Google Ads just unlocked 9:16 vertical image support inside Demand Gen campaigns. And yes — these static image ads can now serve inside YouTube Shorts as full-screen placements.

That’s a big deal for direct-response advertisers looking to expand reach without rebuilding creatives from scratch.

What’s new?

Google Ads has officially added vertical image assets (9:16) to the Demand Gen asset specs.

You can now upload 9:16 images into Demand Gen’s image-only ad format. These images will be eligible to serve inside YouTube Shorts, where previously only vertical video ads dominated.

Let’s be clear: This is not just a design tweak. It’s a fresh placement opportunity for a format already proven to work on Meta, TikTok, and Reels — and now on Google’s video inventory too.

Image specs for 9:16 Demand Gen ads

Here’s what Google requires:

• Aspect ratio: 9:16 (portrait)

• Recommended size: 1080×1920

• Minimum size: 600×1067

• File size limit: 5MB

• Placement: YouTube Shorts (image ads only show here for now)

💡 Pro tip: Add a short, offer-driven headline to the image. You’re dealing with a fast-scroll environment — treat it like a billboard.

Why this matters for performance advertisers

If you’re already creating vertical images for Meta — especially direct response style ads with hooks, offers, and UGC — you can now port those into Google Ads with very little rework.

How to start testing

You’ll find this option under:

Demand Gen → Create → Image-only ad

Upload your 9:16 creatives, follow the specs above, and set placements to include YouTube Shorts. If you want tighter control, create a dedicated asset group just for vertical images.

It’s a light lift — especially if you’re already producing Meta image ads in 1080×1920. And it’s a chance to get ahead before this format gets saturated.