What counts as a viewable ad
A viewable ad is a measurable amount of the creative on screen for a set time. That is not the same as a person looking at it. Google Ads says its Active View metrics follow Media Rating Council guidelines. A display ad counts as viewable when at least 50 percent of its area is visible for at least one second.
A large display ad of 242,500 pixels or more counts when at least 30 percent is visible for at least one second. A video ad counts when at least 50 percent of its area is visible while the video plays for at least 2 seconds. The same page says Active View can tell you when an ad is viewable and cannot guarantee that a person is looking at the screen.
It also says that, beginning June 2023, video inventory on the web uses the Open Measurement SDK.
Should a click decide the budget?
No. A click and a viewable impression are different events, and a viewable impression still does not prove someone is looking at the screen. There is no ad price on this page. A separate guide covers when a landing page is ready: ready to advertise.
Related reading
Key takeaways
- A viewable ad is a measurable amount of the creative on screen for a set time, which is not the same as a person looking at it.
- Google Ads says Active View follows Media Rating Council guidelines and cannot guarantee that a person is looking at the screen.
- A click and a viewable impression are different events, and a click should not decide the whole budget.
- There is no ad price on this page.
Next step: Book a consultation.