Paid Media
Ad Rank
Google Ads' formula for determining which ads appear and in what order.
Ad Rank is the Google Ads formula that determines which ads enter the auction and in what position. The primary inputs are your bid, Quality Score, the ad rank thresholds, the context of the user's search, and the expected impact of ad extensions and formats. Higher Ad Rank means better position at lower cost — both your bid and your Quality Score matter.
Formula
Ad Rank = Bid × Quality Score (simplified) Example
Two advertisers bid on the same query. Advertiser A bids $5 with Quality Score 8 (Ad Rank: 40). Advertiser B bids $8 with Quality Score 4 (Ad Rank: 32). A wins position 1 despite the lower bid.
Related terms
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