Google Ads copy grader
Paste your responsive search ad headlines and descriptions below to get a letter grade from A+ to F and a ranked list of fixes. It checks the rules that get ads rejected or ignored: Google's 30 and 90 character limits, 3 to 15 headlines, banned characters and capitals, duplicate lines, a missing keyword, no numbers, no call to action, filler words and claims you'd have to prove.
Grade your ad
A sample plumbing ad is loaded so you can see how it works. Replace it with yours; the grade updates as you type.
Sample ad loaded. It grades live as you type.
Guaranteed lowest prices on every job → call today Licensed plumbers.
- highRemove arrows, emoji and symbols
Google's editorial policy rejects unsupported characters and symbols used for decoration. Write "Spend $1,300, get $2,600", not "$1,300 → $2,600".
Guaranteed lowest prices on every job → call today - highTake the phone number out of the ad text
Google doesn't allow phone numbers in ad text. Add a call asset instead.
Call 555-201-3344 Now - highCheck claims you'd need to prove: "best", "guarantee"
Guarantees, superlatives like "best" or "#1", and outcome promises need proof on your landing page. Google's misrepresentation policy covers unreliable claims, and in health, legal and finance they can get ads limited.
BEST Plumbers In Town!!Guaranteed lowest prices on every job → call today - mediumWrite more headlines (5 of 15)
With fewer than 8 headlines Google has few combinations to test. Add distinct angles: an offer, a number, a proof point, the service plus the city.
- mediumCut filler words: "unlock", "seamless"
These words could sit in any competitor's ad, so they don't help anyone pick you. Replace each with a concrete noun, number or fact.
- mediumDrop repeated punctuation
Google's editorial policy limits punctuation that isn't used for its normal purpose, such as "!!" or "??".
BEST Plumbers In Town!! - mediumStop shouting in capitals
Whole words in capitals ("FREE", "TODAY") count as capitalization used for effect under Google's editorial policy. Capitalize normally.
BEST Plumbers In Town!! - mediumRemove duplicate lines
Lines that differ only by case or punctuation give Google nothing new to test, and Ad Strength drops. Replace each with a different angle.
Emergency Plumber Near You - lowUse more of each description
Descriptions under 60 characters leave a third of the line empty. Add a proof point or a detail.
Guaranteed lowest prices on every job → call todayLicensed plumbers. - lowAdd one or two more specifics
Only one line has a number. Prices, counts, hours and years in business are easy specifics.
Ad Grades also grades your landing page, video and delivery on live campaigns.
What the grader checks
| Check | Rule | Points off |
|---|---|---|
| Headline count[1] | 3 to 15 | 3 to 25 |
| Description count[1] | 2 to 4 | 5 to 15 |
| Headline length[1] | 30 characters | 6 per line |
| Description length[1] | 90 characters | 5 per line |
| Arrows, emoji, symbols[2] | None | 8 per line |
| Phone number in text[2] | None (use a call asset) | 8 per line |
| Capitals and repeated punctuation[2] | Normal use only | 5 per line |
| Keyword in a headline[1] | At least one | 10 |
| Claims that need proof[3] | Guarantee, best, #1, cure, risk-free | 4 each |
| Duplicate lines | All distinct | 5 each |
| A specific number | At least two lines | 3 to 8 |
| Call to action | At least one | 8 |
| Filler words | None (unlock, seamless, elevate...) | 3 each |
| Dashes | Commas or periods instead | 2 per line |
| Short descriptions | 60+ characters | 2 per line |
Why these rules
The hard limits come from Google. A responsive search ad takes 3 to 15 headlines of up to 30 characters and 2 to 4 descriptions of up to 90, and Google recommends putting at least one keyword in your headlines.[1] Google's editorial policy rejects unsupported characters, capitals and punctuation used for effect, gimmicky spacing and phone numbers in ad text.[2] Claims like "guaranteed" or "#1" fall under its misrepresentation policy if your site can't back them up.[3]
The style rules come from the rubric behind Ad Grades, the AI grader inside RunAds. It grades direct-response craft: specific beats vague ("Licensed since 2009" beats "Quality service"), one clear action, and no words that could sit in any competitor's ad. The filler list here is the same list the RunAds ad writer is banned from using.
What the full Ad Grade adds
This free tool grades the words you paste. Ad Grades in RunAds grades the live ad in your Google Ads account, and needs a login because it reads the account and runs an AI model on each ad. It:
- Grades three parts: the copy (45% of the score), the landing page (35%) and the video or creative (20%). Creative drops out of the average for search ads that have none.
- Checks whether the landing page delivers what the ad promised (message match).
- Reads delivery first: whether the ad is serving, how much of its budget it spends, and on Search, how much impression share it loses to budget or to rank.
- Knows the field rules for each campaign type, so a Performance Max asset group is graded on its signals and listing groups, not on fields it doesn't have.
Start free with 500 credits.
Link to this tool
Common questions
How many headlines and descriptions does a responsive search ad need?
At least 3 headlines and 2 descriptions, and at most 15 headlines and 4 descriptions. Headlines can be up to 30 characters and descriptions up to 90, according to Google's responsive search ads help page.
How is the grade calculated?
Every ad starts at 100. Each problem takes points off by how much it matters: a line over Google's limit or a phone number in the text costs more than a short description. The total maps to the same letter scale RunAds' Ad Grades uses: A+ is 97 to 100, A 90 to 96, B+ 85 to 89, B 80 to 84, C+ 75 to 79, C 70 to 74, and anything under 70 is an F.
Is my ad copy sent anywhere?
No. The grader runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you paste is sent to RunAds or anyone else, and you don't need an account.
How is this different from Google's Ad Strength?
Ad Strength mostly rewards how many distinct headlines and descriptions you give Google and whether they include your keywords. This grader also flags things Ad Strength doesn't score as copy problems: filler words, claims you'd need to prove, no specific numbers and no clear call to action.
What does the full AI grade in RunAds add?
Ad Grades in RunAds grades a live ad, not pasted text. It reads the ad from your Google Ads account, grades the copy, the video or creative and the landing page it sends people to, checks whether the page keeps the ad's promise, and looks at delivery (spend against budget and lost impression share) before giving one overall grade.
Sources
- About responsive search ads, Google Ads Help. Checked Oct 30, 2026.3 to 15 headlines of up to 30 characters, 2 to 4 descriptions of up to 90 characters; include at least one keyword in your headlines.
- Editorial (Google Ads policy), Google Advertising Policies Help. Checked Oct 30, 2026.Bans capitalization or punctuation not used for its intended purpose, unsupported characters, gimmicky spacing, and phone numbers in ad text.
- Misrepresentation (Google Ads policy), Google Advertising Policies Help. Checked Oct 30, 2026.
Every outside number on this page links to its source above, with the date we checked it. RunAds has not published its own account data here.
Related pages
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