diff --git a/phpBB/adm/style/acp_search.html b/phpBB/adm/style/acp_search.html
index deae1234bb..54d277ed39 100644
--- a/phpBB/adm/style/acp_search.html
+++ b/phpBB/adm/style/acp_search.html
@@ -36,6 +36,13 @@
 		<dt><label for="max_num_search_keywords">{L_MAX_NUM_SEARCH_KEYWORDS}{L_COLON}</label><br /><span>{L_MAX_NUM_SEARCH_KEYWORDS_EXPLAIN}</span></dt>
 		<dd><input id="max_num_search_keywords" type="number" min="0" max="9999" name="config[max_num_search_keywords]" value="{MAX_NUM_SEARCH_KEYWORDS}" /></dd>
 	</dl>
+	<dl>
+		<dt>
+			<label for="default_search_return_chars">{{ lang('DEFAULT_SEARCH_RETURN_CHARS') ~ lang('COLON') }}</label>
+			<br><span>{{ lang('DEFAULT_SEARCH_RETURN_CHARS_EXPLAIN') }}</span>
+		</dt>
+		<dd><input id="default_search_return_chars" name="config[default_search_return_chars]" type="number" value="{{ DEFAULT_SEARCH_RETURN_CHARS }}" min="0" max="9999"></dd>
+	</dl>
 	<dl>
 		<dt><label for="search_store_results">{L_SEARCH_STORE_RESULTS}{L_COLON}</label><br /><span>{L_SEARCH_STORE_RESULTS_EXPLAIN}</span></dt>
 		<dd><input id="search_store_results" type="number" min="0" max="999999" name="config[search_store_results]" value="{SEARCH_STORE_RESULTS}" /> {L_SECONDS}</dd>
diff --git a/phpBB/includes/acp/acp_search.php b/phpBB/includes/acp/acp_search.php
index 538a28a926..e59e06e1cd 100644
--- a/phpBB/includes/acp/acp_search.php
+++ b/phpBB/includes/acp/acp_search.php
@@ -62,15 +62,16 @@ class acp_search
 
 		$search_types = $this->get_search_types();
 
-		$settings = array(
-			'search_interval'			=> 'float',
-			'search_anonymous_interval'	=> 'float',
-			'load_search'				=> 'bool',
-			'limit_search_load'			=> 'float',
-			'min_search_author_chars'	=> 'integer',
-			'max_num_search_keywords'	=> 'integer',
-			'search_store_results'		=> 'integer',
-		);
+		$settings = [
+			'search_interval'				=> 'float',
+			'search_anonymous_interval'		=> 'float',
+			'load_search'					=> 'bool',
+			'limit_search_load'				=> 'float',
+			'min_search_author_chars'		=> 'integer',
+			'max_num_search_keywords'		=> 'integer',
+			'default_search_return_chars'	=> 'integer',
+			'search_store_results'			=> 'integer',
+		];
 
 		$search = null;
 		$error = false;
@@ -219,20 +220,21 @@ class acp_search
 		$this->tpl_name = 'acp_search';
 		$this->page_title = 'ACP_SEARCH_SETTINGS';
 
-		$template->assign_vars(array(
-			'LIMIT_SEARCH_LOAD'		=> (float) $config['limit_search_load'],
-			'MIN_SEARCH_AUTHOR_CHARS'	=> (int) $config['min_search_author_chars'],
-			'SEARCH_INTERVAL'		=> (float) $config['search_interval'],
-			'SEARCH_GUEST_INTERVAL'	=> (float) $config['search_anonymous_interval'],
-			'SEARCH_STORE_RESULTS'	=> (int) $config['search_store_results'],
-			'MAX_NUM_SEARCH_KEYWORDS'	=> (int) $config['max_num_search_keywords'],
+		$template->assign_vars([
+			'DEFAULT_SEARCH_RETURN_CHARS'	=> (int) $config['default_search_return_chars'],
+			'LIMIT_SEARCH_LOAD'				=> (float) $config['limit_search_load'],
+			'MIN_SEARCH_AUTHOR_CHARS'		=> (int) $config['min_search_author_chars'],
+			'SEARCH_INTERVAL'				=> (float) $config['search_interval'],
+			'SEARCH_GUEST_INTERVAL'			=> (float) $config['search_anonymous_interval'],
+			'SEARCH_STORE_RESULTS'			=> (int) $config['search_store_results'],
+			'MAX_NUM_SEARCH_KEYWORDS'		=> (int) $config['max_num_search_keywords'],
 
 			'S_SEARCH_TYPES'		=> $search_options,
 			'S_YES_SEARCH'			=> (bool) $config['load_search'],
 			'S_SETTINGS'			=> true,
 
-			'U_ACTION'				=> $this->u_action . '&amp;hash=' . generate_link_hash('acp_search'))
-		);
+			'U_ACTION'				=> $this->u_action . '&amp;hash=' . generate_link_hash('acp_search'),
+		]);
 	}
 
 	function index($id, $mode)
diff --git a/phpBB/install/schemas/schema_data.sql b/phpBB/install/schemas/schema_data.sql
index 86dc1fbebd..0dd0b52949 100644
--- a/phpBB/install/schemas/schema_data.sql
+++ b/phpBB/install/schemas/schema_data.sql
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('display_last_subje
 INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('display_order', '0');
 INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('edit_time', '0');
 INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('extension_force_unstable', '0');
+INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('default_search_return_chars', '300');
 INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('delete_time', '0');
 INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('email_check_mx', '1');
 INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('email_enable', '1');
diff --git a/phpBB/language/en/acp/search.php b/phpBB/language/en/acp/search.php
index 443dbb7fb7..a79c67fd8e 100644
--- a/phpBB/language/en/acp/search.php
+++ b/phpBB/language/en/acp/search.php
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ $lang = array_merge($lang, array(
 	'CONTINUE_INDEXING_EXPLAIN'				=> 'An indexing process has been started. In order to access the search index page you will have to complete it or cancel it.',
 	'CREATE_INDEX'							=> 'Create index',
 
+	'DEFAULT_SEARCH_RETURN_CHARS'			=> 'Default number of returned characters',
+	'DEFAULT_SEARCH_RETURN_CHARS_EXPLAIN'	=> 'The default number of characters that will be returned while searching. A value of 0 will return the entire post.',
 	'DELETE_INDEX'							=> 'Delete index',
 	'DELETING_INDEX_IN_PROGRESS'			=> 'Deleting the index in progress',
 	'DELETING_INDEX_IN_PROGRESS_EXPLAIN'	=> 'The search backend is currently cleaning its index. This can take a few minutes.',
diff --git a/phpBB/language/en/search.php b/phpBB/language/en/search.php
index 13e5bf7a97..f89107ed1b 100644
--- a/phpBB/language/en/search.php
+++ b/phpBB/language/en/search.php
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ $lang = array_merge($lang, array(
 	'RESULT_DAYS'			=> 'Limit results to previous',
 	'RESULT_SORT'			=> 'Sort results by',
 	'RETURN_FIRST'			=> 'Return first',
+	'RETURN_FIRST_EXPLAIN'	=> 'Set to 0 to display the entire post.',
 	'GO_TO_SEARCH_ADV'	=> 'Go to advanced search',
 
 	'SEARCHED_FOR'				=> 'Search term used',
diff --git a/phpBB/phpbb/db/migration/data/v33x/default_search_return_chars.php b/phpBB/phpbb/db/migration/data/v33x/default_search_return_chars.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ec1e7af11f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/phpBB/phpbb/db/migration/data/v33x/default_search_return_chars.php
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ *
+ * This file is part of the phpBB Forum Software package.
+ *
+ * @copyright (c) phpBB Limited <https://www.phpbb.com>
+ * @license GNU General Public License, version 2 (GPL-2.0)
+ *
+ * For full copyright and license information, please see
+ * the docs/CREDITS.txt file.
+ *
+ */
+
+namespace phpbb\db\migration\data\v33x;
+
+class default_search_return_chars extends \phpbb\db\migration\migration
+{
+	public function effectively_installed()
+	{
+		return $this->config->offsetExists('default_search_return_chars');
+	}
+
+	public static function depends_on()
+	{
+		return [
+			'\phpbb\db\migration\data\v330\v330',
+		];
+	}
+
+	public function update_data()
+	{
+		return [
+			['config.add', ['default_search_return_chars', 300]],
+		];
+	}
+}
diff --git a/phpBB/search.php b/phpBB/search.php
index 5d5e9f5f8a..678b4d9ff8 100644
--- a/phpBB/search.php
+++ b/phpBB/search.php
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ $sort_days		= $request->variable('st', 0);
 $sort_key		= $request->variable('sk', 't');
 $sort_dir		= $request->variable('sd', 'd');
 
-$return_chars	= $request->variable('ch', ($topic_id) ? -1 : 300);
+$return_chars	= $request->variable('ch', $topic_id ? 0 : (int) $config['default_search_return_chars']);
 $search_forum	= $request->variable('fid', array(0));
 
 // We put login boxes for the case if search_id is newposts, egosearch or unreadposts
@@ -692,7 +692,7 @@ if ($keywords || $author || $author_id || $search_id || $submit)
 	$u_search .= ($u_search_forum) ? '&amp;fid%5B%5D=' . $u_search_forum : '';
 	$u_search .= (!$search_child) ? '&amp;sc=0' : '';
 	$u_search .= ($search_fields != 'all') ? '&amp;sf=' . $search_fields : '';
-	$u_search .= ($return_chars != 300) ? '&amp;ch=' . $return_chars : '';
+	$u_search .= $return_chars !== (int) $config['default_search_return_chars'] ? '&amp;ch=' . $return_chars : '';
 
 	/**
 	* Event to add or modify search URL parameters
@@ -975,7 +975,7 @@ if ($keywords || $author || $author_id || $search_id || $submit)
 					strip_bbcode($text_only_message, $row['bbcode_uid']);
 				}
 
-				if ($return_chars == -1 || utf8_strlen($text_only_message) < ($return_chars + 3))
+				if ($return_chars === 0 || utf8_strlen($text_only_message) < ($return_chars + 3))
 				{
 					$row['display_text_only'] = false;
 
@@ -1475,16 +1475,27 @@ if (!$s_forums)
 	trigger_error('NO_SEARCH');
 }
 
-// Number of chars returned
-$s_characters = '<option value="-1">' . $user->lang['ALL_AVAILABLE'] . '</option>';
-$s_characters .= '<option value="0">0</option>';
-$s_characters .= '<option value="25">25</option>';
-$s_characters .= '<option value="50">50</option>';
+/**
+ * Build options for a select list for the number of characters returned.
+ *
+ * If the admin defined amount is not within the predefined range,
+ * and the admin did not set it to unlimited (0), we add that option aswell.
+ *
+ * @deprecated 3.3.1-RC1	Templates should use an numeric input, in favor of a select.
+ */
+$s_characters = '<option value="0">' . $language->lang('ALL_AVAILABLE') . '</option>';
+$i_characters = array_merge([25, 50], range(100, 1000, 100));
 
-for ($i = 100; $i <= 1000; $i += 100)
+if ($config['default_search_return_chars'] && !in_array((int) $config['default_search_return_chars'], $i_characters))
 {
-	$selected = ($i == 300) ? ' selected="selected"' : '';
-	$s_characters .= '<option value="' . $i . '"' . $selected . '>' . $i . '</option>';
+	$i_characters[] = (int) $config['default_search_return_chars'];
+	sort($i_characters);
+}
+
+foreach ($i_characters as $i)
+{
+	$selected = $i === (int) $config['default_search_return_chars'] ? ' selected="selected"' : '';
+	$s_characters .= sprintf('<option value="%1$s"%2$s>%1$s</option>', $i, $selected);
 }
 
 $s_hidden_fields = array('t' => $topic_id);
@@ -1504,6 +1515,7 @@ if (!empty($_EXTRA_URL))
 }
 
 $template->assign_vars(array(
+	'DEFAULT_RETURN_CHARS'	=> (int) $config['default_search_return_chars'],
 	'S_SEARCH_ACTION'		=> append_sid("{$phpbb_root_path}search.$phpEx", false, true, 0), // We force no ?sid= appending by using 0
 	'S_HIDDEN_FIELDS'		=> build_hidden_fields($s_hidden_fields),
 	'S_CHARACTER_OPTIONS'	=> $s_characters,
diff --git a/phpBB/styles/prosilver/template/search_body.html b/phpBB/styles/prosilver/template/search_body.html
index b194175892..28ffbbd08b 100644
--- a/phpBB/styles/prosilver/template/search_body.html
+++ b/phpBB/styles/prosilver/template/search_body.html
@@ -79,8 +79,11 @@
 		<dd>{S_SELECT_SORT_DAYS}</dd>
 	</dl>
 	<dl>
-		<dt><label>{L_RETURN_FIRST}{L_COLON}</label></dt>
-		<dd><select name="ch" title="{L_RETURN_FIRST}">{S_CHARACTER_OPTIONS}</select> {L_POST_CHARACTERS}</dd>
+		<dt>
+			<label for="ch">{{ lang('RETURN_FIRST') ~ lang('COLON') }}</label>
+			<br><span>{{ lang('RETURN_FIRST_EXPLAIN') }}</span>
+		</dt>
+		<dd><input id="ch" name="ch" type="number" value="{{ DEFAULT_RETURN_CHARS }}" min="0" max="9999" title="{{ lang('RETURN_FIRST') }}"> {{ lang('POST_CHARACTERS') }}</dd>
 	</dl>
 	<!-- EVENT search_body_search_display_options_append -->
 	</fieldset>