15-second skippable in-stream
Front-load the product in the first 5 seconds, before the skip button appears.
YouTube Ads: Formats, Specs, Cost and AI Ad Maker
A YouTube ad is a video Google Ads plays before, during or beside YouTube videos and in Shorts. Viewers can skip in-stream ads after 5 seconds, bumper ads last 5 to 6 seconds, and Google recommends 1920 x 1080 for landscape. Reviral makes a 15-second 16:9 or 9:16 YouTube ad from product photos for 278 credits (~$3.47).
No credit card required to try — sign in with email or Google.
- 16:9 landscape or 9:16 Shorts ad, 15 seconds
- Matches Google's 15-20 second awareness length
- Free storyboard and spoken lines
- Credit price shown before you render
YouTube ad formats and lengths
From Google Ads Help.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Skippable in-stream | Viewers can skip after 5 seconds; any length, Google suggests 15-20 s for awareness and action, 2-3 min for consideration |
| Non-skippable in-stream | 60 seconds or shorter (standard non-skippable runs 7-15 s; 16-30 s on connected TV) |
| Bumper | Non-skippable, 5 to 6 seconds |
| Shorts ads | Under 60 seconds recommended |
| Headline (in-stream) | 15 characters or fewer |
Read from each site's own page on 21 October 2026: Google Ads Help: About video ad formats · Google Ads Help: Skippable in-stream ads
YouTube video ad specs
Google's specs for every YouTube format.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Recommended size | 1920 x 1080 (16:9), 1080 x 1920 (9:16), 1080 x 1080 (1:1) |
| Minimum HD size | 1280 x 720, 720 x 1280, 480 x 480 |
| Other accepted ratios | 4:3, 2:3, 4:5 |
| File size | 256 GB or less |
| Not accepted | Audio-only files such as MP3, WAV or PCM |
| Thumbnail | 1280 x 720 px, 16:9, JPG, GIF or PNG, under 2 MB |
Read from each site's own page on 21 October 2026: Google Ads Help: About video ad specs
How much do YouTube ads cost?
Google Ads has no minimum budget; Google suggests new advertisers start with $5 to $50 a day. With cost-per-view bidding you pay when someone watches 30 seconds of an in-stream ad, or the whole ad if it is shorter, or interacts with it.
With Target CPM, Target CPA or Maximize conversions bidding you pay by impressions instead. A 15-second ad counts as a paid view once it plays to the end. Making that 15-second video on Reviral costs 278 credits (~$3.47).
Read from each site's own page on 21 October 2026: Google Ads Help: What's online marketing? · Google Ads Help: About cost-per-view bidding · Google Ads Help: About video ad formats
What Reviral makes for YouTube
Pick 16:9 in the UGC studio for in-stream and in-feed ads, or 9:16 for Shorts ads. Both match Google's recommended shapes.
A 15-second ad sits inside Google's 15-20 second guidance for awareness and action campaigns, and inside the 15-second standard non-skippable slot.
Ways to use this tool
Shorts ad in 9:16
The same product story in vertical, sized for YouTube Shorts.
Cinematic TV-spot style
A polished product commercial for brand awareness.
Tutorial-style demo
Show the product being used, step by step, in one clip.
How it works
Step 1
Add the product
Upload product photos or paste a product link.
Step 2
Choose 16:9 or 9:16
Landscape for in-stream, vertical for Shorts.
Step 3
Shape the first 5 seconds
Edit the storyboard so the product shows before the skip button.
Step 4
Upload to YouTube, then Google Ads
Google Ads runs ads from a public or unlisted YouTube video.
Real examples
Click any example to play it. Every clip below is an existing Reviral render.
Cinematic product commercial
LED face-mask product ad
What it costs
A 15-second UGC ad at 720p costs 278 credits (~$3.47).
Changing the video's length, media type, or resolution can change the final price.
Prices checked 21 October 2026. Dollar figures use the $4.99 Mini Pack rate. Cached for up to 1 hour.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a YouTube ad?
- A YouTube ad is a video bought in Google Ads that plays before, during or after YouTube videos, in the feed or in Shorts. The main formats are skippable in-stream, non-skippable in-stream, bumper, in-feed and Shorts ads.
- Is there a free AI YouTube ad builder with no watermark?
- You can try it free online. Sign-up gives 100 free credits with no card. Videos from an account that has never paid carry a Reviral logo; buying any credit pack removes it. Reviral needs a sign-in, so there is no no-sign-up mode.
- Can I make a YouTube ad from a photo?
- Yes. Upload one main product photo, plus up to four extra angles if they help, and Reviral's UGC studio turns it into a 15-second 16:9 or 9:16 video ad. For the thumbnail, Google asks for 1280 x 720 px, 16:9, under 2 MB.
- Can AI write a YouTube ad script?
- Yes. Reviral drafts the storyboard and spoken lines for free from your product photos and facts. For skippable ads, rewrite the opening so the product and the promise land before the 5-second skip.
- What are good YouTube ad ideas?
- For a 15-second slot: a product demo, a tutorial, a problem-and-solution or a cinematic TV spot. Google suggests 15-20 seconds for awareness and action goals and 2-3 minutes when the goal is consideration.
- How long does YouTube ad review take?
- Google says most ads are reviewed within one business day; complex reviews take longer, and an ad in review for more than 2 business days is worth checking.
Read from each site's own page on 21 October 2026: Google Ads Help: About the ad review process
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