Ad Specs

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, mobile devices

Specs

File type: JPG, PNG, GIF
Aspect Ratio: 1:1
Length: 15 or 20 seconds
File Size: 2MB max

Standard display 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

Size:

  • 300 pixels by 250 pixels
  • 300 pixels by 60 pixels (YouTube Reserve companions)
  • 300 pixels by 600 pixels (Zagat only)File type: GIF, JPG, PNG

Max file size: 150KB
Length: 30 seconds (all animations, including loops, must stop at 30 seconds)
Audio: no sound

TrueView video discovery ads.

TrueView ads run before content on YouTube and the display network.

Platform

Desktop, mobile devices

Specs

Video URL: Must be uploaded to YouTube
Image: Choose from 4 autogenerated thumbnails
Headline: 25 characters maximum
Description: Two lines 35 characters maximum
File type: AVI, ASF, Quicktime, Windows Media, MP4 or MPEG
Video codec: H.264, MPEG-2 or MPEG-4
Audio codec: MP3 or AAC
Size: 640 pixels by 360 pixels or 480 pixels by 360 pixels recommended
Frame rate: 30 FPS
Aspect ratio: Native aspect ratio without letterboxing (examples 4:3, 16:9)
Max file size: 1GB

TrueView in-stream 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

Companion: 300 pixels by 60 pixels .jpg, static .gif or .png; 300 pixels by 250 pixels video wall will show on YouTube if no companion ad is provided
Max file size: 1KB
File type: AVI, ASF, Quicktime, Windows Media, MP4 or MPEG
Video codec: H.264, MPEG-2 or MPEG-4
Audio codec: MP3 or AAC
Size: 640 pixels by 360 pixels or 480 pixels by 360 pixels recommended
Frame rate: 30 FPS
Aspect ratio: native aspect ratio without letter-boxing (examples: 4:3, 16:9)
Max file size: 1GB
Length: 12 seconds to 3 minutes

TrueView in-stream 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, mobile devices, TV, and game consoles

Specs

Companion: 300 pixels by 60 pixels .jpg, static .gif or .png; 300 pixels by 250 pixels video wall will show on YouTube if no companion ad is provided
Max file size: 1KB
File type: AVI, ASF, Quicktime, Windows Media, MP4 or MPEG
Video codec: H.264, MPEG-2 or MPEG-4
Audio codec: MP3 or AAC
Size: 640 pixels by 360 pixels or 480 pixels by 360 pixels recommended
Frame rate: 30 FPS
Aspect ratio: native aspect ratio without letter-boxing (examples: 4:3, 16:9)
Max file size: 1GB
Length: 15 or 20 seconds for non-skippable; 20 seconds for long non-skippable

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

File type: AVI, ASF, Quicktime, Windows Media, MP4 or MPEG
Video codec: H.264, MPEG-2 or MPEG-4
Audio codec: MP3 or AAC
Size: 640 pixels by 360 pixels or 480 pixels by 360 pixels recommended
Frame rate: 30 FPS
Aspect ratio: native aspect ratio without letter-boxing (examples: 4:3, 16:9)
Max file size: 1GB
Length: 6 seconds

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. This ad unit is only available with 100% SOV.

Platform

Desktop

Specs

Overlay image (required)

Size: 480 pixels by 70 pixels
File type: static GIF, PNG, JPG
File size: 150KB

Companion banner (optional)

Size: 300 pixels by 250 pixels
File type: GIF, PNG, JPG
File size: 150KB