When it comes to designing banner ads for the Google Display Network, you have different choices, including banners, square ads, small square ads, leaderboards, medium or large rectangles, skyscrapers, and wide skyscrapers. Your designs need to be in accordance with the set of standard sizes as formulated by Google.

However, when you design, you need to keep your actual ad slightly smaller than the maximum size as specified by Google. This is because Google places its “ad choices” or URL displays within your ad. These displays can overlap some information on your ad if you do not leave the required margin.

Keeping this requirement in mind, display network banner sizes have two different scales called virtual banner sizes, as provided by Google, and real banner sizes, used for all practical purposes. Usually, real sizes are 11 pixels shorter than virtual ads. Google uses these 11 pixels to display its logo.

Please note that all dimensions provided below for different ad choices are in pixels.

Banner

Banners are ads in which width is much higher than the height. So, they look like horizontally elongated rectangles.

• Virtual banner: 468 x 60
• Real banner: 468 x 49

Square

Square, as the name indicates, are equal width and height virtually.

• Virtual square ad: 250 x 250
• Real square ad: 250 x 239
• Virtual small square ad: 200 x 200
• Real small square ad: 200 x 189

Leaderboard

Leaderbords resemble banners, but are much bigger. Also, unlike banners that can be placed anywhere on the page, leaderboards are placed on top of the page and are very prominent.

• Virtual leaderboard size: 728 x 90
• Real leaderboard size: 728 x 79

Rectangle

Rectangle ads are not the same as banners, although they both have a rectangular shape. They differ in their width-height ratio. This ratio is greater in banners than in rectangular ads.

• Virtual medium rectangle ad: 300 x 250
• Real medium rectangle ad: 300 x 239
• Virtual large rectangle ad: 336 x 280
• Real large rectangle ad: 336 x 269

Skyscraper

Skyscrapers are reverse in dimensions when compared to banners, leaderboards and rectangle ads. In these designs, the width is much less than the height. So, essentially, the ad looks like a skyscraper.

• Virtual skyscraper: 120 x 600
• Real skyscraper: 120 x 589
• Virtual wide skyscraper: 160 x 600
• Real wide skyscraper: 160 x 589

Design your ad, considering the real dimensions as guidelines, and make the most of the money you spend on your ad campaign.