- Resize Google Story Image Ads to 1080×1920 px at a 9:16 aspect ratio for best quality.
- The minimum accepted size is 600×1067 px — anything smaller gets rejected instantly.
- All key content must stay inside the center 80% safe zone to avoid edge cropping.
- Keep files under 5 MB in JPG or PNG format before uploading.
- Design vertical from the start — cropping landscape images into 9:16 rarely works well.
- Coinis Revise Smart Resize auto-fits any image to 1080×1920 in one click.
Quick answer: Resize to 1080×1920 px, 9:16 aspect ratio, under 5 MB. Keep all logos, text, and key visuals inside the center 80% of the image. That is the whole job.
What Are Google Story Image Ads?
Story Image Ads are full-screen vertical creatives for mobile placements. They run inside Performance Max and Demand Gen campaigns. Google added them to compete on mobile-first placements where landscape images look small and out of place.
The 9:16 vertical format explained
9:16 means the image is taller than it is wide. Think smartphone screen held upright. The format fills the full display with no blank bars on the sides.
Where they appear
Story Image Ads run in Performance Max and Demand Gen campaigns. Demand Gen places them on YouTube Shorts. Performance Max distributes them across Google's broader inventory. Per Google's Ads Help Center, exact placements can vary by campaign and audience signal.
Why Google added this format
Mobile traffic dominates digital. Vertical content holds attention longer on phone screens. Landscape images shrink to thumbnails in vertical feeds. This format was Google's answer to that problem.
---
Exact Dimensions and File Requirements for Google Story Ads
Per Google's Ads Help Center documentation on Performance Max image assets, these are the hard specs. Do not guess at these numbers.
Minimum size: 600×1067 pixels
This is the floor. Below it, Google rejects the upload immediately. Do not try to cut corners here.
Recommended size: 1080×1920 pixels
Always build at 1080×1920 px. The minimum gets you past the gate. The recommended size delivers sharp, professional quality across every screen size and placement.
File size limit: 5 MB
JPG and PNG are the accepted formats. Keep your file under 5 MB. Compress before uploading if needed. JPG handles compression well without visible quality loss.
Aspect ratio: 9:16
The ratio must be exactly 9:16. Any other ratio gets rejected or auto-cropped badly. Build for this ratio from the first pixel.
---
Safe Zone Rules for Vertical Story Ads
The 80% center safe zone principle
Google's Ads Help Center is direct on this. All critical content must stay within the center 80% of the image. The outer 10% on each edge can get cut depending on the device, screen size, or placement.
Where to place critical content and branding
Put your logo, headline, and call-to-action inside the center 80% box. Nothing important in the corners. Nothing important near the top or bottom edges.
Text overlay best practices
Keep text minimal. Google's documentation recommends uploading at least one version without any text overlay per aspect ratio. If you add text, keep it centered, large enough to read on a small screen, and well away from all edges.
Edge cropping across placements
A tall phone and a shorter phone display the same ad differently. The center 80% rule protects you from unexpected crops across that variety of devices.
---
How to Resize Images to 1080×1920 (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Export at the right dimensions
Open your image in any editor. Set the canvas to 1080 wide by 1920 tall. Lock the 9:16 ratio. Export as JPG or PNG and confirm the file is under 5 MB.
Step 2: Check the safe zone and composition
Draw or visualize a box covering the center 80% of your canvas. Move all text, logos, and key visuals inside that box. Leave the outer edges empty.
Step 3: Test in Google Ads
Upload the image to your Performance Max or Demand Gen campaign. Preview it across placements. Confirm nothing critical is clipped or hidden.
Using Coinis Revise Smart Resize for automated fitting
Skip the manual canvas work. Coinis Revise includes Smart Resize. Upload any existing image. Select the 9:16 vertical output. The AI fits the composition to 1080×1920, keeping your key elements centered and inside the safe zone. No manual cropping. No guessing.
---
Common Mistakes When Resizing for Story Image Ads
Text or logos too close to edges. They get cropped on certain devices. Move everything to the center 80%.
Uploading below 600×1067 px. Google rejects it on the spot. Always clear the minimum.
File over 5 MB. The upload fails. Compress before you submit.
Ignoring safe zones. Even if the image passes technical checks, edge content disappears on some placements. The safe zone is not optional.
---
Pro Tips for Creating High-Performing Vertical Ads
Design vertical from the start. Cropping a landscape image to 9:16 almost never works. The subject ends up off-center or half-visible. Build vertical intentionally.
Use one strong visual. Vertical formats reward bold, simple images. Busy backgrounds get lost on small screens.
Keep text short. One headline. One key benefit. Mobile users scroll fast and read less.
Test multiple creatives. Upload two or three vertical variants. Performance Max rotates them and favors the better performer over time.
---
Or skip the steps.
Coinis Revise edits any ad image with AI. Move text. Change text. Swap colors. Erase objects. Translate to any language. One click each.
No design skills. No Photoshop. One click.
15 AI tokens a month. No credit card.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct size for a Google Story Image Ad?
The recommended size is 1080×1920 pixels at a 9:16 aspect ratio. The minimum accepted size is 600×1067 pixels, but 1080×1920 gives you the sharpest quality across all placements. Files must be under 5 MB in JPG or PNG format.
What is the safe zone for Google Story Image Ads?
Per Google's Ads Help Center, all important content must stay within the center 80% of the image. The outer edges can be cropped depending on device screen size and placement. Keep logos, text, and calls-to-action well inside that central area.
Can I reuse a landscape or square image for Google Story ads?
Not directly. Google requires a 9:16 vertical aspect ratio for Story Image Ads. Cropping a landscape image usually cuts off key visuals or shifts the subject out of frame. It is much better to create a vertical version from scratch or use a tool like Coinis Revise Smart Resize to refit the composition automatically.
Do Google Story Image Ads run on Performance Max and Demand Gen?
Yes. Vertical 9:16 Story Image Ads are supported in both Performance Max and Demand Gen campaigns. Demand Gen places them on YouTube Shorts. Performance Max distributes them across Google's broader inventory based on campaign settings and audience signals.