youtube
YouTube In-Feed Video Ad Character Limits
In-Feed Video Ads (formerly Discovery) use a 100-char long headline (~40 visible) plus two 35-char description lines. The thumbnail does the heavy lifting.
YouTube In-Feed Video Ads (formerly Discovery Ads) appear inside the YouTube search results, the home feed, and the related-videos rail. The format renders as a video thumbnail with text below — visually indistinguishable from organic search results except for a small "Ad" badge. The text bundle is structured: a long headline up to 100 chars (about 40 visible on mobile feed), and two description lines of 35 chars each that render below the headline.
Because In-Feed ads compete head-to-head with organic search results, copy strategy looks more like SEO than display advertising. Lead the long headline with the search intent ("How to set up X" / "X reviews 2026" / "Best X for Y"). The two description lines work as a Q+A pair: line 1 = problem, line 2 = solution.
Long headline 100 chars total, 40 visibl…
Description line 1 — 35 chars
Description line 2 — 35 chars
brand · Sponsored
Up next
Verified 2026 limits
| Field | Hard max | Visible before truncate | Warn at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long headline | 100 | 40 | 35 |
| Description line 1 | 35 | 35 | 30 |
| Description line 2 | 35 | 35 | 30 |
Source: https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/9684328 · Last verified 2026-04-15.
Two description lines
Both description lines render below the headline on mobile feed (only line 1 renders on certain low-priority placements). Each line caps at 35 characters hard. There is no auto-wrap — write each line as a complete thought.
FAQ
- What is the difference between In-Feed Video Ads and Discovery Ads?
- They are the same format. Google rebranded Discovery Ads to In-Feed Video Ads in 2023 to emphasize cross-surface delivery beyond YouTube search.
- Where do In-Feed Video Ads appear?
- YouTube search results, YouTube home feed, related-video rail, and select Google Discover surfaces.
- Are In-Feed Video Ads skippable?
- Click-to-watch — the user opts in. There is no skip mechanic because the video only plays after engagement.