AD SPECS
YouTube.
Skippable video ads.
Skippable video ads allow viewers to skip ads after 5 seconds, if they choose. Inserted before, during, or after the main video.
If you turn on this option, you may see a combination of skippable and bumper ads play back to back.
Platform
Desktop, mobile devices, TV, and game consoles
Specs
Plays in video player.
Non-skippable video ads.
Skippable video ads allow viewers to skip ads after 5 seconds, if they choose. Inserted before, during, or after the main video.
If you turn on this option, you may see a combination of skippable and bumper ads play back to back.
Platform
Desktop and mobile devices
Specs
Plays in video player.
15 or 20 seconds in length, depending on regional standards.
Bumper ads.
Skippable video ads allow viewers to skip ads after 5 seconds, if they choose. Inserted before, during, or after the main video.
If you turn on this option, you may see a combination of skippable and bumper ads play back to back.
Platform
Desktop and mobile devices
Specs
Plays in video player, up to 6 seconds long
Display ads.
Semi-transparent overlay ads that appear on the lower 20% portion of your video.
Platform
Desktop
Specs
300×250 or 300×60
Overlay ads.
Appears to the right of the feature video and above the video suggestions list. For larger players, this ad may appear below the player.
Platform
Desktop
Specs
468×60 or 728×90 image ads or text
Sponsored cards.
Sponsored cards display content that may be relevant to your video, such as products featured in the video.
Viewers will see a teaser for the card for a few seconds. They can also click the icon in the top right corner of the video to browse the cards.
Platform
Desktop and mobile devices
Specs
Card sizes vary
Detailed Technical Specifications
Site Served
| Video Requirements: | Must be uploaded to YouTube (send Video URL, shortened URL not allowed) |
| Must allow embedding | |
| Must be public or unlisted | |
| True streaming is not allowed | |
| Minimum Video Length: | 12 seconds (for skippable ads) |
| Maximum Video Length: | Up to 6 minutes (skippable ads) |
| 15 seconds (non-skippable ads) 6 seconds (bumper ads) | |
| 20 seconds (non-skippable ads, EMEA, Mexico, India, Malaysia, and Singapore only) |
Third-Party Served (VAST-Compliant)
| Format: | H.264 (MP4) video file type must be included for each video creative (other formats such as WebM can be included but may not be used) |
| Aspect Ratio and Bitrate: | 720p or below is required, the optional inclusion of 1080p is recommended - either 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratios are acceptable. (Examples of each are 16:9 - 854x480; 1280x720; 1920x1080 and 4:3 - 480x360; 720x540; 960x720) Must contain at least one mediafile under 1000kbps |
| Audio Format: | MP3 or AAC preferred |
| Frames per second: | Up to 30fps |
| Maximum file size: | 10 MB |
| Requirements: | Must comply with YouTube's XML summary for VAST ad server response |
| Must be SSL-compliant | |
| Only VAST 3.0 tags are allowed for skippable video ads. VAST 2.0 will not be accepted. | |
| Must be served via a linear VAST tag (pre-fetch tag) by a YouTube-approved vendor. | |
| Must NOT have geo, browser or any other targeting on the third party end. | |
| Please ensure your ad server returns a valid crossdomain.xml file. If you choose to explicitly list domains, please ensure all ad serving domains are included. | |
| VAST-served video ads are not guaranteed to run on all mobile web browsers, game consoles or connected TV devices (most modern updated environments are supported) | |
| Only VAST 2.0 and 3.0 are currently supported | |
| VPAID is not allowed on YouTube | |
| Maximum Video Length: | Up to 6 minutes (skippable ads) |
| 15 seconds (non-skippable ads) 6 seconds (bumper ads) | |
| 20 seconds (non-skippable ads, EMEA, Mexico, India, Malaysia, and Singapore only) |
All text and image credit YouTube.
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