Google Ads (Display) HTML5 banner specs

Google's self-serve buying platform for the Google Display Network. Accepts HTML5 packages uploaded directly to the account, where the click destination is supplied at trafficking time rather than baked into the creative.

Sourced from Google Ads (Display) documentation · 21 September 2026Foldwrap exports to Google Ads (Display)

Also known as Google, Google Ads, AdWords, Google Display Network, GDN, Google AdWords.

Check a ZIP against Google Ads (Display)Export a bundle for Google Ads (Display)

Google Ads (Display) banner requirements

Category	Network
Regions	GLOBAL
Maximum ZIP size	600 KB zipped
Maximum files in the ZIP	40
Entry file	index.html
Account eligibility	HTML5 upload is not available to every account. Google requires the account to have been open more than 90 days, to have more than $9,000 USD total lifetime spend, and to have a good policy-compliance history, and it must then be approved on application (the API doc also allows an account allowlist for the feature).
Ad size meta tag	Required — width={w},height={h}
External assets	Approved hosts only
External fonts	Allowed
CDN libraries	Allowed
Click method	vendor click API
Click URL at export	Left empty — the platform sets it when the ad is trafficked
Multiple click destinations	One click area per banner

Official requirements Also from Google Ads (Display): Uploaded display ads specifications, Fix error messages with Uploaded ads, Google Web Designer Ad Validator (Google Ads checks), Official AdWords HTML5 asset validator.

Google Ads (Display) required scripts

Google Ads (Display) requires its own library in the document. Foldwrap adds it automatically on export.

https://tpc.googlesyndication.com/pagead/gadgets/html5/api/exitapi.js

<script src="https://tpc.googlesyndication.com/pagead/gadgets/html5/api/exitapi.js"></script>

Google's official exit API. Must be a literal <script> in <head>; the CTA calls ExitApi.exit(). The AdWords validator FAILs any bundle without the call.

Why Google Ads (Display) rejects a banner

These are the rules Foldwrap checks a package against before it is delivered to Google Ads (Display). Each is derived from the requirements above, so a constraint Google Ads (Display) does not state is not checked and is not listed.

errorad.size meta tag missingAdd <meta name="ad.size" content="width=300,height=250"> to the head.
errorExceeds size limitCompress images, subset fonts to the glyphs actually used, and drop unused assets.
errorExternal reference not permittedInline or bundle the asset instead of loading it from an external host.
errorNo entry HTMLAdd index.html at the ZIP root.
errorReferenced asset is not in the packageRe-export the creative so every referenced asset is bundled.
errorRequired platform script missingRe-export for Google Ads (Display) - Foldwrap adds this script automatically.
errorRequired script must load first
errorToo many filesCombine sprites, inline small assets, or remove unused files.
warningad.size does not match the creativeRe-export so the declared size matches the canvas.
warningElement destinations flatten hereKeep a target that supports element destinations in the set, or set a default click URL that suits every element.
warningNested archive detectedUnpack the inner archive and re-zip a single creative.

Foldwrap runs these checks on every package it exports for Google Ads (Display), and names the creative and the constraint when one fails.

Sources

Every figure above, with the document it came from and the date we read it.

h5validator.appspot.com · retrieved 21 September 2026
By default, creatives for Google Ads exit to the final URL specified within Google Ads (for example, your homepage URL).
support.google.com · retrieved 21 September 2026 · likely
Google Ads doesn't allow multiple exits. Remove multiple exits and try to re-upload the ads.
support.google.com · retrieved 21 September 2026
600 KB or smaller
support.google.com · retrieved 18 September 2026
The size 600 KB or smaller applies to all files in your zip
support.google.com · retrieved 18 September 2026
no more than 40 files may be included in a ZIP folder
support.google.com · retrieved 18 September 2026
Account has been open for more than 90 days
support.google.com · retrieved 21 September 2026
Ad format size meta tag within the <head> tag. For example: <meta name="ad.size" content="width=300,height=250">
support.google.com · retrieved 20 September 2026
All code and assets must be referenced using a relative path to resources included in the ZIP file. No external references are allowed except references to: Google Fonts, Google-hosted CreateJS, Google-hosted Greensock, Google-hosted jQuery.
support.google.com · retrieved 20 September 2026
All code and assets must be referenced using a relative path to resources included in the ZIP file. No external references are allowed except references to: Google Fonts, Google-hosted CreateJS, Google-hosted Greensock, Google-hosted jQuery.
support.google.com · retrieved 20 September 2026
References to assets should use relative paths to resources included in the published .zip file. Exceptions include Google Fonts (https://fonts.google.com) and Google-hosted jQuery (https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery).
support.google.com · retrieved 21 September 2026 · likely

Frequently asked

What is the maximum file size for a Google Ads (Display) HTML5 banner?

Google Ads (Display) accepts an HTML5 package up to 600 KB zipped. Note what the cap measures: a bundle can compress under the limit and still be refused if the figure is taken unzipped.

Can a Google Ads (Display) banner have more than one clickable link?

No. Google Ads (Display) takes a single click destination for the whole banner, so every click goes to the same page regardless of which element was clicked.

Can a Google Ads (Display) banner load fonts or scripts from a CDN?

Google Ads (Display) permits external hosts only from an approved list. Anything outside it must be bundled inside the ZIP.

Other platforms

Compare every platform side by side, or produce a Google Ads (Display)-ready bundle from an approved Figma design with Foldwrap.