Google Ads campaigns run indefinitely by default. Without an end date, ads keep spending after your promotion is over.
Setting an end date takes under a minute and stops your campaign automatically, with no manual monitoring required.
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Quick answer: Click the gear icon next to your campaign, expand Start and end dates, select an end date, and click Save. Ads stop at 11:59 p.m. on that date in your account's time zone.
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Why Set an End Date for Your Google Ads Campaign
Per Google's Ads Help Center, the default setting for every campaign is no end date. That means ads run until you manually pause or remove them.
An end date is critical for:
- Limited-time sales or discount windows
- Event-tied promotions with a hard deadline
- Product launches with a fixed go-live period
- Fixed budgets that must not be overrun
Setting an end date removes the risk of ads running on a stale offer. It also gives finance teams a predictable spend window.
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How to Set an End Date for a Single Campaign
Follow these four steps inside your Google Ads account.
Navigate to your campaign settings
Sign in to Google Ads. Click the Campaigns icon in the left navigation panel. Find the campaign you want to update.
Locate the Start and End Dates section
Click the gear icon beside the campaign name. A Settings popout window opens on the right. Click the dropdown arrow to expand Start and end dates.
Select your end date
Click the End date dropdown. A calendar picker appears. Select the date you want the campaign to stop running.
Save your changes
Click Save. The campaign will now stop automatically at 11:59 p.m. on your selected date. Per Google's Ads Help Center, this time is always based on the time zone configured in your Google Ads account, not your local device time. Double-check your account time zone under Admin > Account settings if you are unsure.
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What Happens When Your Campaign End Date Arrives
Your ads stop running
At 11:59 p.m. on the end date, Google Ads automatically halts all ad delivery. No manual action is needed.
Campaign status changes to 'Ended'
The status column for your campaign updates to Ended. Historical performance data and reporting remain fully accessible.
You can still pause, resume, or remove the campaign
An Ended campaign is not deleted. You can reactivate it by editing the end date to a future date. You can also remove it entirely. Budget from the ended campaign does not carry over to other campaigns automatically.
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How to Set End Dates for Multiple Campaigns at Once
Bulk editing is the fastest path when you manage several campaigns with the same flight dates.
- Go to the Campaigns page in Google Ads.
- Check the boxes next to every campaign you want to update.
- Click Edit in the top action bar.
- Select Change end date from the dropdown menu.
- Enter the new end date.
- Click Apply.
Google Ads applies the same end date across every selected campaign. Confirm each campaign's settings after applying to verify the changes are correct.
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Setting Precise Start and End Times (Reservation Campaigns)
Standard campaigns always end at 11:59 p.m. Reservation campaigns let you go further and set an exact hour and minute.
Per Google's Ads Help Center, the default start time is 12:00 a.m. and the default end time is 11:59 p.m. on your selected dates. Reservation campaigns let you override these defaults with a specific time.
A few rules to know:
- All times are based on your Google Ads account's configured time zone.
- Daylight Saving Time adjustments are handled automatically. No manual calculation required.
- Most campaign types require a minimum flight duration of 24 hours.
- CPH (cost-per-hour) campaigns require a minimum of 60 minutes.
If you run time-sensitive promotions, precise end times prevent your campaign from accidentally running an extra 23 hours past your intended cutoff.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set an end date on individual ads or ad groups?
No. End dates apply at the campaign level only. There is no option to set an end date on a specific ad or ad group within Google Ads.
Which time zone does the Google Ads end date use?
The end date always uses the time zone configured in your Google Ads account settings, not your local device time. Your campaign ends at 11:59 p.m. in that account time zone.
Can I change the end date after a campaign has already started?
Yes. You can update the end date at any time while the campaign is active. Once the campaign has reached its end date and the status shows Ended, you can still reactivate it by setting a new future end date.
What happens to my remaining budget when a campaign ends?
Unspent budget from an ended campaign does not carry over to other campaigns automatically. Google Ads stops charging once delivery halts at the end date.