---
title: "Google Ads Performance Max Assets: Specs, Requirements, and 2026 Best Practices"
description: "Performance Max assets guide: official specs, PMax image dimensions, video sizes and 2026 best practices."
url: "https://groas.com/post/google-ads-performance-max-assets-guide"
image: "https://groas.com/og/groas.jpg"
published: "2026-09-21T06:06:27.082Z"
modified: "2026-09-30T23:27:23.079Z"
---

[Google Ads Best Practices](https://groas.com/category/google-ads-best-practices) · September 21, 2026 · 7 min read

# Google Ads Performance Max Assets: Specs, Requirements, and 2026 Best Practices

[Alexander PerelmanHead Of Product @ groas](https://groas.com/author/alexander-perelman)[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-433793253/)

Updated September 30, 2026

In this article

1. [What Performance Max assets actually are](#what-performance-max-assets-actually-are)
2. [Google Ads Performance Max asset requirements official 2026](#google-ads-performance-max-asset-requirements-official-2026)
3. [PMax image dimensions and performance max image video size](#pmax-image-dimensions-and-performance-max-image-video-size)
4. [Performance Max video assets](#performance-max-video-assets)
5. [Format Performance Max: how to structure asset groups](#format-performance-max-how-to-structure-asset-groups)
6. [Pick by constraint: budget, team size, use case](#pick-by-constraint-budget-team-size-use-case)
7. [Google Ads Performance Max update June 2026](#google-ads-performance-max-update-june-2026)
8. [How groas runs PMax assets without the weekly check-in](#how-groas-runs-pmax-assets-without-the-weekly-check-in)
9. [Launch checklist](#launch-checklist)

Performance Max doesn’t use ads you build. It builds ads from your assets.

You supply headlines, images, video, logos and audience signals in an asset group. Google assembles every format Performance Max can serve — Search, Display, Discover, Gmail, Maps, YouTube and more — from that kit. Weak kit, weak coverage. Strong kit, you show up everywhere.

That’s why `performance max assets` keeps getting searched. The campaign type isn’t the constraint. The assets are.

## What Performance Max assets actually are

One asset group is one complete kit:

- text: business name, up to 15 headlines, up to 5 long headlines, descriptions, call to action
- images: landscape, square, portrait plus logos
- video: YouTube videos you upload
- final URL, audience signals, optional product feed

Google mixes and matches to fit the slot. You don’t pick `pmax ad sizes` the way you picked Display sizes. You cover the ratios and Google renders the sizes.

If you leave a slot empty, Google fills it. Usually with an [auto-generated video](https://groas.com/post/performance-max-auto-generated-video-assets-kill-performance) you wouldn’t have approved. That is the most common PMax failure we see: not bad bidding, incomplete kit.

## Google Ads Performance Max asset requirements official 2026

Use this as your build checklist. Limits move in the UI, so treat the Google Ads asset editor as final, but this is what Google enforces for a complete group in 2026:

**Text**

- Headlines: up to 15, 30 characters max, minimum 3 to serve
- Long headlines: up to 5, 90 characters max, minimum 1
- Descriptions: up to 5, 90 characters max, minimum 2, including one short description at 60 characters
- Business name, final URL, call to action required

**Creative**

- Images required to unlock Display, Discover, Gmail and Maps inventory
- Logos required for consistent rendering
- Video required to unlock full YouTube inventory without auto-generation
- Audience signals optional but recommended — they steer learning, they don’t limit reach

Ad strength of Excellent isn’t the goal. Full coverage with on-brand assets that convert is the goal.

## PMax image dimensions and performance max image video size

Think ratios, not one-off sizes. This answers `pmax image dimensions` and `performance max image video size` together.

**PMax images:**

- Landscape 1200 x 628, minimum 600 x 314, ratio 1.91:1
- Square 1200 x 1200, minimum 300 x 300, ratio 1:1
- Portrait 960 x 1200, minimum 480 x 600, ratio 4:5
- Max file size 5120KB, JPG or PNG

**PMax logos:**

- Landscape 1200 x 300, minimum 512 x 128, ratio 4:1
- Square 1200 x 1200, minimum 128 x 128, ratio 1:1

Minimum to serve is 1 landscape image, 1 square image, 1 landscape logo and 1 square logo. Minimum to perform is more.

Best practice for 2026:

- Upload all three image ratios plus both logos. Missing portrait means no portrait slots.
- Use real product, real location, real people. Stock collapses click-through on Discover and YouTube.
- Keep critical text out of the outer 10% of the image. Auto-cropping will eat it.
- Add 3-5 variants per ratio, not 15 near-duplicates. groas Conversion Copy Agents and Optimisation Agents work this way — generate variants that convert, then run thousands of A/B tests around the clock to keep what earns.
- Refresh quarterly. Same images for 12 months starve every placement at once.

## Performance Max video assets

If you upload no video, Google will generate one from your images and text. Don’t let it.

Full specs and creative strategy are in our [Performance Max video assets guide](https://groas.com/post/performance-max-video-assets-specs-creative-strategy-guide-2026), but the operating rules are simple:

- Upload up to 5 YouTube videos per asset group, 10 seconds minimum
- Provide horizontal 16:9, square 1:1 and vertical 9:16. One horizontal cut is not coverage.
- Front-load the offer in the first 5 seconds. Most PMax video views are skippable.
- Add captions. Most Discover and in-feed views start muted.
- Keep branding in-frame, not just in the end card.

Why skipping uploaded video hurts is covered here: why auto-generated creative kills performance. In short: auto-generated video gets you YouTube reach with no story, no proof and no control.

Low-budget rule: one strong 30-second cut in three ratios beats five weak videos. Small team rule: upload what you have now to block auto-generation, then replace with purpose-built cuts.

## Format Performance Max: how to structure asset groups

`format performance max` isn’t one responsive ad. It’s groups.

- One asset group per distinct offer, audience or margin pool. Don’t stuff boots, jackets and clearance into one group.
- Keep final URLs tight per group. If the landing page has to do too much work, split the group.
- Separate brand and non-brand intent with brand exclusions and audience signals. Unsegmented PMax cannibalizes Search.
- Ecommerce: segment by margin and feed quality, not just category. High-value SKUs suppressed by feed errors never recover on bidding alone.
- Lead gen and multi-location: segment by location intent and service economics, with dynamic landing pages that reshape around each search.
- Use 1-3 asset groups to start. More groups with thin budget means no group exits learning.

This is where human teams fall behind. Ad auctions change 24/7 but a team checks in once a day. It’s not a talent problem, it’s a species problem. More signals than time.

## Pick by constraint: budget, team size, use case

**If budget is under $5k/month:**

Run one PMax campaign, 1-2 asset groups. Cover all text limits, all image ratios, both logos, one video set. Add audience signals from past converters and site visitors. Don’t split by micro-segment until you have 30+ conversions per month per group.

**If team is small or no designer:**

Ship complete over perfect. Phone-shot vertical video with captions beats auto-generated video. Use Budgeting Agents logic: block irrelevant waste first, then expand creative. groas builds, runs and improves your Google Ads 168 hours a week, writes and tests ad copy, deploys dynamic landing pages that reshape around each search, and moves budget where it earns the most.

**If you are ecommerce:**

Fix the feed before adding assets. Rewrite titles for search intent, segment by margin, and protect brand search from PMax cannibalization with exclusions. Then give each margin tier its own asset group and creative.

**If you are lead gen or home services:**

Build asset groups by service + market, not one national group. Pair each with a location-specific landing page and clean conversion tracking tied to booked jobs, not just form fills.

**If you are an agency:**

Standardize the kit: 15 headlines, 5 long, 5 descriptions, 3 ratios + 2 logos + 3 video ratios as the definition of done. No client launches incomplete.

## Google Ads Performance Max update June 2026

For `google ads performance max update june 2026`, June was about control and data, not new ratios.

What we logged in early June:

- Expanded AI automation authority under the updated ToS effective July 1
- YouTube auto-linking starting June 10
- 37-month data retention cap now enforced
- Legacy offline conversion API blocked June 15
- PMax negative keyword reporting improvements rolling through early June

That last point matters for assets: better search-term visibility means faster feedback on which headlines and signals pull junk. Use it to prune text, tighten signals and add negatives.

Full account-level rundown is here: [Every Google Ads Change That Matters in 2026](https://groas.com/post/every-google-ads-change-that-matters-in) — PMax, AI Max, GA4 and Demand Gen.

Practical take: don’t rebuild asset ratios for June. Re-check tracking, re-check brand exclusions, and replace your weakest 20% of headlines and images. The update rewards clean signal, not new sizes.

## How groas runs PMax assets without the weekly check-in

groas is a fully autonomous growth engine for paid search and organic search. Hundreds of specialized models execute every action a marketing team would, at a scale no human team can, while a groas named account manager owns the direction, the guardrails, and the result.

For PMax that means:

- Conversion Copy Agents trained on $500B+ in profitable spend generate ad and landing page copy
- Budgeting Agents block irrelevant keywords and avoid costly bids
- Search Intent Agents map context behind every search to your offer
- Optimisation Agents run thousands of A/B tests simultaneously around the clock
- Every account includes a Slack channel and monthly strategy call

You set budgets and guardrails. The engine acts freely inside them and never beyond them. Apply for free trial to get a complete asset kit live the same day, not after a 1-3 month hire.

## Launch checklist

- 15 headlines, 5 long headlines, 5 descriptions, CTA, business name
- 1200x628, 1200x1200, 960x1200 images plus both logo ratios
- Uploaded YouTube video in horizontal, square and vertical — auto-generation blocked
- 1-3 focused asset groups by margin, service or market
- Brand exclusions and negatives in place
- Conversion tracking tied to revenue or booked jobs
- Refresh losers monthly, winners quarterly

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What are Performance Max assets in Google Ads?

Performance Max assets are the building blocks Google uses to assemble ads across Search, Display, Discover, Gmail, Maps and YouTube. One asset group is one complete kit: headlines, long headlines, descriptions, business name, call to action, images, logos, an uploaded YouTube video, final URL, audience signals and an optional product feed. Weak or incomplete kits mean weak coverage, and empty slots get filled with auto-generated content you didn't approve.

### How many headlines and descriptions do I need for a Performance Max asset group in 2026?

A complete 2026 asset group allows up to 15 headlines of 30 characters each, up to 5 long headlines of 90 characters, and up to 5 descriptions of 90 characters including one short description at 60 characters. The minimums to serve are 3 headlines, 1 long headline and 2 descriptions. Business name, final URL and call to action are required. Limits move in the UI, so treat the Google Ads asset editor as final.

### What image sizes do Performance Max ads need?

Performance Max uses three image ratios: landscape 1200 x 628 (1.91:1), square 1200 x 1200 (1:1) and portrait 960 x 1200 (4:5), with a max file size of 5120KB as JPG or PNG. Logos need landscape 1200 x 300 (4:1) and square 1200 x 1200 (1:1). The minimum to serve is one landscape image, one square image and one of each logo orientation, but you should upload all three image ratios plus both logos to unlock every placement.

### What happens if I don't upload a video or all image ratios in Performance Max?

Google fills the gaps automatically. With no video, it generates one from your images and text, which delivers YouTube reach without story, proof or control. Missing the portrait image ratio means no portrait slots at all. The most common PMax failure is an incomplete kit, not bad bidding, so upload your own creative to block auto-generation even if it's imperfect.

### How should I structure video assets for Performance Max?

Upload up to 5 YouTube videos per asset group, each 10 seconds minimum, in horizontal 16:9, square 1:1 and vertical 9:16. Front-load the offer in the first 5 seconds since most views are skippable, add captions because most Discover and in-feed views start muted, and keep branding in-frame rather than only in the end card. On a low budget, one strong 30-second cut in three ratios beats five weak videos.

### How many Performance Max asset groups should I use?

Start with 1-3 asset groups. Create one group per distinct offer, audience or margin pool, and keep final URLs tight per group. Stuffing different products or intents into one group hurts, and more groups with thin budget means no group exits the learning phase. Separate brand and non-brand intent using brand exclusions and audience signals so PMax doesn't cannibalize Search.

### What changed in Google Ads Performance Max in June 2026?

The June 2026 update focused on control and data rather than new asset ratios. Changes included expanded AI automation authority under updated terms effective July 1, YouTube auto-linking from June 10, a 37-month data retention cap, the legacy offline conversion API blocked on June 15, and improved PMax negative keyword reporting. Use the better search-term visibility to prune weak headlines, tighten signals and add negatives instead of rebuilding asset ratios.

## Pay For Results, Not For Hours

Businesses buy the outcome, agencies resell it, and groas answers for it either way.

[See If You Qualify](https://groas.typeform.com/to/xC1bQNUT)

## Structured data

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://graph.groas.com/entity/groas","name":"groas","url":"https://groas.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://groas.com/icon-512.png","width":512,"height":512},"sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/company/groas/"]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://groas.com/#website","name":"groas","url":"https://groas.com/","inLanguage":"en-US","publisher":{"@id":"https://graph.groas.com/entity/groas"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://groas.com/post/google-ads-performance-max-assets-guide#webpage","url":"https://groas.com/post/google-ads-performance-max-assets-guide","name":"Google Ads Performance Max Assets: Specs, Requirements, and 2026 Best Practices","description":"Performance Max assets guide: official specs, PMax image dimensions, video sizes and 2026 best practices.","inLanguage":"en-US","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://groas.com/#website"},"about":{"@id":"https://graph.groas.com/entity/groas"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://groas.com/post/google-ads-performance-max-assets-guide#breadcrumb"},"dateModified":"2026-09-30T23:27:23.079Z","mainEntity":{"@id":"https://groas.com/post/google-ads-performance-max-assets-guide#article"}},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://groas.com/post/google-ads-performance-max-assets-guide#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://groas.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog","item":"https://groas.com/blog"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Google Ads Best Practices","item":"https://groas.com/category/google-ads-best-practices"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Google Ads Performance Max Assets: Specs, Requirements, and 2026 Best Practices","item":"https://groas.com/post/google-ads-performance-max-assets-guide"}]},{"@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https://groas.com/post/google-ads-performance-max-assets-guide#article","url":"https://groas.com/post/google-ads-performance-max-assets-guide","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://groas.com/post/google-ads-performance-max-assets-guide#webpage"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://groas.com/blog#blog"},"headline":"Google Ads Performance Max Assets: Specs, Requirements, and 2026 Best Practices","description":"Performance Max assets guide: official specs, PMax image dimensions, video sizes and 2026 best practices.","datePublished":"2026-09-21T06:06:27.082Z","dateModified":"2026-09-30T23:27:23.079Z","author":{"@id":"https://groas.com/author/alexander-perelman#person"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://graph.groas.com/entity/groas"},"articleSection":"Google Ads Best Practices","keywords":"Google Ads, Google Ads Best Practices","wordCount":1426,"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://groas.com/author/alexander-perelman#person","name":"Alexander Perelman","jobTitle":"Head Of Product @ groas","description":"Ex Goldman Sachs and Ex Stanford Computer Science","image":"https://groas.com/media/blog/4f17cac3a81acc224cc1b2cfab8f94bbc295a3089d13e8421125771ef8d4064f.jpg","worksFor":{"@id":"https://graph.groas.com/entity/groas"},"sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-433793253/"]},{"@type":"FAQPage","@id":"https://groas.com/post/google-ads-performance-max-assets-guide#faq","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What are Performance Max assets in Google Ads?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Performance Max assets are the building blocks Google uses to assemble ads across Search, Display, Discover, Gmail, Maps and YouTube. One asset group is one complete kit: headlines, long headlines, descriptions, business name, call to action, images, logos, an uploaded YouTube video, final URL, audience signals and an optional product feed. Weak or incomplete kits mean weak coverage, and empty slots get filled with auto-generated content you didn't approve."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How many headlines and descriptions do I need for a Performance Max asset group in 2026?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A complete 2026 asset group allows up to 15 headlines of 30 characters each, up to 5 long headlines of 90 characters, and up to 5 descriptions of 90 characters including one short description at 60 characters. The minimums to serve are 3 headlines, 1 long headline and 2 descriptions. Business name, final URL and call to action are required. Limits move in the UI, so treat the Google Ads asset editor as final."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What image sizes do Performance Max ads need?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Performance Max uses three image ratios: landscape 1200 x 628 (1.91:1), square 1200 x 1200 (1:1) and portrait 960 x 1200 (4:5), with a max file size of 5120KB as JPG or PNG. Logos need landscape 1200 x 300 (4:1) and square 1200 x 1200 (1:1). The minimum to serve is one landscape image, one square image and one of each logo orientation, but you should upload all three image ratios plus both logos to unlock every placement."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What happens if I don't upload a video or all image ratios in Performance Max?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Google fills the gaps automatically. With no video, it generates one from your images and text, which delivers YouTube reach without story, proof or control. Missing the portrait image ratio means no portrait slots at all. The most common PMax failure is an incomplete kit, not bad bidding, so upload your own creative to block auto-generation even if it's imperfect."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How should I structure video assets for Performance Max?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Upload up to 5 YouTube videos per asset group, each 10 seconds minimum, in horizontal 16:9, square 1:1 and vertical 9:16. Front-load the offer in the first 5 seconds since most views are skippable, add captions because most Discover and in-feed views start muted, and keep branding in-frame rather than only in the end card. On a low budget, one strong 30-second cut in three ratios beats five weak videos."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How many Performance Max asset groups should I use?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Start with 1-3 asset groups. Create one group per distinct offer, audience or margin pool, and keep final URLs tight per group. Stuffing different products or intents into one group hurts, and more groups with thin budget means no group exits the learning phase. Separate brand and non-brand intent using brand exclusions and audience signals so PMax doesn't cannibalize Search."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What changed in Google Ads Performance Max in June 2026?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The June 2026 update focused on control and data rather than new asset ratios. Changes included expanded AI automation authority under updated terms effective July 1, YouTube auto-linking from June 10, a 37-month data retention cap, the legacy offline conversion API blocked on June 15, and improved PMax negative keyword reporting. Use the better search-term visibility to prune weak headlines, tighten signals and add negatives instead of rebuilding asset ratios."}}]}]}
```