Formats

In Google Ads, you can create compelling video campaigns with a range of video ad formats to engage customers in different ways on YouTube and across video partner sites. 

The width of the player in which video ads can be placed must be at least 600 pixels on desktop and 400 pixels on mobile devices

Available video ad formats include:

• Skippable in-stream ads
• Non-skippable in-stream ads
• In-feed video ads
• Bumper ads
• Outstream ads
• Masthead ads

Skippable in-stream ads

Skippable in-stream ads run before, during, or after other videos on YouTube and across websites and apps running on Google video partners. After five seconds, the viewer has an option to skip the ad. You can optimize skippable in-stream ads to drive awareness, consideration, online sales, or leads.

Use skippable in-stream ads when you have video content you’d like to promote before, during, or after other videos on YouTube and across websites and apps running on Google video partners.

Non-skippable in-stream ads

Non-skippable in-stream ads are 15 seconds (or shorter) and play before, during, or after other videos. Non-skippable in-stream ads are best at driving brand awareness and reach.

Use non-skippable in-stream ads when you have video content you’d like to promote before, during, or after other videos on YouTube and across websites and apps running on Google video partners and you want viewers to see the entire message without skipping your video.

In-feed video ads

In-feed video ads promote video content in places of discovery, including next to related YouTube videos, as part of a YouTube search result, or on the YouTube homepage. In-feed video ads can be used for any marketing objective, and are especially good for increasing consideration of your brand or product, and driving online sales or leads.

Use in-feed video ads to promote video content in places of discovery, including next to related YouTube videos, as part of a YouTube search result, or on the YouTube mobile homepage.

Bumper ads

Bumper ads are six seconds long (or shorter) and play before, during, or after another video. Use bumper ads when you want to reach viewers broadly with a short, memorable message. Bumper ads are best at driving efficient brand awareness and reach.

Outstream ads are just for mobile and only appear on websites and apps running on Google video partners. Use outstream ads when you want to expand the reach of your video ads on mobile to reach more customers at an efficient cost.

Use outstream ads when you want to expand the reach of your video ads on mobile, helping you reach more customers.

Masthead ads 

Masthead ads automatically play without sound for up to 30 seconds at the top of the YouTube Home feed and are only available on a reservation basis through a Google sales representative. 

Use this masthead ads when you want to drive awareness for a new product or service or reach a massive audience in a short period of time (for example, a sales event).

In-article and in-feed (aka in-page) video ads

In-page video ad formats are a type of video advertising that does not require existing streaming content to house their feature. As a standalone video ad format, in-page video ads enable publishers to tap into video advertising budgets without the need for creating their own video content. In-page video ads is a term often used to describe different types of outstream video advertising. Most commonly, In-article and In-feed, which in turn can often be referred to as Native advertising as well. As confusing as that sounds, In-page video ads are very common and used by a large amount premium content publishers.

In‑article video ads

Ads with video-only creatives, which appear between paragraphs of editorial content, existing as a standalone branded message.

 

In‑feed video ads

Ads with video-only creatives, which appear in a social feed, without the additional style assets or configurations that appear in native video ads.

Rendering

The same default rendering exists for all in-article and in-feed video ads:

1. When 50% of the ad unit is visible, the video automatically plays in a muted state and is automatically paused when out of view. An impression is counted on rendering the first frame of the video.
2. Once the video is finished, the ad unit remains visible with an end card, which displays the last frame of the video and a “Learn more” button which clicks to the advertiser site.
3. The user has the ability to click for sound, or to replay the ad once it’s complete.

Video ad placements for in-article and in-feed video ads must be at least 256 pixels in both their longer and shorter dimensions (with the exception of 300×250 and 320×180, which are also permitted) and maintain an aspect ratio that complies with the video publisher policy.

It is allowed to show one video ad block per page.

You can find other requirements for in-article and in-feed video ads here:

Requirements for in-article & in-feed video ads – Google Ad Manager Help

Related resources:

About video ad formats
Explaining the 5 Different Types of YouTube Ads
Video ad formats
Overview of in-article & in-feed video ads – Google Ad Manager HelpA Guide To In-Page Video Ad Formats – PubGalaxy