If you run a local business, advertising on Google Maps is a powerful way to attract nearby customers. Ads on Google Maps make it easy for people to contact, find, and make their way to you.

Ads on Google Maps

Google Maps shows Search ads in two places: within info cards beneath the search box, and on the map. On-map ads appear with a yellow “Ad” icon and text from your search ad.
Ads on Google Maps (desktop)Display ads on Google Maps: Display ads can show on Google Maps (including API versions of Google Maps) when your campaign includes location extensions.

Ads with Location extensions: A corresponding search ad will appear on the map when your ads have location extensions. Clicking on them (either on the map or under the search box) will expand your ad below the search box. This expansion shows more details about your business, as well as a button that will show potential customers how to reach your physical business location.

Ads on Google Maps for Mobile

When someone performs a search in Google Maps for Mobile, Search ads are eligible to appear as one of the scrollable results below the search box and map.

If your ad has location extensions enabled, they are eligible to appear as an on-map ad with a yellow “Ad” icon. These ads show your headline and one additional line of ad text on the map.

People can tap or swipe upward on the ad to view more information about your business, like your address and phone number. They’ll still see the directions button, along with a click-to-call button, and buttons to save and share your location.

Ad formats on classic Google Maps

A small number of Google Maps users who aren’t using the latest desktop version will have a different ad experience. Inclassic Google Maps, ads with location extensions can appear with a blue map marker. If people click this marker, additional information about the business appears on the map.

Eligibility

You don’t need location extensions for your Search ads to appear within Maps, but you’re likely to have more impressions if you add them. Location extensions are only required if you want to make your ads eligible to appear as on-map ads.

You’ll also need to opt in to advertise with our search partners (the default setting) in your campaign network settings. For ads to appear on Maps, they’ll need a high Quality Score, be very relevant to the Maps user’s search, and be targeted to the geographic area of the search. Learn more about location targeting.

Pricing

For ads on Maps, you’ll be charged a standard cost-per-click (CPC) for these types of clicks:

• Headline clicks
• Sitelinks clicks
• Get location detail clicks
• Get direction clicks
• Mobile clicks-to-call clicks

Example “Get location details” data in AdWords report

AdWords records “get location details” clicks when people click to expand ads with location extensions (in the desktop version of Maps), or if they swipe upward or tap on the Maps ad in Google Maps for Mobile.

You’ll be charged a maximum of two clicks per impression. If someone clicks on your on-map ad, for example (a “get location details” click), then clicks on the directions button (a “get direction” click), then clicks on your ad headline (a “headline” click), you won’t be charged for the “headline” click.

To review performance of these click types, select Segment > Click Type under the Campaigns, Ad groups, Ads, or Keywords tabs.

Free clicks

You aren’t charged for some clicks, which are recorded as “free clicks” in AdWords. These clicks include:

• Save Location clicks
• Share Location clicks
• Navigation (using navigation after the directions button is clicked)

Looking at the free clicks on your Maps ads can give you insight into how customers interact with you. To view your free clicks, go to the Dimensions tab in AdWords and select View > Free clicks.

In the mobile version of classic Maps, the ad shows your business name, but doesn’t include text from your Search ad.