short. Set the title format for the relevant post type in Rank Math SEO > Titles & Meta, insert variables, and save the changes.
Definition: A Rank Math title template is a reusable format for SEO titles within a WordPress content type, such as posts or pages. As of 17 October 2026, Rank Math documents templates under Titles & Meta, with variables that insert values from each page.
Key facts
- Rank Math's Titles and Meta documentation places the post template in Posts > Single Post Title and the page template in Pages > Single Page Title.
- Its variable reference defines
%title%as the current post or page title and%sitename%as the configured site name. - The General tab guide explains that editing a title format inside a post affects that post alone.
Where is the post-type template configured?
In the WordPress dashboard, the route is Rank Math SEO > Titles & Meta, followed by the relevant post type. Rank Math's settings guide documents Single Post Title for posts and Single Page Title for pages. The adjacent Single Post Description or Single Page Description field sets the meta description template.
The title field's dropdown lists available variables and supports searching for them. Its preview updates as the template changes. Save Changes, at the bottom of the settings, commits the configuration; the confirmation message appears at the top. These settings require a manual save.
Which variables belong in a title template?
A variable is a placeholder replaced with an existing value. Rank Math's variable documentation supports combining variables with static text. This format combines the page title, separator and site name:
%title% %sep% %sitename%
%sep% uses Rank Math SEO > Titles & Meta > Global Meta > Separator Character. %sitename% reads Settings > General > Site Title in WordPress. Changing those underlying settings changes the values used by the variables.
For a template that includes the content type's name, %pt_single% inserts its singular name, such as product; %pt_plural% inserts its plural name, such as products. In description templates, %excerpt% supplies the post excerpt with automatic generation when absent; %excerpt_only% uses only an existing excerpt.
How is the result checked for an individual post?
Rank Math's General tab documentation describes Edit Snippet, which opens the title and description editor. The desktop and mobile preview controls show the metadata in different display layouts. The title field also has length and pixel-width indicators.
New posts inherit the configured defaults, and individual posts can override them. A reusable format belongs in Titles & Meta; an exception belongs in the individual post's editor.
As of 17 October 2026, Google's title link documentation defines a title link as the linked title displayed in a search result. Google selects it automatically from several sources. Its guidance calls for descriptive, concise titles with distinct text for each page, so the resolved %title% value deserves attention alongside the shared site name.
Related terms
- How do I edit multiple page titles and descriptions in Rank Math?
- How do I use variables in Yoast title templates?
- Why can Google display a different title from a page's title element?
FAQ
Why is a post type missing from the settings?
Rank Math's General tab guide says only enabled post types appear. For example, you see Products when WooCommerce is installed.
Can I change one title without changing the template?
Yes. You can override the defaults through the individual post's snippet editor, as described in the General tab guide.
Where can I change the separator?
You can set Separator Character in Titles & Meta > Global Meta. Rank Math's variable reference specifies that %sep% uses this setting.
Sources
- Rank Math, "Rank Math ‘Titles and Meta’ Options and Settings", accessed 17 October 2026
- Rank Math, "Using Variables in the SEO Title and Description", accessed 17 October 2026
- Rank Math, "General Tab in Meta Box of Rank Math", accessed 17 October 2026
- Google Search Central, "Influencing your title links in search results", accessed 17 October 2026
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