Reddit Ad Formats in 2026: Specs, Sizes & Types for Every Placement

Reddit offers six ad formats, each with different specs, dimensions, and use cases. Choosing the right one depends on your campaign objective, creative assets, and budget.

This guide covers every Reddit ad format available in 2026 with exact specs, sizing requirements, and practical advice on when to use each one.

Reddit Ad Formats at a Glance

Format	Media Types	Key Dimensions	Best For	Typical Cost
Promoted Posts	Image, link	1200 x 628 px	Traffic, engagement	CPC $0.50 - $1.50
Video Ads	Video	16:9, 1:1, 4:5	Awareness, storytelling	CPV $0.01 - $0.06
Carousel Ads	Multi-image	1080 x 1080 px per card	E-commerce, features	CPC comparable to promoted
Conversation Ads	Image, link	Same as promoted posts	Contextual engagement	Premium CPM
Free-Form Ads	Text + media mix	Multiple embedded	Thought leadership	Varies by objective
Takeover Ads	Image, video	Premium placements	Major launches	$20K - $50K+/day

For detailed pricing across all formats, see our Reddit advertising cost breakdown.

Promoted Posts (Image & Link Ads)

The most common Reddit ad format. Promoted posts appear in feeds and subreddit listings, looking similar to organic posts.

Specs & Dimensions

Spec	Requirement
Image size	1200 x 628 px (recommended)
Aspect ratio	~1.91:1
File types	JPG, PNG
File size	Max 20 MB
Headline	Max 300 characters
Body text	Optional, max 500 characters
Display URL	Shown beneath headline
CTA button	Customizable text

Best Practices

Native-feeling creative outperforms polished ads on Reddit. Users scrolling their feed should not immediately register your promoted post as an advertisement.

• Use authentic-looking images, not stock photos
• Write headlines that sound like a real Reddit post title
• Include a clear CTA in the headline or image, not just the button
• Test multiple headline variations — this has the biggest impact on CPC

When to Use Promoted Posts

Best for traffic, engagement, and consideration objectives. Promoted posts have the lowest barrier to entry and are ideal for testing messaging before scaling to other formats. If you’re new to Reddit ads, start here.

Video Ads

Reddit users watch video, especially in entertainment, gaming, and hobby subreddits. Video ads appear in-feed or in dedicated video placements.

Specs & Dimensions

Spec	Requirement
Aspect ratios	16:9 (landscape), 1:1 (square), 4:5 (portrait)
Resolution	720p minimum, 1080p recommended
File size	Up to 1 GB
Duration	5 - 180 seconds (15 - 30s recommended)
File types	MP4, MOV
Sound	Optional but recommended with captions
Captions	Strongly recommended (85%+ browse with sound off)

Best Practices

• Hook within 3 seconds — if you lose them early, you’ve lost them
• Add captions for sound-off viewing
• Keep videos under 30 seconds for awareness, up to 60 seconds for consideration
• Product demos and explainer content outperform brand anthems on Reddit
• Avoid overly produced content — authentic feel works better here

When to Use Video Ads

Best for awareness and brand storytelling. The CPV model makes video cost-efficient for top-of-funnel. Strong for product demos, educational content, and behind-the-scenes footage that Reddit audiences respond to.

Carousel Ads

Multiple images in a swipeable format. Each card has its own headline, description, and CTA.

Specs & Dimensions

Spec	Requirement
Number of cards	2 - 6
Image dimensions	1080 x 1080 px per card
File types	JPG, PNG
File size	Max 20 MB per card
Headline per card	Max 300 characters
Description per card	Optional
CTA per card	Customizable

Best Practices

• Tell a sequential story across cards — the first card is the hook
• Each card should work independently while contributing to an overall narrative
• Strong for e-commerce product showcases and feature comparisons
• Use the first card to grab attention and the last card for the CTA
• Consistent visual style across cards (same background, font treatment)

When to Use Carousel Ads

Best for e-commerce product galleries, step-by-step guides, feature comparisons, and storytelling arcs. Carousel ads tend to have higher engagement rates than single-image promoted posts when the creative is strong, because users swipe through multiple cards.

Conversation Ads

Ads served within the comment thread of organic posts — not just the feed. This is one of Reddit’s most unique ad placements.

Specs & Dimensions

Conversation ads use the same creative specs as promoted posts (1200 x 628 px image, same headline and body limits). The difference is placement: your ad appears within active comment discussions, not the feed.

Targeting & Behavior

Contextual placement within active discussions gives conversation ads higher relevance than feed ads. When your ad appears in a thread about a topic directly related to your product, the context does the targeting for you.

CPMs are higher than feed placements, but the contextual relevance often justifies the premium with higher engagement and click-through rates.

When to Use Conversation Ads

Best for brands whose product or service is directly relevant to active subreddit discussions. If your category is being debated in a thread, a conversation ad puts you right in that discussion. Strong for consideration-stage campaigns where context matters more than reach.

Free-Form Ads

Reddit’s newest format. Free-form ads combine multiple media types — text, images, video, links — in a single ad unit that mimics an organic Reddit post with rich formatting.

Specs & Dimensions

Spec	Requirement
Body text	Extended character limits
Embedded images	Multiple supported
Embedded video	Supported
Links	Multiple inline links
Heading	Standard headline limits
Formatting	Reddit markdown supported

Creative Flexibility

This is the most versatile format on Reddit. Free-form ads can include long-form text with embedded media and multiple CTAs — mimicking the organic “long posts” that often perform best on the platform.

If your message needs more space than a single headline and image, free-form is where to go.

When to Use Free-Form Ads

Best for thought leadership, product deep-dives, educational content, and any campaign where the message requires explanation. Free-form ads work well for B2B brands, complex products, and categories where buyers need information before converting.

Reddit Takeovers (Premium Placements)

Premium reserved placements for maximum visibility. Not auction-based — these are booked directly with Reddit.

Trending Takeover

Your ad appears at the top of the Popular feed and in the trending bar. Maximum visibility across all of Reddit.

• Reach: Platform-wide
• Duration: 24 hours
• Pricing: Flat rate, typically $20,000 - $50,000+ per day
• Booking: Direct with Reddit sales team

Category Takeover

Your ad appears at the top of a specific interest category (Gaming, Tech, Finance, etc.). More targeted than trending takeover with strong audience alignment.

• Reach: Category-specific
• Duration: 24 hours
• Pricing: Varies by category, lower than trending
• Booking: Direct with Reddit sales team

When to Use Takeovers

Takeovers are for product launches, major announcements, and high-impact awareness campaigns. They require enterprise-level budgets and advance planning. Work directly with Reddit or an authorized partner to book.

Choosing the Right Reddit Ad Format

Your Goal	Best Format	Why
Brand awareness	Video Ads or Trending Takeover	Maximum reach and visual impact
Website traffic	Promoted Posts	Lowest CPC, proven click performance
Product showcase	Carousel Ads	Multiple products/features in one unit
Community engagement	Conversation Ads	Contextual placement in active discussions
Thought leadership	Free-Form Ads	Long-form storytelling with rich media
Product launch	Takeover + Video	High-impact guaranteed reach
Testing	Promoted Posts	Lowest barrier, fastest learning

The right format also depends on your creative assets. If you have strong video content, video ads will outperform images. If you have multiple product shots, carousel wins. If your strength is written content, free-form is your format.

Not sure which format fits your campaign? Our Reddit advertising team manages all formats and can recommend the right approach based on your objectives and budget.

For the complete picture on what each format costs, see our Reddit advertising cost guide. And if you’re still evaluating whether Reddit ads make sense for your business, our honest take on whether Reddit ads are worth it covers the genuine pros and cons.

Pairing paid formats with organic Reddit marketing creates the strongest results — ads drive immediate reach while organic presence builds long-term trust.

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Reddit’s ad platform continues to expand, and the brands that master format selection gain a significant advantage. The specs in this guide reflect the current state of Reddit advertising in 2026 — check Reddit’s official ad specs page for any updates post-publication.

Have questions about running Reddit ads? Book a strategy call and our Reddit-certified team will help you choose the right format and creative approach.