Google Display Network Ad Specs 2024 Cheat Sheet

by 

Carla Deña

Ready to get the lowdown on Google Display Network ad specs for 2024?

You’re in the right place. Let’s face it: online advertising is like trying to hit a moving target, and Google keeps us on our toes with all its updates and new guidelines. But don’t sweat it – we’ve got your back!

We’ve whipped up a fresh, easy-to-digest cheat sheet that’s all about navigating the Google Display Network ad specs for this year. Think of it as your secret weapon for creating ads that not only look great but also really connect with your audience.

From nailing the perfect image size to getting professional designs that will catch your audience’s attention (hint: Penji), we’re covering all the bases. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into making your ads stand out in 2024!

What is Google Display Network?

Google Display Network is a vast advertising network that allows businesses to place display ads on millions of websites, mobile apps, and video content across the internet. 

It is a platform for advertisers to reach their target audiences by creating visually appealing ads that include images, videos, and text. Also called GDN, the network uses contextual targeting, meaning ads are displayed on websites or mobile apps relevant to the advertiser’s product or service. GDN offers various targeting options, including demographics, interests, topics, and geographic locations, to ensure your ads are displayed to the right audience. 

With GDN, businesses can increase brand awareness, drive website traffic, and generate leads and conversions. For instance, many of our clients here at Penji ask us to create display ad images for them. After all, they know just how a professionally-made ad creative can help lead audiences through the marketing funnel.

In Google Ads, display campaigns let users reach a relevant audience through visually-engaging ads. These ads are served to audiences as they browse websites and apps, including Google-owned properties like YouTube.

What are the Benefits of a Google Ads Display Campaign?

There are many benefits to using display ads on the Google Display Network. Here are some of the key advantages:

• Wide reach. Display campaigns can reach audiences worldwide, including 35 million websites and apps. As a result, a display campaign will allow you to expand your reach beyond just Google Search. To ensure that you’re using the right platform, you may want to review the difference between Google Ads vs. Facebook Ads and other platforms to advertise online. 
• Targeting options. GDN offers various targeting options, including demographics, interests, topics, and geographic locations. Because of these options, you can reach the right audience with your ads and increase the chances of conversions.
• Multiple ad formats. GDN supports various ad formats, including text, image, video, and interactive ads. This flexibility allows you to engage your target audience effectively.
• Cost-effective. Display ads on GDN can be cost-effective, with flexible bidding options and low minimum budgets. You can also track the performance of your ads and adjust your strategy based on results to optimize your campaigns and maximize your return on investment.
• Brand awareness. Display ads can help increase brand awareness by placing ads on high-traffic websites and mobile apps relevant to your target audience. This can help your business gain visibility and credibility in your industry.

What are the Specs for Uploaded Google Display Ads?

What is the image size for Google Display Network? The answer depends on the type of ad you want to place on the network. For starters, here are the formats and maximum size you can upload: 

File types

• Formats GIF, JPG, PNG
• Max. size 150KB

Here are the 2024 Google Display Network ad specs for display ads sizes, as stated in Google Ads. We’ve also attached a Google display ad sizes cheat sheet for every category for visual reference.

Square and rectangle  

• 200 × 200 Small square
• 240 × 400 Vertical rectangle
• 250 × 250 Square
• 250 × 360 Triple widescreen
• 300 × 250 Inline rectangle
• 336 × 280 Large rectangle
• 580 × 400 Netboard

Skyscraper  

• 120 × 600 Skyscraper
• 160 × 600 Wide skyscraper
• 300 × 600 Half-page ad
• 300 × 1050 Portrait

Leaderboard  

• 468 × 60 Banner
• 728 × 90 Leaderboard
• 930 × 180 Top banner
• 970 × 90 Large leaderboard
• 970 × 250 Billboard
• 980 × 120 Panorama

Mobile  

• 300 × 50 Mobile banner
• 320 × 50 Mobile banner
• 320 × 100 Large mobile banner

Knowing Google Display Network ad specs for GIF or animated ads is vital. For instance, the animation length must not exceed 30 seconds. This means advertisers must create concise ads and get their message across quickly. 

Additionally, while animated ads can be looped, the animations must stop after 30 seconds. Finally, the speed of the animation is slower than 5 FPS. This prevents the animated GIF from being too distracting or annoying for users.

What resolution is best for Google Ads?

Aside from using the most common Google display ad sizes, the right resolution is also crucial. Google recommends a relatively high resolution for the ad, such as:

• 1600 x 1200
• 1600 x 900
• 1280 x 1024
• 1152 x 864 

It’s vital to remember that if the ad resolution is 1024 by 768 pixels or lower, you may not see the entire screen of Google Ads Editor.

What are the best-performing Google display ad sizes?

If you’re wondering about the best Google Display Network ad specs or size, you don’t have to look further than the search engine’s internal data. Google ad sense mentions the following as top-performing ad sizes:

• 300 x 250 medium rectangle
• 336 x 280 large rectangle
• 728 x 90 leaderboard
• 300 x 600 half page 
• 320 x 100 large mobile banner

Whatever Google display ad size you intend to use, you need to have relevant visuals to help capture the attention of potential customers. By using designs crafted by professional designers, you increase your chances of getting more clicks, engagement, and conversion. By outsourcing your ad image to design experts, you’ll have more time and energy to optimize your ads and review analytics. 

Google Display Ads vs. Responsive Display Ads

Understanding the difference between traditional display ads and responsive display ads is key to crafting successful online campaigns.

While both play pivotal roles in reaching target audiences, their functionalities and adaptabilities differ significantly.

Display ads are predefined in terms of banner ad size and format. They require advertisers to create separate ad assets for each specific size and placement. That said, this approach offers control over the exact appearance of the ad but demands more resources for creation and management.

In this context, display ads are ideal when you need to maintain strict brand guidelines or when targeting a platform with known dimensions.

On the other hand, responsive display ads automatically adjust their size, appearance, and format to fit available ad spaces across different devices and screen sizes. This flexibility is a significant advantage in today’s multi-device world, where users access content on a variety of screens.

In addition, responsive ads can streamline the ad creation process, as you only need to provide assets (images, headlines, logos, and descriptions), and Google’s algorithm does the rest.

Here’s a quick comparison:

• Creation and Management. Display ads require creating multiple versions for different sizes, while responsive ads adapt automatically, reducing the workload.
• Flexibility. Responsive ads offer higher flexibility, adjusting to various screen sizes and placements, unlike fixed-size display ads.
• Reach and Efficiency. Responsive ads can appear in more ad spaces, potentially increasing reach and efficiency of the campaign.
• Control. Display ads provide more control over the exact appearance, while responsive ads rely on Google’s algorithm for the final layout.

The choice between them depends on the specific goals and resources of your advertising campaign.

Tips to Get The Most Out of Google Ads

Here are some essential tips to ensure your Google Ads are performing at their best:

• Understand Ad Specifications. Familiarize yourself with the latest ad specifications for Google Ads. For instance, you need to know the right dimensions, file sizes, and formats for different types of ads. After all, adhering to these specifications ensures your ads are displayed correctly across various platforms.
• Optimize for Display Campaigns. When setting up display campaigns, it’s crucial to target the right audience. Use Google’s targeting options to narrow down your audience based on demographics, interests, and online behaviors. This targeted approach helps in placing your ads in front of the most relevant audience.
• Leverage Ad Inventory Wisely. Make the most of your ad inventory by choosing the right mix of ad types and placements. Diversify your ad formats to include text, image, and video ads to see which works best for your target audience.
• A/B Testing. Regularly test different elements of your ads, such as headlines, descriptions, and call-to-actions. A/B testing helps in understanding what resonates best with your audience and improves the overall performance of your ads.

• Track and Analyze Performance. Use Google Analytics in conjunction with Google Ads to track the performance of your campaigns. Analyzing metrics like click-through rates, conversion rates, and return on ad spend can provide insights to optimize future campaigns.
• Stay Updated with Trends. The digital advertising landscape is always evolving. Stay updated with the latest trends and best practices in Google Ads to keep your campaigns relevant and effective.
• Professional Design Services. Consider partnering with professional design services like Penji for high-quality ad creatives. Penji offers unlimited graphic design services that can elevate the visual appeal of your ads, making them more engaging and effective.

Ready to take your Google Ads to the next level? Sign up with Penji for professional and eye-catching designs and give your Google Ads the edge they deserve.