The Trade Desk HTML5 banner specs

The largest independent demand-side platform. Ingests a hosted HTML5 ZIP directly, or a third-party ad tag, and serves it as a full HTML page in an iframe. The click destination arrives as a `clickTAG` query parameter on the ad URL - the name is case-sensitive and defaults to capital TAG - so the creative reads it at runtime instead of expecting the file to be rewritten. Animation is capped at 15 seconds, after which the ad must hold static.

Sourced from The Trade Desk documentation · 22 September 2026Foldwrap exports to The Trade Desk

Also known as Trade Desk, TTD, thetradedesk, TDD.

Check a ZIP against The Trade Desk Export a bundle for The Trade Desk

The Trade Desk banner requirements

Category	DSP
Regions	GLOBAL
Maximum ZIP size	10 MB zipped
Maximum initial load	300 KB
Maximum subload	600 KB
Maximum files in the ZIP	100
Entry file	index.html
ZIP structure	Entry file must sit at the ZIP root
Ad size meta tag	Optional
External assets	External assets allowed
CDN libraries	Allowed
Click method	clickTag on the ad URL
Click variable	clickTAG
Click URL query parameter	clickTAG
Click URL at export	Left empty — the platform sets it when the ad is trafficked
Multiple click destinations	One click area per banner
Maximum animation length	15s
Animation must stop	Yes, once the limit is reached
Audio	Allowed
Backup image	Not required

Official requirements Also from The Trade Desk: Creative Specifications (PDF), Creative specifications (landing page).

The Trade Desk clickTag code

This is the click declaration Foldwrap writes into an HTML5 export for The Trade Desk, with a placeholder destination. Copy it into your own creative if you are hand-building the banner.

The Trade Desk clickTag

var clickTAG = (function () { var m = new RegExp('[?&]' + "clickTAG" + '=([^&]*)', 'i').exec(window.location.search); return m ? decodeURIComponent(m[1]) : "https://www.example.com/landing"; })();

The Trade Desk sets the destination at trafficking time, so an empty value in the exported file is correct and expected.

Why The Trade Desk rejects a banner

These are the rules Foldwrap checks a package against before it is delivered to The Trade Desk. Each is derived from the requirements above, so a constraint The Trade Desk does not state is not checked and is not listed.

errorAnimation runs longer than allowedShorten the timeline or reduce the loop count.
errorClick is not wired for this platformDeclare clickTAG in the creative and open it on click.
errorEntry HTML is not at the ZIP rootRe-zip the contents, not the containing folder.
errorExceeds size limitCompress images, subset fonts to the glyphs actually used, and drop unused assets.
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.
errorToo many filesCombine sprites, inline small assets, or remove unused files.
errorUnsupported code found
warningElement destinations flatten hereKeep a target that supports element destinations in the set, or set a default click URL that suits every element.

Foldwrap runs these checks on every package it exports for The Trade Desk, 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.

A click tag is a parameter used in HTML5 banner ads. The parameter is a variable that defines the destination URL and is provided in the primary HTML file as a URL parameter. ... The Trade Desk Platform defaults to clickTAG.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026
When the user clicks the ad, the creative must direct the user to the correct click tag page in a new window.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026
The parameter is a variable that defines the destination URL and is provided in the primary HTML file as a URL parameter. ... You can customize the name of the URL parameter when uploading or editing the creative.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026
ZIP file compressed | Less than 10 MB
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026
The following table lists the maximum file size requirements for compressed files.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026
ZIP files must contain no more than 100 files, including at least one HTML file for use as the initiating file for display.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026
Initial load | 300 KB (200 KB recommended)
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026
Subload | 600 KB
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026
You can include only HTML, JS, CSS, MP4, JPG, JPEG, GIF, PNG, and SVG files in a ZIP file.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026
When packaging HTML5 creatives, include the asset files, not the folder containing them, in the ZIP file.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026
The primary HTML file should be located in the root of the ZIP file.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026
You can use one of the following packaging options: A single HTML file. ... A single root/main HTML file with supporting images. ... including at least one HTML file for use as the initiating file for display.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026 · likely
The IAB recommends adding the dimensions of your creative to your primary HTML document in a meta tag inside of the <head> section of your document. ... If an ad.size meta tag is not provided in the primary HTML document, you are prompted to enter dimensions when you submit the creative.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026 · likely
Commonly used JavaScript and CSS libraries (such as jQuery) do not need to be included with the creative.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026 · likely
Commonly used JavaScript and CSS libraries (such as jQuery) do not need to be included with the creative.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026 · likely
Avoid the use of video tags in HTML5.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026
Animated ads are restricted to a maximum of 15 seconds of looping, after which they must remain static.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026
Animated ads are restricted to a maximum of 15 seconds of looping, after which they must remain static.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026
Audio tags should play only if a user intentionally starts the audio.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026
Audio tags should play only if a user intentionally starts the audio.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026
You may not use dynamic or expandable creatives as HTML5 creatives.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026
You can upload a static backup image to be displayed if the ad is served to a user who has JavaScript disabled.
assets.thetradedesk.com · retrieved 22 September 2026

Frequently asked

What is the maximum file size for a The Trade Desk HTML5 banner?

The Trade Desk accepts an HTML5 package up to 10 MB zipped. Note what the cap measures: a bundle can compress under the limit and still be refused if the figure is taken unzipped.

How do I set the clickTag for The Trade Desk?

Declare clickTAG in the creative. The Trade Desk replaces the value when the ad is trafficked, so exporting with an empty destination is normal and correct.

Can a The Trade Desk banner have more than one clickable link?

No. The Trade Desk 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 The Trade Desk banner load fonts or scripts from a CDN?

The Trade Desk permits assets and libraries loaded from external hosts, so a font or a CDN-hosted library in the markup is acceptable.

Other platforms

Compare every platform side by side, or produce a The Trade Desk-ready bundle from an approved Figma design with Foldwrap.