> Quick answer: Google carousel ads run in Demand Gen and Discovery campaigns. Use landscape (1200×628) or square (1200×1200) images. All cards must share the same aspect ratio. Each card gets its own headline of about 40 characters. Tell a connected story across 2 to 10 cards.
Google carousel ads show multiple swipeable image cards in a single ad unit. Done right, they outperform static ads and tell a story no single image can. Here is how to design them correctly.
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What Are Google Carousel Ads?
Carousel ads give you multiple cards to make your case. Each card has its own image, headline, and link.
Definition and Placement
Per Google's Ads Help Center, carousel ads run inside Demand Gen and Discovery campaigns. They appear on YouTube, Gmail, and across Google's Discover feed. Each carousel holds 2 to 10 images. Viewers swipe through cards on mobile or scroll them on desktop.
Why Carousel Ads Outperform Static Formats
Carousel ads consistently drive higher engagement and click-through rates than single-image ads. More cards mean more chances to connect with the right buyer at the right moment.
Multi-Card Storytelling Structure
Think of every carousel as a short story. Card one grabs attention. Middle cards build the case. The final card drives the click. Beginning, middle, end.
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Image Specifications for Google Carousel Ads
Get the specs right before you open any design tool. Wrong dimensions waste production time.
Supported Aspect Ratios
Per Google's Ads Help Center, Discovery carousel ads support landscape (1.91:1) and square (1:1) only. Portrait format is not supported for carousels. All cards in a single carousel must use the same aspect ratio.
Recommended Dimensions by Format
For landscape: 1200×628px, with a minimum of 600×314px. For square: 1200×1200px, with a minimum of 300×300px. Always target the recommended sizes. Minimum-spec images often look blurry on high-resolution screens.
File Format and Size Requirements
JPG and PNG are the only accepted formats. Maximum file size is 5MB per image.
Minimum vs. Recommended Resolution
Minimum dimensions exist, but they are a floor, not a target. Stay at or above 1200px on the longest side. Crisp images build trust and hold attention.
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How to Design Effective Carousel Cards
Correct specs get your ad approved. Smart design gets the swipe.
Storytelling Best Practices
Start with a strong hook on card one. Build curiosity or tension through the middle cards. Close with a clear, specific call to action. Viewers who reach the last card are your warmest prospects.
Sequential Design: Each Card Advances the Story
Every card should make the viewer want to see the next one. Avoid repeating the same message in different images. Each card earns the next swipe.
Mix Content Types
Combine product shots, lifestyle images, and social proof cards. A mix of content types sustains attention across the full card set. Monotony kills the swipe.
Maintain Consistent Branding Across Cards
Use the same color palette, fonts, and visual style on every card. The carousel should feel like one cohesive ad, not a random collection.
Copy Guidelines: Headlines and Descriptions Per Card
Each card takes its own headline of around 40 characters. One shared ad set headline covers the campaign level. Descriptions run about 90 characters. Keep copy tight. Let the image carry the visual weight.
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Step-by-Step Design Process
1. Plan Your Narrative and Card Sequence
Sketch the story before touching design tools. Map what each card says and shows. A clear sequence prevents wasted cards.
2. Prepare Images at Correct Dimensions
Lock in your aspect ratio first. Use 1200×628 for landscape or 1200×1200 for square. Do not mix aspect ratios within one carousel.
3. Craft Headlines and Descriptions for Each Card
Write card headlines before you design. Keep each one under 40 characters. Let copy and image work together from the start, not as an afterthought.
4. Design for Mobile-First Viewing
Most viewers see carousel ads on a phone. Text near the edges can get clipped. Keep critical visuals and copy in the center safe zone.
5. Test Aspect Ratios to Optimize Performance
Per Google's Ads Help Center, run one carousel with landscape images and a second with square images. The data reveals which format your audience prefers. Test before scaling budget.
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Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mixing aspect ratios. All cards must match. Google will not serve a carousel with inconsistent image formats.
Standalone cards that don't advance the story. Cards without narrative purpose waste swipes and budget.
Low-resolution images. Blurry visuals signal low quality. Stay at or above the recommended dimensions.
Copy that ignores the visual. Each headline should reinforce what the image shows, not repeat it in words.
Skipping mobile safe zones. Text too close to card edges disappears on small screens, right where most viewers swipe.
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Generate Carousel Ads Faster with Coinis
Designing 6 to 10 carousel cards individually takes hours. Coinis cuts that down significantly.
Use Image Ads to Batch-Generate Carousel Cards
The Image Ads workflow generates multiple on-brand ad images from a product URL or concept. Build a full card set without sourcing or manually designing each image. Faster production means more time to test.
Maintain Brand Consistency with Brand Profile
Brand Profile stores your colors, fonts, tone, and visual style. Every generated card inherits your brand identity automatically. No drift across cards. No manual style checks.
Test Multiple Design Variations Without Manual Creation
Generate several creative directions at once. Pick the strongest set and move forward. No redesigns from scratch when one concept underperforms.
Scale from Concept to Multi-Card Ad Set in Minutes
Coinis does not publish directly to Google Ads today. Google Ads support is on the roadmap. But Coinis handles the hardest part: generating great creatives at scale. Download your finished cards, upload them to Google Ads, and launch.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many images can a Google carousel ad contain?
Between 2 and 10 images, depending on the campaign type. Each image becomes its own swipeable card with a unique headline and destination URL.
Can I mix landscape and square images within one Google carousel ad?
No. All cards in a single Google carousel must use the same aspect ratio. Mixing landscape and square images within one carousel is not supported and will prevent the ad from serving correctly.
What image file formats does Google accept for carousel ads?
JPG and PNG only. Each image must be 5MB or smaller. Recommended dimensions are 1200×628px for landscape and 1200×1200px for square.
Does portrait format work for Google carousel ads?
No. Portrait format is not supported for Google Discovery or Demand Gen carousel ads. Only landscape (1.91:1) and square (1:1) aspect ratios are accepted.