youtube
YouTube Masthead Ad Character Limits
YouTube Masthead is reservation inventory on the homepage. Long headline up to 90 chars (~40 visible) plus 70-char description (50 visible).
YouTube Masthead is reservation-only, sold by Google's direct-sales team for one-day or multi-day takeovers of the YouTube home page. The format runs autoplay video at the top of the home feed (muted by default, with a tap-to-unmute) and pairs it with a long headline (90 chars max, ~40 visible on mobile) and a 70-character description (~50 visible). On desktop the video and copy panel sit side-by-side; on mobile the copy stacks underneath.
Because Masthead is a fixed-price reservation product (typical day rates run six figures for major markets), the brief usually comes from a brand campaign launch rather than a performance-marketing ladder. The 40-character headline window is enough for a tagline, and the 50-character description carries the secondary message. There is no destination-page click — just a "Watch" button that pushes to the brand channel.
Reservation inventory: 40 visible headli…
50-char description rolls under the autoplay video…
Up next
Verified 2026 limits
| Field | Hard max | Visible before truncate | Warn at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long headline | 90 | 40 | 35 |
| Description | 70 | 50 | 45 |
Source: https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/9696790 · Last verified 2026-04-15.
Reservation only
Masthead is not available through self-serve Google Ads. Plan a 4-6 week lead time on Masthead reservations through your Google account team or media agency.
FAQ
- Is YouTube Masthead available self-serve?
- No. Masthead is reservation-only through Google's direct-sales team. Self-serve advertisers cannot book it through Google Ads.
- How long is the autoplay duration on Masthead?
- Up to 30 seconds with sound starting muted. Tap-to-unmute is supported. Loop available if creative is shorter.
- What devices does Masthead reach?
- Desktop, mobile web, mobile app, and connected TV — all delivered from the same Masthead reservation.