> Quick answer: Google Story Image Ads are vertical 9:16 images for YouTube Shorts, Discover, and in-feed placements. Recommended size is 1080×1920px. Maximum file size is 5MB (.jpg or .png). Keep logos and CTAs inside the safe zone to avoid platform UI overlap.
---
What Are Google Story Image Ads?
Definition and where they appear
Google Story Image Ads are full-screen vertical images in a 9:16 format. They run on YouTube Shorts, Google Discover, and in-feed placements across mobile. Per Google's Ads Help Center, the format is available in both Demand Gen and Performance Max campaigns. It is designed to match how mobile users already consume content.
Why vertical format matters for mobile
Most people hold their phones upright. A landscape ad gets cropped or shrunk to fit. A vertical ad fills the entire screen. That full-screen presence gives your brand more room to make an impression and your CTA a better chance to convert.
---
Story Image Ad Specifications & Requirements
Dimensions (9:16 ratio)
Google's Ads Help Center specifies a recommended size of 1080×1920 pixels. The minimum accepted size is 600×1067 pixels. Always target 1080×1920. Anything smaller risks looking soft on high-resolution phone screens.
File size and format
Maximum file size is 5MB. Accepted formats are .jpg and .png only. Compress your files to reduce load time without visible quality loss. Stay well under the 5MB ceiling.
Safe zones and text placement
Safe zones for 9:16 story images mirror the YouTube Shorts safe zones, per Google's Ads Help Center. Platform UI overlays cover the top and bottom edges of the frame. Critical elements placed in those areas get hidden. Google also allows text and logo overlays on images but recommends including at least one overlay-free image per aspect ratio.
---
Step-by-Step: How to Design Your Story Image Ad
Step 1: Create or source a vertical image
Start with a 1080×1920px canvas. Choose a clear, strong subject. Product close-ups and lifestyle shots both work. Never crop a horizontal image to fit. You will lose too much visual impact.
Step 2: Plan your composition with safe zones
Mark your safe zone boundaries before placing any elements. Avoid the top and bottom edges of the frame. This protects logos, headlines, and CTAs from being hidden by YouTube Shorts interface buttons and overlays.
Step 3: Add text, logos, and CTA strategically
Place your main headline and CTA in the central safe area. Keep copy short. One headline, one CTA. Your logo goes in the upper safe zone, not pressed against the very top edge. Text-heavy ads feel cluttered. Let the visual carry the weight.
Step 4: Export and optimize file size
Export as .jpg or .png. Aim to come in well under 5MB. Run the file through a compression tool to reduce size without visible degradation. Always check the final image on a real phone screen before uploading.
---
Design Best Practices for Story Ads
Keep critical elements in the safe zone
This is the most common mistake. A CTA placed too low gets buried under a YouTube Shorts action button. Map out the safe zone on your canvas and never place key elements outside it.
Use high-resolution images
Low-resolution source files look blurry on modern phones. Always start at 1080×1920. Never scale up from a smaller image. Quality matters more in a full-screen format than in a banner.
Balance text and visuals
Heavy text blocks make story ads feel cluttered and hard to scan. Short copy converts better. Use the image to tell the story and copy to direct action.
Test variations across aspect ratios
Google recommends a "rule of three": include at least 3 images in each aspect ratio (vertical, square, landscape) per ad group. More formats unlock more eligible placements. More placements mean better reach and more data.
---
Where to Upload Story Image Ads
Performance Max campaigns
Performance Max now supports vertical 9:16 story image ads alongside its other asset types. Upload your vertical image in the asset group. Google auto-assigns it to placements based on predicted performance.
Demand Gen campaigns
Demand Gen was the first campaign type to support story image ads. Upload 9:16 images directly in your ad group. They serve on YouTube Shorts for a full-screen experience and on Discover for visual browsing placements.
---
Optimize Story Ads Faster with Coinis
Designing for multiple aspect ratios manually takes time. Coinis cuts that process down fast.
Use the Image Ads workflow to generate a vertical creative from a product URL. No manual canvas setup required. Coinis builds on-brand vertical images ready for you to download and upload to Google Ads.
Need a square or landscape version of the same creative. Coinis Revise includes Smart Resize. One click adapts your 9:16 image to any aspect ratio. No rebuilding the design from scratch. No extra hours in a design tool.
Revise also handles text edits, color swaps, and object removal. Refresh a story ad creative in minutes. Faster than starting over every time a campaign needs a new look.
---
Or let Coinis do it.
From a product URL to a live Meta campaign. AI-generated creatives. On-brand copy. Direct publish to Facebook and Instagram. Real performance reporting. All in one platform.
Start free. Upgrade when you're ready.
15 AI tokens a month. No credit card.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size should a Google Story Image Ad be?
The recommended size is 1080×1920 pixels (9:16 ratio). The minimum accepted size is 600×1067 pixels. Always target 1080×1920 for the best quality across YouTube Shorts and Discover placements.
Where do Google Story Image Ads appear?
Google Story Image Ads serve on YouTube Shorts, Google Discover, and in-feed placements. They are available in both Performance Max and Demand Gen campaigns.
What file formats does Google accept for Story Image Ads?
Google accepts .jpg and .png files only. The maximum file size is 5MB. Compress your file to stay under that limit without sacrificing visible image quality.
What is the safe zone for Google Story Image Ads?
The safe zones for 9:16 story images mirror YouTube Shorts safe zones, per Google's Ads Help Center. Avoid placing logos, text, or CTAs near the top and bottom edges of the frame. Platform UI overlays in those areas can cover your key elements.