Ad contraction

This article describes ad contraction, explains how the feature makes your inventory more compatible with smaller creatives, and shows you how to manage its settings in Ad Manager.

By default, Ad Manager accepts some creatives that are smaller than the inventory size. Ad contraction makes inventory and creatives more compatible with each other and enables more ads to compete for your inventory.

On this page

• Ad slots eligible for contraction
• Determine how small of an ad is accepted
• When the ad slot is collapsed
• Deactivate ad contraction

Ad slots eligible for contraction

Ad contraction currently applies to backfill display and non-in-stream video ad slots on desktop web, mobile web, and apps. Not all ad slots are currently capable of contraction, though we’re working to increase eligibility.

Note: Interstitial ads aren't subject to the ad contraction control and always allow smaller creatives.

Note: Adslot contraction isn't applicable to multi-size requests. However, Adslot expansion is applicable to multi-size requests.

Determine how small of an ad is accepted

Ad Manager considers both user experience and revenue uplift when determining the optimal minimum creative size for an ad slot. Note that pricing rules refer to the original size of the request.

When the ad slot is collapsed

Ad Manager collapses the ad slot when it’s unlikely to cause reflow, or the delayed loading of an ad after the rest of the site/app has already loaded.

• If we collapse the ad slot, there won’t be any whitespace around the ad.
• If there’s a likelihood of reflow, we won’t collapse the ad slot, and there may be some remaining whitespace around the ad.

Deactivate ad contraction

You can turn off ad contraction in network settings, though we recommend keeping it activated for optimal performance.

1. Sign in to Google Ad Manager.

2. Click Inventory, then Inventory rules, and then Size settings.

3. Next to “Targeting,” choose which inventory to include or exclude from the rule.

4. Control which size settings are enabled on the selected inventory.

5. Click Save.

Note: If overlapping rules exist for the same inventory, and at least one of those rules enables a feature, then the enable setting will be honored.