Platform creative delivery

YouTube
Creative Specifications

Published requirements, recommendations, and delivery guidance from the governed Cphere specification catalog.

Formats supported
Video
Primary campaign uses
Video reach · Consideration · Action
Last verified
Aug 2, 2026
Recommended delivery package
Not specified by platform
Catalog status
Current
YouTube creative formats
Published catalog 5Published August 2, 2026

Quick delivery checklist

What to send Cphere

  • Final platform-ready creative
  • Approved copy and CTA
  • Destination URL and tracking parameters
  • Brand and legal requirements

Canonical records

Formats and placements

Video

Published format-level guidance.

Current

Required

Not specified by platform

Recommended

Not specified by platform

Placement-dependent

Not specified by platform

Cphere best practice

Not specified by platform

In-Stream Video Ads

Skippable in-stream, non-skippable in-stream, and bumper ads serve from a video hosted on YouTube.

Required
Hosting
The ad must be a video uploaded to YouTube (public or unlisted)
Maximum File Size
256 GB
Non Skippable Duration
7–15 seconds standard; a 16–30 second subtype runs on connected TV only (30-second assets must be horizontal)
Bumper Duration
6 seconds or less
Recommended
Resolutions
1920x1080 (16:9) · 1080x1920 (9:16) · 1080x1080 (1:1) pixels — Minimum 1280x720.
File Types
MPG (MPEG-2/MPEG-4) recommended · MP4 · MOV · AVI · WMV · FLV · MPEG-1 · MPEGPS · 3GPP · WebM · DNxHR · ProRes · CineForm · HEVC
Skippable Duration
No maximum; under 3 minutes recommended
Companion Banner
300x60 JPEG/GIF/PNG, 150 KB or less; optional and auto-generated when omitted
Placement-dependent

Not specified by platform

Cphere best practice

Not specified by platform

YouTube Shorts Ads

Required
Duration
Up to 3 minutes; only the first 60 seconds plays; under 60 seconds recommended
Recommended
Aspect Ratio
9:16 vertical recommended; horizontal and square supported
Cta Headline
40 characters
Cta Description
90 characters
Placement-dependent

Not specified by platform

Cphere best practice

Not specified by platform

In-Feed Video Ads

Required
Headline Limit
100 characters maximum; may shorten after 25 characters on some surfaces
Description Limit
Up to 2 lines of 35 characters each
Recommended

Not specified by platform

Placement-dependent

Not specified by platform

Cphere best practice

Not specified by platform

Delivery detail

File, copy, audio, and destination requirements

File requirements

Not specified by platform

Copy requirements

Not specified by platform

Audio requirements

Not specified by platform

Tracking requirements

Not specified by platform

Landing-page requirements

Not specified by platform

Prohibited or unsupported elements

No prohibited-element list is published for this record.

Interface-aware delivery

Safe zones

Player interface overlays

Player controls and overlays cover parts of the frame at varying player sizes; keep essential text and logos centered and preview the ad in the target placements before delivery.

Clearly separated guidance

Recommended best practices

No additional Cphere best-practice copy is published for this record.

Source transparency

Sources and verification

Last verified: Aug 2, 2026. Platform requirements may change; check these official references before final delivery.

YouTube trademarks belong to their respective owners. Cphere does not imply endorsement or partnership.