Performance Max campaigns are quickly becoming one of the most powerful tools in the Google Ads toolbox. Designed to reach audiences across all of Google’s platforms—Search, Display, YouTube, Gmail, and Discover—these campaigns give brands the ability to scale faster with less manual effort. But while automation does a lot of the heavy lifting, the success of a Performance Max campaign still depends heavily on the quality of your creative assets—especially your images. Understanding the right Performance Max image specs isn’t just a technical detail—it’s essential for making sure your ads look professional, display correctly, and perform at their best across every platform.
Why Getting Image Specs Right Actually Matters?
Images are the visual core of a Performance Max campaign. Since this campaign type uses multiple channels and devices, Google relies on a mix of images that can adapt to different formats and placements. If your images aren’t sized correctly, they’ll either be cropped poorly, look pixelated, or simply not run at all. In a system that thrives on automation and machine learning, your image assets need to be as versatile as possible. When you follow Google’s recommended image specs, you’re essentially giving the algorithm the best possible fuel to deliver strong results. Better specs = better placements = better conversions.
The Ideal Image Sizes for Performance Max
When uploading assets to a Performance Max campaign, it’s essential to include images in a few different formats. The most commonly used and arguably most important format is the square image. You’ll want to upload high-resolution square images, ideally sized at 1200 by 1200 pixels. These are used widely across Search, Display, Gmail, and Discover, and are a standard for many placements.
Next up are landscape images, which should be 1200 by 628 pixels. These tend to show up in placements like YouTube and Display, where a widescreen format works better. Including landscape, images ensures your ad looks polished and intentional instead of stretched or cropped.
Finally, for those extra-valuable mobile placements, portrait images—sized around 960 by 1200 pixels—can make a noticeable difference. While not strictly required, including this format can boost performance, especially in mobile-heavy markets. Along with these, don’t forget to include your logos in both square and horizontal versions, preferably in PNG format with a transparent background to ensure they look clean across all placements.
What Makes an Image Effective in Performance Max?
Beyond sizing, the content of your images matters just as much. High-performing images are clear, uncluttered, and visually aligned with your brand. Text should be minimal (Google doesn’t like text-heavy visuals), and images should showcase your product or service in a way that feels natural and appealing. Lifestyle imagery—like people using your product or happy customers—tends to outperform flat, overly polished visuals. The more relatable and authentic your images feel, the better they’ll perform. And don’t be afraid to test. Upload a variety of image styles and let Google’s algorithm learn what resonates best with your audience.
Need Help? That’s Where We Come In
At Digital Drew SEM, we’ve managed hundreds of Performance Max campaigns, and we’ve seen firsthand how much of a difference image specs and creative quality make. We don’t just throw campaigns together—we build smart, custom strategies based on what actually works. From selecting the right images to fine-tuning your copy and optimizing your targeting, we handle it all so you can focus on growing your business.
If you’re ready to get better results from your Google Ads and want a team that knows how to make every pixel count, we’re here for you. Let’s take your Performance Max image specs campaign to the next level—connect with us and let’s get started.
