Guide to Using Pinterest Ad Formats and Specs

Pinterest isn’t just a platform for inspiration anymore, it has become a powerful marketing tool that helps businesses reach highly engaged audiences. With over 553 million monthly active users worldwide, Pinterest drives higher purchase intent than many other social media platforms. 

In fact, 83% of weekly Pinners have made a purchase based on content they saw from brands on Pinterest.

To make the most of your advertising efforts, it's crucial to understand the different ad formats and their technical specifications. 

In this article, we will walk you through the various Pinterest ad types and how to use them effectively.

What Makes Pinterest Ads So Powerful?

Unlike passive scrolling on other platforms, Pinterest users are high-intent shoppers, making it a goldmine for businesses looking to drive conversions.

Here’s why Pinterest ads should be a key part of your marketing strategy:

• Higher Purchase Intent: Users come to Pinterest with a plan, looking for home decor, fashion inspiration, or the next product to try.
• Extended Lifespan: Unlike fast-disappearing posts on Instagram or Facebook, Pinterest Pins have a longer shelf life. A well-optimized promoted Pin can continue driving traffic for weeks or even months, making your ad spend more cost-effective over time.
• Powerful Targeting Capabilities: Pinterest allows you to target users based on interests, demographics, keywords, and even past behavior. This means your ads reach the right audience at the right moment, when they’re ready to take action.
• Visual Appeal and Engagement: With Pinterest being a highly visual platform, brands have the opportunity to capture attention instantly through eye-catching imagery, engaging videos, and creative storytelling.
• Strong ROI for eCommerce Brands: Since Pinterest is one of the top drivers of referral traffic for eCommerce sites, it’s an excellent platform for businesses selling physical or digital products.

Now that you understand why Pinterest ads are so powerful, let’s explore different formats and how to use them effectively.

Pinterest Ad Formats and Specs: When and How to Use?

To run successful Pinterest ad campaigns, you need to understand the different ad formats and specifications to ensure your content appears high-quality, engaging, and properly optimized guide to Using Pinterest Ad Formats and Specs.

1. Standard Image Ads: The Classic-Click Driver

Standard Image Ads are single-image Pins that appear in users' feeds with a subtle “Promoted” tag. These ads blend seamlessly with organic content and include a direct link to your website or product page.

Ad Specs:

• File Type: PNG or JPEG
• Max Size: 20MB
• Aspect Ratio: 2:3 (Recommended: 1000 x 1500 pixels)
• Text Overlay: Minimal text is best for performance

Why Use It?

• Ideal for brand awareness and driving clicks. 
• Great for showcasing single products, blog content, or promotions.
• Low-effort, high-impact format for beginners.

Use bold visuals and clear calls-to-action (CTAs) to encourage engagement.

2. Video Ads: Captivate Your Audience with Motion

Video Ads allow brands to showcase dynamic content, making it easier to demonstrate products, tell stories, and grab attention. Pinterest offers two types:

• Standard Width Videos: The same size as regular Pins.
• Max Width Videos: Stretch across the entire feed, eliminating distractions.

Ad Specs:

• File Type: MP4 or MOV
• Max File Size: 2GB
• Aspect Ratios: (i) 1:1 (Square) or 2:3 (Vertical) for Standard Width; (ii) 16:9 (Landscape) or 9:16 (Full-Screen) for Max Width
• Length: 4 seconds to 15 minutes (Best performance: 6-15 seconds)

Why Use It?

• Perfect for storytelling and product demos;
• Higher engagement than static images;
• Great for boosting brand awareness and conversions.

Add captions to make your video accessible to all users since many watch without sound.

3. Carousel Ads: Showcase Multiple Images in One Ad

Carousel Ads let you upload up to five images within a single Pin, allowing users to swipe through them. Each image can have its own title, description, and landing page, perfect for showcasing different products or features.

Ad Specs:

• File Type: PNG or JPEG
• Max Size: 20MB per image
• Aspect Ratio: 2:3 or 1:1
• Number of Images: 2 to 5 per carousel

Why Use It?

• Great for product collections or step-by-step guides;
• Higher engagement due to interactive format;
• Encourages more time spent on your content.

Use numbered images (e.g., Step 1, Step 2, etc.) to encourage users to swipe through all frames.

“Use high-quality visuals, optimize with keywords, experiment with ad formats, target the right audience, and track performance with Pinterest Analytics for better engagement and ROI.”

4. Shopping Ads: Turn Pinterest Into Your Storefront

Shopping Ads pull product images directly from your catalog and display them to users interested in related items. They can feature single or multiple images, allowing users to click and shop seamlessly.

Ad Specs:

• File Type: PNG or JPEG
• Max Size: 20MB
• Aspect Ratio: 2:3 or 1:1
• Integration: Requires a product feed for automated targeting

Why Use It?

• Boosts eCommerce sales with direct purchase options;
• Works well for retail, fashion, beauty, and home decor brands;
• Highly targeted based on user behavior and preferences.

Use high-quality lifestyle images to help customers visualize your product in real life.

5. Collections & Idea Ads: Elevate Your Storytelling

Collections Ads: Feature a large hero image or video followed by smaller supporting images and are ideal for fashion, home decor, and curated product collections.

Idea Ads: These are a mix of videos and images to create an engaging narrative experience and are great for how-to guides, storytelling, and tutorials.

Ad Specs:

• Hero Image: PNG, JPEG, or MP4
• Supporting Images: PNG or JPEG
• Aspect Ratios: 2:3 or 1:1

Use engaging captions and text overlays to guide users through your content.

6. Lead Ads & Premiere Spotlight Ads: High-Impact Advertising

Lead Ads are designed to capture leads directly within Pinterest and are perfect for newsletters, event sign-ups, and gated content, while Premiere Spotlight Ads feature High-visibility placements on the home or search pages and offer exclusive brand exposure for major campaigns.

Now that you’re familiar with the different Pinterest ad formats, it’s time to make sure your ads truly stand out.  PinMaker makes it easy to level up your Pinterest advertising and create high-performing ads without the hassle. Let’s explore how. 

How PinMaker Can Enhance Your Pinterest Ad Strategy

Creating Pinterest ads is only half the battle, the real challenge lies in optimizing them. A well-crafted ad needs compelling titles, descriptions, and eye-catching visuals to stand out in the crowded Pinterest feed. 

With PinMaker, you can:

1. Generate SEO-Optimized Titles & Descriptions

The success of a Pinterest ad heavily depends on the title and description. If your ad isn't optimized with the right keywords, it may never reach your target audience.

• AI-powered title suggestions to boost search rankings;
• Keyword-rich descriptions to improve discoverability;
• Compelling CTAs to encourage clicks and conversions.

A/B test different titles to see which ones drive the most engagement!

2. Create Stunning Visuals That Grab Attention

Pinterest is a highly visual platform, and the best-performing ads are beautifully designed, high-quality, and aligned with your brand aesthetics. PinMaker helps you create professional-looking pins that complement your ad strategy.

• Pre-designed templates to match Pinterest’s best practices;
• Customizable color schemes & fonts to reflect your brand;
• AI-enhanced visuals that attract more engagement.

Use contrasting colors and bold text overlays to make your ads pop in the feed!

3. Save Time with AI-Powered Content Generation

Crafting engaging, on-brand Pinterest ads can be time-consuming, especially when managing multiple campaigns. PinMaker automates the process so you can focus on strategy instead of spending hours brainstorming.

• Instant ad copy generation based on your target audience;
• Multiple options to choose from, allowing flexibility;
• Optimized for Pinterest’s algorithm to increase reach.

Spend less time creating content and more time analyzing performance with PinMaker’s AI-powered suggestions.

4. Ensure Consistency Across Your Pinterest Ads

Brand consistency is key to building trust and recognition on Pinterest. Want to run  Standard Image Ads, Video Ads, or Shopping Ads? PinMaker ensures your messaging stays cohesive across all ad formats.

• Uniform branding across pins, boards, and descriptions;
• Matching keywords & visuals for a seamless experience;
• Optimized structure to maintain clarity and engagement.

Keep your branding elements (logo, colors, and fonts) consistent to create a recognizable Pinterest presence.

With PinMaker, you get AI-driven optimization that saves you time, boosts engagement, and ensures your Pinterest ads stand out in the feed.

Try PinMaker today and start creating high-performing Pinterest ads effortlessly!

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FAQs

Q. What’s the difference between Standard Image Ads and Shopping Ads?
A: Standard Image Ads are promoted single-image pins that drive traffic to a landing page, while Shopping Ads are directly linked to a product feed, making them more e-commerce-focused.

Q. Are video ads more effective than image ads on Pinterest?
A: Yes, video ads tend to have higher engagement rates because they capture attention more effectively. However, image ads still perform well when designed with eye-catching visuals and compelling copy.

Q. Can I run Pinterest ads without a business account?
A: No, you need a Pinterest Business account to access the Ads Manager and run paid campaigns.

Q. Can PinMaker help with Pinterest ad creatives?
A: Absolutely! PinMaker generates high-performing ad titles, descriptions, and eye-catching visuals, ensuring your ads stand out and drive engagement.

Q. How can I optimize my Pinterest ads for conversions?
A: You can:

• Use high-quality visuals with proper aspect ratios.
• Add clear and compelling CTAs (e.g., "Shop Now" or "Learn More").
• Optimize your titles and descriptions with relevant keywords.
• Target the right audience using Pinterest’s detailed ad targeting options.