Matching creative sizes to available placements

Choose display creative sizes from placements the campaign can buy, then verify each asset's declared serving dimensions. Common banner dimensions are reference points, not proof that a slot is available under the campaign's targeting or a private deal.

Start with the intended buy

Set the buying route, geography, device, environment and publishers or deals before choosing dimensions. In Display & Video 360, use the Inventory Availability report as the reference for available inventory; plan from it, but do not treat it as a delivery promise.

Recognise these named dimensions when comparing placements: IAB standard sizes include 300×250 medium rectangle, 728×90 leaderboard, 160×600 wide skyscraper and 300×600. Other named examples include 970×250 billboard, 300×600 half page (double MPU) and the IAB 320×50 banner; these are candidates to check, not a promise of available inventory.

For an open auction buy, inspect the dimensions available under the relevant targeting. For a private deal, confirm slot dimensions with the publisher, then compare them with incoming requests when the deal runs.

Prioritise sizes by their fit with the intended placements and campaign goal, not by potential impression volume alone. A familiar size name does not confirm that its dimensions match a buyable slot.

Record the placement or deal, requested width and height, asset ID, declared serving size and preview result. For a confirmed 728×90 slot, mark the asset as matched only when its declared serving size is 728×90 and the preview is correct.

Open auction vs private deal size checks

Check the asset and its serving size

Compare the design file, exported asset and dimensions selected in the buying platform. Display & Video 360 guidance covers HTML5 creatives, including responsive HTML5 creatives; check the selected serving sizes against how the platform displays them.

If the displayed size looks wrong, compare the backup image with the main asset. Check both against the requested dimensions so a differently sized backup does not go unnoticed.

Preview each selected size for cropped logos, hidden terms, unreadable text and buttons outside the visible area. Confirm the preview before launch, not just the size label.

Native is a separate format decision. Display & Video 360 has guidance on purchasing native inventory; check the native format's and publisher's asset requirements separately instead of putting native inventory into a banner-size matrix.

Serving-size verification checklist

Diagnose a mismatch

A size mismatch exists when a request's width and height do not match an asset's declared serving size, or when the requested dimensions are absent from the creative set. Compare the request, selected size, declared size and backup image before producing more sizes; correct the declaration or prepare an asset at the required dimensions as appropriate.

For a private deal, compare incoming request dimensions with the slot dimensions confirmed by the publisher. If they differ, investigate that difference rather than assuming a general banner size will fit the deal.

If requests arrive but delivery is low, inspect why the creative is not serving before producing more sizes. Display & Video 360 provides troubleshooting guidance for deals and line items; address the issue shown instead of assuming a size is missing.

After a change has served, review distribution by creative size and placement. A size report shows where delivery occurred; it cannot establish on its own whether a performance difference came from the dimensions, message, audience or publisher.

Diagnose a creative size mismatch