Pinterest is not a loud, high-pressure ad environment. People come here with curiosity. They look for ideas, plans, and inspiration. If your ad blends into that mindset, it performs. If it feels pushy or unsafe, Pinterest slows it down or disapproves of it.

The rules do not exist to frustrate you. They exist to protect the discovery experience. This guide walks you through the dos, don’ts, formats, specs, and small details that keep your campaigns safe and effective.

Think of it as a handbook that explains everything in plain English, without harsh technical terms.

Let’s make sure your ads get approved the first time.

What Pinterest wants from advertisers

Pinterest wants content that feels useful and positive. Think of it as a visual search engine where people come to plan the next chapter of their lives.

Your ad should:

• Feel honest and transparent
• Blend naturally into a feed full of ideas
• Make people curious instead of pressured
• Use clean, high-quality visuals

The goal is simple. Pinterest wants ads that inspire action without manipulating emotions.

What Pinterest rejects? (The hard no list)

Here we have listed a checklist you must go through before advertising on Pinterest:

1. Pinterest is strict about certain areas. When your ad falls into any of these zones, it gets rejected immediately.
2. Harmful or unsafe items. Weapons, explosives, harmful accessories, anything that can cause injury offline.
3. Adult or suggestive content. Even mild nudity or sexual posing often gets flagged. Pinterest aims to stay family-friendly.
4. Misleading or exaggerated claims. This includes: extreme transformations, miracle outcomes, fake guarantees, and sensational headlines.
5. Pinterest pushes for realistic results and honest messaging.
6. Political content. Political persuasion, political issues, or election influence are completely banned.
7. Tobacco and illegal substances. No ads for cigarettes, vapes, cannabis, drug paraphernalia, or illegal products.
8. Hate, bullying, or body shaming. Pinterest actively protects emotional safety. Any harmful tone triggers rejection.

If your brand is close to any sensitive category, keep your messaging extra clean.

Restricted categories (allowed, but with rules)

Some industries are allowed on Pinterest, but you must follow stricter rules.

Alcohol

Permitted, but not if you:

• Target minors
• Encourage irresponsible behavior
• Claim health benefits

Weight loss

You can promote healthy lifestyle ideas. You cannot show extreme results or create fear around body image.

Gambling

Allowed only in approved regions. Correct age targeting and responsible messaging are required.

Medical or cosmetic procedures

Share information, not dramatic claims or unsafe promises. If you stay careful and transparent, these categories pass approval smoothly.

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I have kept your structure, but the tone is warmer, the paragraphs guide the reader, and the lists feel introduced, not dumped.

Creative guidelines: What Pinterest actually loves to see

Pinterest is a visual platform at its core. People scroll through it the way they would flip through a magazine. That means your ad needs to feel like it belongs there. Before you start designing, think about this: “Would a Pinterest user save this?”

If the answer is no, the ad likely won’t perform well.

Let’s look at what Pinterest expects across different creative formats.

Image Ads

Pinterest users notice your image before they read a single word, so clarity and mood matter. Clean visuals get far more saves than complicated designs.

Keep your images:

• 2:3 ratio, which looks most natural in the feed
• 1000 × 1500 px for sharp quality
• Bright, soft, and minimal, so the viewer feels invited, not overwhelmed
• With light text overlays only, Pinterest penalizes heavy text

Think of Pinterest images as visual ideas, not promotions. Soft lighting, airy colors, and uncluttered arrangements work best.

Video Ads

Many advertisers assume Pinterest wants fast, high-edit videos. It doesn’t. Users prefer short videos that feel calm and helpful.

Stick to:

• 4-15 seconds (the sweet spot)
• MP4 or MOV format
• Vertical or vertical-friendly ratios (2:3 or 9:16)
• Smooth, simple visuals without aggressive transitions or loud effects

A quick room makeover, a recipe step, a styling moment, anything short and soothing tends to perform better than loud, fast edits.

Idea Ads

These are perfect if you want to tell a mini story. Think of them as your chance to walk people through a process, one step at a time.

Idea Ads work best when you:

• Show a simple transformation
• Break steps down clearly
• Avoid dramatic “before/after” claims
• Keep the tone friendly and encouraging

Your goal is to inspire, not oversell.

Ad Copy

Pinterest isn’t the place for “LIMITED OFFER!!!” type messaging. Users prefer gentle guidance, so your text should feel like a suggestion, not a push.

You need to avoid:

• Keyword overload
• ALL CAPS
• Hard-selling language

Keep your copy soft, clear, and helpful. The more it sounds like something a real person would say, the more Pinterest boosts it.

Rules of targeting: Who you can and cannot reach

Pinterest gives you effective targeting options, but it also protects user privacy. So think of targeting as a way to find people who are already looking for ideas like yours, not a way to follow people around the internet.

You are allowed to target:

• Interests (like home décor, cooking, fashion)
• Keywords
• Demographics
• Custom audiences
• Act like audiences

These help you meet people who are already in a “planning mood.”

But Pinterest blocks anything that feels too personal. You cannot target:

• Sensitive health details
• Personal struggles or hardships
• People under 18
• Traits that reveal private identity information

The conclusion is clear: Pinterest wants users to feel safe, not tracked.

Landing page rules: A common reason ads get rejected

Most advertisers focus on the ad and forget the landing page. Pinterest does not. It scans your landing page for accuracy, safety, and consistency. If anything feels misleading, your ad is rejected.

Your landing page should:

• Match your ad’s promise
• Show correct prices
• Load quickly
• Avoid pop-ups that block the screen
• Use trusted payment symbols
• Keep the tone honest and clear

If your Pin says “under ₹999,” your landing page must show that price clearly. Consistency is everything.

Category-specific rules: A quick breakdown

Pinterest treats some industries more carefully because of past misuse. If you’re in one of these categories, keep messaging simple and factual.

Beauty

Avoid dramatic transformations or heavily edited skin.

Finance

Stay away from guaranteed results or fast-profit claims. Transparency wins.

Health

No medical promises, fear-based messaging, or exaggerated outcomes.

Fashion

Use inclusive, non-sexualized visuals. Avoid body comparison captions.

DIY & Home

Use original images or licensed content. Pinterest dislikes generic stock photos.

Best practices for smooth Pinterest approvals

If you want your ads approved consistently, build these habits into your workflow. They prevent 90% of rejections.

Do this:

• Use clean, high-quality visuals
• Keep text short and friendly
• Maintain a positive tone
• Use minimal overlays
• Avoid unrealistic claims
• Ensure your landing page matches the ad
• Use warm, inviting colors
• Keep the design breathable

Pinterest favors ads that feel like ideas, inspirations, and helpful suggestions, not traditional ads.

Pinterest-friendly ad examples

These examples show the kind of creative Pinterest boosts.

1. Home Décor Moodboard

A collage of colors, fabrics, and décor items. Soft lighting. No heavy text. It looks like inspiration a user would save for later.

2. Outfit Idea Grid

Four seasonal outfits in a clean grid.
A tiny label like “Summer picks.” Nobody comments. No strong selling tones.

3. Recipe Idea Video

A 6-second clip showing one quick step of a recipe.
It feels warm, inviting, and practical.

4. DIY Craft Kit Idea Pin

A step-by-step demonstration of how to create something.
Clear, simple, and motivating.

These ads work because they fit the “Pinterest mood” calm, helpful, and creative.

Common reasons Pinterest rejects ads

Why did your last add got rejected? Most rejections come from fixable issues. If your ad gets rejected, it’s usually due to:

• Too much text on the image
• Low-quality or blurry visuals
• Landing page mismatch
• Unlicensed images
• Before/after comparisons
• Sexualized photos
• Clickbait text
• Pop-ups blocking content
• Misleading pricing
• Sensitive or banned keywords

If fixing these usually gets the ad approved on the second attempt.

Pre-launch checklist (Use this every time)

Before you click “Publish,” ask yourself:

• Is the image clean and clear?
• Does the copy feel simple and honest?
• Does the landing page match the ad?
• Is my text minimal?
• Does the creative feel positive?
• Is it safe for all ages?
• Is my claim realistic?

If yes, your ad is already on the right track. 

FAQs