Choosing the best Google Display Ad image sizes can make a significant difference in your ad campaign.
When it comes to creating visuals for Google Ads, there are many different size variations to choose from. But, there are a few specific sizes that tend to perform the best across mobile and desktop platforms.
Before we jump into the details, let’s talk a little bit about what Google Display Ads are and why they matter for brands with an online presence.
What Are Google Display Ads?
Google Display Ads are part of the Google Ads ecosystem. They’re distributed through the Google Display Network. This network uses analytics and retargeting to display advertisers’ Google Ads on websites as users browse online.
Display Ads feature an optimized image that helps drive potential customers to learn more about a product or service. You’ve likely seen these ads “following” you across multiple websites, especially if you previously clicked one.
Let’s say you visit your favorite retailer’s website and check out a few of their products. If that brand—or one of those products—is part of a Google Ad campaign, you’ll continue to see ads for it popping up wherever you browse.
Google Display Ads use visuals to raise brand awareness and keep products front-and-center for the user. These visuals make products and services more memorable, making it more likely that the user will want to buy.
Why Use Google Display Ads?
If you want to broaden your brand’s reach across different online platforms, Google Display Ads can help you do that. Not only will they appear in Google search results and on websites; they’ll also be shown to your potential customers on YouTube and other platforms owned by Google.
Google Display ads are essentially a one-stop way to get your ad visuals seen in a wide variety of places, from one point of origin: the Google Display Network.
Here are some important reasons a business might opt for using Google Display Ads:
- Boosting brand awareness across multiple touch points
- Retargeting for users who may have already interacted with your brand online
- Expanding your online reach to connect with more users
- Driving leads and conversions
Of course, like any graphic-based advertising, it’s crucial to have the right images—and especially the right image sizes.
The Top 4 Google Display Ad Image Sizes
While you can create Google Display Ads in over 50 size variations, there are a few sizes that perform exceptionally well. According to Google, these are the four top-performing ad sizes available in the Google Display Network.
Medium Rectangle – 300 Pixels x 250 Pixels
This rectangular ad is sized at 300 pixels x 250 pixels. It can feature both images and text, and it works well on mobile devices. That makes it an excellent and versatile ad size option.
According to Google, this particular ad size can help boost revenue if you opt to use both the Display Ad and text options. It tends to do well when it is displayed inline as part of an article or blog post. These ads also work well at the end of a post.
Large Rectangle – 336 Pixels x 280 Pixels
This is a slightly larger option than the medium rectangle, and it comes in at 336 pixels x 280 pixels. Large rectangle ads also perform well when embedded in an article, or when displayed at the end of one.
Using text in combination with your image could help to increase its reach. These ads are not mobile-optimized, so keep that in mind when you select your preferred size.
Leaderboard (Rectangle) – 728 Pixels x 90 Pixels
Leaderboard ads are long, rectangular Display Ads that work best when positioned above a website’s primary content. According to Google, they also perform well on forums.
Their dimensions of 728 pixels x 90 pixels help them fit in a narrow space at the top of a website. For that reason, they’re more suited to desktop ads and are not optimized for mobile devices.
Half Page – 300 Pixels x 600 Pixels
The half-page ad size, which comes in at 300 pixels by 600 pixels, is a Display Ad that takes up a bit more online real estate than the other options. This is an excellent option for brands that prefer to pay for larger ads.
Opting for a half-page Display Ad means you have a lot more space to work with, making it easier to get your message across. It’s also possible to build some engagement into these larger ads.
According to Google, this particular ad size is growing in popularity based on the number of impressions it receives. Brands that want to make their mark with eye-catching visuals might want to consider this ad size for desktop advertising.
How to Optimize Your Google Display Ad Images
First, it’s important to note that Google requires its ads to be sized exactly right. Keep this in mind when you create your ad graphic.
If you’re using a tool like Snappa to create a custom graphic size, you can input the specific dimensions into the builder on the main page. That way, you’re sure to create the correct image size.
Creating custom Google Display Ad images in Snappa is quick and easy. Once you’ve entered the correct image size, you’ll have plenty of backgrounds, graphic elements, and fonts to choose from inside the builder.
Best Design Practices For Google Display Ads
Finally, when you create your Google Display Ad Images, it’s important to stick to some graphic design best practices. You’re representing your visual brand through Google Ads, so it’s important to make sure everything is on point.
- Customize your ad with colors and images that align with your brand style guide. You want any images associated with your brand to be easily recognizable.
- Don’t try to force too much text into your images. Less is more.
- Make sure your fonts are on-brand and readable. You want users to be able to read your ads at a glance.
- If you use stock images or graphic elements, make sure users will be able to easily tell what they’re looking at. Busy or complex images could cause potential customers to keep scrolling.
Like the images above? Every single one of them are existing Snappa templates you can click on to edit! With a simple resize or image swap, your content will be ad-ready in no time!
Check out more graphic design tips here.
Final Thoughts
Creating right-sized images for your Google Display Ads is easy with a tool like Snappa. Now that you know the best Google Display Ad image sizes, all you need to do is enter those dimensions into our easy custom graphic size tool to get started.
You don’t have to be a graphic designer to get started with Snappa, and you can try it out for free. Get started here.
What are some amazing ad campaigns you’ve seen lately? Did they succeed in making you click them? Let us know in the comments below!
