Size is an important attribute in banner ads. All the banners occupy rectangular spaces on web pages. Dimensions of such rectangular spaces are known as banner sizes. When you are putting your banner on other websites, you need to know what are the available spaces in the site. Based on the space availability you need to design your banner.

Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) issued a list in 2001 where the ( http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/4403 ) standard banner sizes for the advertisers were prescribed. According to IAB’s specifications the standard sizes are:

New Interactive Marketing Units

120 x 600 IMU Skyscraper

160 x 600 IMU Wide Skyscraper

180 x 150 IMU Rectangle

300 x 250 IMU Medium Rectangle

336 x 280 IMU Large Rectangle

240 x 400 IMU Vertical Rectangle

250 x 250 IMU Square Pop-up

Existing Banner Units

468 x 60 IMU Full Banner

234 x 60 IMU Half Banner

120 x 240 IMU Vertical Banner

120 x 90 IMU Button #1

120 x 60 IMU Button #2

125 x 125 IMU Square Button

88 x 31 IMU Micro Button

What you will do if the existing space for banner ad on the publisher’s website does not fit with any of the above banner sizes? Then you have to go for a banner design on available sizes. Custom sized banner design is done in such cases.

Positions of different banners: In large vertical spaces, Skyscraper banners are used. Square banners are used in on middle of the web pages or on side of the web pages. On header or footer positions, Full banners or Half banners are used. Make sure where you are using your banner, it should look natural in that space. Additionally, there are button banners and micro buttons that are used in the sizes 120 x 90, 120 x 60 and 88 x 31.

Now that you have a fair idea about available banner sizes and custom banner design, you can not go wrong for choosing right banner size to fit into the publisher’s site.

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