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YouTube Ad Specs and Copy Checker: length, shape and text limits

Check a YouTube ad's length, shape, visibility and text against Google Ads limits, with a preview.

  • Free to use
  • Runs in your browser
  • No sign-up

How to use the YouTube Ad Specs and Copy Checker

Read what the guide says

This is the YouTube Ad Specs and Copy Checker.

Check a YouTube ad's length, shape, visibility and text against Google Ads limits, with a preview.

Choose the campaign and format: Video views, Efficient reach, skippable in-stream, bumper, non-skippable,

Shorts or Demand Gen.

Or press Try an example to fill in sample details.

Enter the ad length, aspect ratio and the video's visibility on YouTube,

then type the text fields shown for that format.

Fix what is flagged, look at the preview, then copy the text into Google Ads.

It runs in your browser, so nothing you type is uploaded.

Try it free on this page.

Runs in your browser. Your text is not uploaded.

Runs as in-feed, skippable in-stream and Shorts ads, with Target CPV bidding. Needs a long headline.

m:ss, such as 0:15

The video must be on YouTube as public or unlisted. Private and deleted videos, premieres and members-only videos lead to the ad being disapproved.

Ad text

Up to 90 characters.

Up to 15 characters.

Up to 10 characters.

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Copy this code into a page of your site. The tool sets no cookies and sends nothing your visitors type to us. Change height="760" if it needs more room.

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About the YouTube Ad Specs and Copy Checker

Choose the campaign and ad format, enter the ad's length, aspect ratio and visibility on YouTube, and type the text the format uses: headlines, long headline, call to action, descriptions and business name. The checker counts characters as you type, checks each rule from Google Ads Help and shows a simple preview of your text. It runs in your browser and does not look at your video.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Choose the campaign and format: Video views, Efficient reach, skippable in-stream, bumper, non-skippable, Shorts or Demand Gen.

  2. Step 2

    Enter the ad length, aspect ratio and the video's visibility on YouTube, then type the text fields shown for that format.

  3. Step 3

    Fix what is flagged, look at the preview, then copy the text into Google Ads.

Lengths and formats

Skippable in-stream ads can be skipped after 5 seconds. Bumper ads are 6 seconds or less and cannot be skipped. Non-skippable in-stream ads are 15 seconds or shorter; 30-second versions run mainly on TV screens. Shorts ads run 6 to 60 seconds in Video reach campaigns and 10 to 60 seconds in other campaign types, with 9:16 at 1080 x 1920 recommended. Demand Gen videos must be at least 5 seconds, and videos under 10 seconds cannot serve in YouTube in-stream.

Text limits

Skippable in-stream ads take a headline of 15 characters or fewer and a call to action of 10 or fewer. Multi-format ads in Video views and Efficient reach campaigns need a long headline of up to 90 characters, with a call to action of up to 10 and a short call-to-action headline of up to 15. Demand Gen takes up to 5 headlines of 40 characters, at least one of 30 or fewer, up to 5 descriptions of 90, a long headline of 90 and a business name of 25.

What this tool cannot do

It checks the numbers and text you enter, not the video itself: it cannot see the file, its quality or whether it follows Google's advertising policies. It does not sign in to YouTube or Google Ads. Google reviews every ad, and the preview only gives a rough idea of how your text may look.

Frequently asked questions

How long can a YouTube bumper ad be?

Six seconds or less, and viewers cannot skip it. Bumper ads use Target CPM bidding, so you pay based on impressions. Enter the length of your edit as m:ss, such as 0:06, to check it fits.

Can a YouTube ad video be unlisted?

Yes. The video must be on YouTube as public or unlisted. Private and deleted videos, premieres and members-only videos lead to the ad being disapproved, so check the visibility in YouTube Studio before you add the video to Google Ads.

What are the text limits for skippable in-stream ads?

A headline of 15 characters or fewer and a call to action of 10 or fewer. In multi-format Video views and Efficient reach campaigns, you also need a long headline of up to 90 characters, and you can add a short call-to-action headline of up to 15.

What size should a YouTube Shorts ad be?

Vertical 9:16 at 1080 x 1920 is recommended, and horizontal and square videos are also supported. The length can be 6 to 60 seconds in Video reach campaigns and 10 to 60 seconds in other campaign types. Shorts ads show between Shorts in the Shorts feed, and viewers can swipe away.

Which aspect ratios work for YouTube video ads?

16:9 (1920 x 1080), 1:1 (1080 x 1080) and 9:16 (1080 x 1920). Demand Gen also takes 4:5. Choose the shape in the checker to see whether it suits the format you picked.

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