The Ultimate Guide to Ad Formats and Sizes for Social Media and Google
In the fast-paced world of digital advertising, ensuring your ads fit the right formats and sizes is essential to capturing attention and maximizing results. This guide walks you through the various ad formats and their dimensions for top platforms like Meta (Facebook and Instagram), LinkedIn, and Google.
1. Meta (Facebook and Instagram) Ad Formats
Meta platforms offer a variety of ad placements tailored to reach your audience across feeds, stories, and more. Here’s a breakdown:
Feed Ads
- Image Ads:
- Recommended size: 1080 x 1080 px (1:1)
- Minimum resolution: 600 x 600 px
- File type: JPG or PNG
- Caption limit: 125 characters (recommended)
- Video Ads:
- Recommended resolution: 1080 x 1080 px (1:1) or 1080 x 1350 px (4:5)
- Duration: 1 second to 241 minutes
- File type: MP4, MOV
Story Ads
- Image Ads:
- Recommended size: 1080 x 1920 px (9:16)
- File size: Max 30MB
- Tip: Keep critical content (like text or logos) within the safe zone (centered vertically).
- Video Ads:
- Dimensions: 1080 x 1920 px (9:16)
- Duration: 1-15 seconds
Carousel Ads
- Images/Videos:
- Recommended size: 1080 x 1080 px (1:1)
- File type: JPG, PNG, MP4
- Up to 10 cards per ad
Reels Ads
- Video Format:
- Recommended size: 1080 x 1920 px (9:16)
- Duration: Up to 30 seconds
2. LinkedIn Ad Formats
LinkedIn is a go-to platform for B2B advertising, offering ad types focused on professional engagement.
Single Image Ads
- Recommended size: 1200 x 627 px (1.91:1)
- File type: PNG, JPG
- Headline: Up to 200 characters
Carousel Ads
- Recommended size: 1080 x 1080 px (1:1)
- Up to 10 images or videos
- File size: Max 10MB
Video Ads
- Recommended resolution: 1920 x 1080 px (16:9)
- Duration: 3 seconds to 30 minutes
- File type: MP4
Sponsored Messaging Ads
- Image size: 300 x 250 px
- File type: JPG, PNG
- CTA options: Buttons with up to 20 characters
Dynamic Ads
- Follower Ads:
- Image size: 100 x 100 px
- File size: Max 2MB
- Spotlight Ads:
- Image size: 300 x 250 px
- File size: Max 2MB
3. Google Ads Formats
Google Ads allows you to advertise across search, display networks, YouTube, and more.
Search Ads
- No specific image size required since these are text-based.
- Headline 1: 30 characters
- Headline 2: 30 characters
- Description: 90 characters
Display Ads
- Responsive Display Ads:
- Image sizes:
- Square: 1200 x 1200 px (1:1)
- Landscape: 1200 x 628 px (1.91:1)
- File type: JPG, PNG
- Image sizes:
- Static Image Ads:
- Supported sizes:
- 300 x 250 px (Medium Rectangle)
- 728 x 90 px (Leaderboard)
- 160 x 600 px (Wide Skyscraper)
- 320 x 100 px (Mobile Leaderboard)
- Supported sizes:
YouTube Ads
- Skippable In-Stream Ads:
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 px (16:9)
- Duration: 12 seconds to 6 minutes
- Non-Skippable In-Stream Ads:
- Same dimensions as skippable ads
- Duration: 15 seconds (maximum)
- Bumper Ads:
- Duration: 6 seconds
- Recommended resolution: 1920 x 1080 px (16:9)
4. Best Practices for Ad Design
No matter the platform, here are some golden rules for ad design:
- Mobile-First Mindset: Design with mobile users in mind, especially for vertical formats like Stories and Reels.
- High-Resolution Images: Always use sharp, clear visuals for a professional look.
- Minimal Text: Convey your message with as little text as possible.
- Strong CTAs: Use clear and concise calls-to-action to guide users.
- Test & Optimize: A/B test different ad formats and creatives to find the best-performing ones.
By understanding and following these dimensions and formats, you can ensure your ads are optimized for each platform, driving better engagement and conversions. Ready to design ads that captivate? Dive in and start creating!