You can use this table of contents to move through our advertising guidelines and find what you need. Click on a link for a specific section and you'll jump right to it.

Our mission at Pinterest is to bring everyone the inspiration to create the life they love. We believe promoted content can play a big role in helping people create a life they love, which is why we want ads to be some of the best stuff you see on Pinterest. If you follow these guidelines, you’ll be all set for promoting great content on Pinterest.

Authenticity means being truthful and honest about the product or service you're promoting. It also means being transparent with people about what they should expect when they interact with your products or services.

Be honest about your relationship with Pinterest

Your ads should stick to our brand guidelines and shouldn't suggest that Pinterest is sponsoring your promotion or is formally affiliated with it. Basically, your design should look like it came from your business, not from Pinterest. You can use the word "Pinterest," but not our wordmark.

Disclose your billing practices

If you charge users on a recurring basis, be transparent with them and disclose the terms of payment.

Stick to one advertiser per account, and be clear about who's advertising

We want people on Pinterest to understand who's promoting content. You can't manage more than one advertiser through a single account or change the advertiser on an account. You also can't create boards for someone else (for example, if you're an agency) and promote stuff from those boards. Instead, you can help someone else promote ads from their own account.

Respect the rights of others

Your ads can't infringe upon or violate the rights of any third party, including copyright, trademark or privacy rights.

Make sure your targeting is relevant and follow all the below guidelines.

Don't target sensitive categories

Targeting certain audiences can be inappropriate and offensive. It's never okay to target people in a way that implies you're aware of sensitive info about them. You can't target any audience based on:

• Sensitive health or medical condition
• Race, color or ethnic origin
• Negative financial status or condition
• Religious or philosophical affiliation or beliefs
• Sexual behavior or orientation
• Alleged or actual commission of a crime
• Additionally, you can’t target ads to Pinners under 18 years old

When targeting ads outside of the US, you also can't target any audience based on:

• Trade union membership or affiliation
• Political affiliation

Protected groups

Some ad categories have additional targeting restrictions. In addition to the sensitive targeting guidelines, ads in the following categories can’t use age, gender or zip code targeting options or exclude protected groups:

• Credit: Ads promoting credit products like credit cards, mortgages and loans.
• Employment: Ads promoting employment opportunities.  
• Housing: Ads promoting the purchase, sale, or rental of land or homes.

Keep in mind that age, gender, and familial status are protected.  Ads in these categories using prohibited targeting criteria will not be allowed to run. 

When using data to target or measure ads on Pinterest, you must follow our Ad Data Terms. This applies to features like our tag, audiences, and app install campaigns.

Follow all measurement and audience targeting rules

Anywhere you collect data used with a Pinterest ads service, you must disclose and get legally-required consent from each individual for that data collection, sharing and use.

If you use the Pinterest tag or send us mobile app activity, you must tell your website and app visitors that their information will be shared with third parties for online behavioral advertising, and that they can opt out of online behavioral advertising through their Pinterest personalization settings, the AdChoices website optout.aboutads.info (if you use the Pinterest tag), or their mobile ad identifier settings (if you share app activity data with us).

Don’t give us information that relates to sensitive categories—like medical condition or ethnic origin—or that’s collected from a child-directed site or app, or from anyone who’s under 13 or the legal age of consent in your country (if higher). Only pass us user identifiers (like Mobile Ad IDs or hashed emails) in designated fields and according to our documentation.

Respect our community's data and privacy

You can't:

• Use data you collect or receive through a Pinterest ads service for any purpose (including audience targeting or user profiling) other than to understand your Pinterest campaigns, and only on an anonymous basis
• Share data from a Pinterest ads service with a third party, including another advertising service
• Join data from a Pinterest ads service with personally identifiable information (like an email address) or information that identifies a user, browser, or device (like a cookie or mobile ad identifier)

If you receive any data from Pinterest tied to a unique identifier (e.g., campaign reporting data linked to a mobile device ID) then you can’t use it to market products or services, or for any purpose besides measuring Pinterest campaigns,  and you must delete it no later than 6 months after receiving it.

To keep ads inspiring and actionable, we set high standards for the editorial quality of ads on Pinterest. For tips, check out our creative best practices and boards from The Studio.

Professional and neatly edited images

Ads should adhere to the highest levels of editorial quality. We don’t allow ads with:

• Fuzzy or grainy images (try at least 600x900 pixels)
• Incorrectly oriented images (upside down or sideways)
• Poorly edited images or poorly cropped images 
• Overly busy images that are packed with text overlay or have too many font styles and colors (try no more than 4 frames and 2 font styles or colors)
• Images with artificial functionality like play or download buttons, notification icons, search bars, or elements that mimic Pinterest features (like our Save or Buy buttons)
• Elements that mimic Pinterest features (like our buttons or ellipses)
• Improper grammar, incorrect spelling or excessive capitalization and symbols
• Low-quality user-generated content like selfies and screenshots

Quality landing pages

We care about the ad experience from start to finish—including the URL your ad links to. We want to make sure users find what they're looking for when they click through. We don’t allow landing pages that:

• Require people to take an action (like signing up) before they can see certain content unless your ad makes it clear that this is required
• Have pop-up ads or start automatic downloads on someone’s device
• Force people to visit another page
• Contain primarily advertising content (made-for-ads sites)
• Lead to inconsistent experiences

Create a consistent experience

Your ads must reflect who you are and what you're promoting, so make sure your ad image, description and landing page are consistent. Your ads can't suggest or imply that a product is available on your landing page if you don't actually offer that product.

We don’t allow certain categories of advertising and restrict others. As always, you're responsible for the content you promote on Pinterest, as well as the safety and trustworthiness of the products and services you offer.

We don’t allow the advertising of:

• Sex toys
• Adult or pornographic videos, publications, live shows
• Sexual enhancement products
• Services that provide casual sex, international matchmaking or escorts
• Implied sexual activity (clothed or unclothed)
• The objectification of a person in a sexual manner to sell a product or service

We also don't allow:

• Nudity or implied nudity (such as blurred out images and illustrations)
• Implied sexual activity (clothed or unclothed)
• Any focus on certain body parts (genitals, pubic hair, male or female butts and female breasts)

You can advertise modeled clothing such as bathing suits and lingerie, as long as the products aren't adult-themed or overtly sexual.

We want ads to be beautiful and useful. We don’t want them to pressure or trick users with baiting content. We don’t allow sensational clickbait tactics that exploit user curiosity by:

• Playing on people’s fear
• Critiquing deficiencies
• Using alarmist or gawk-worthy language or images
• Purposefully withholding information

We don’t allow the advertising of:

• The sale or use of illegal or recreational drugs
• Informational material about the use or legalization of illegal or recreational drugs
• Ads including imagery of illegal or recreational drugs
• Accessories associated with drug use including paraphernalia for using, storing or consuming illegal or recreational drugs
• Products made from CBD, hemp or their derivatives

We don’t allow the advertising of live animals or products designed to inflict physical harm on animals in the name of training. We also don’t allow products made from tortoise shell, ivory, coral, crocodile skin, pangolin, tiger, polar bear or sea otter fur, and other endangered wildlife. This includes medicinal products made from rhinos, tigers or Asiatic black bears. For a full list of prohibited wildlife products, please visit our partner, the World Wildlife Fund.

We don't allow the advertising of anything that facilitates or promotes illegal products, services, or activities, including products that provide instructions for or equipment to illegally access or tamper with software, servers, cell phones or websites, and links to software that results in a malicious user experience. We also don’t allow the sale or solicitation of Fake IDs, passports, or other official documents.

We don’t allow the advertising of:

• Knockoff products
• Brand-name replicas
• Goods wrongfully advertised as authentic brand-name

We don’t allow advertising for:

• The election or defeat of political candidates running for public office, including fundraising for political candidates or parties
• Political parties or action committees
• Political issues with the intent to influence an election
• Legislation, including referendums or ballot initiatives
• Merchandise related to political candidates, parties, or elections

We want Pinterest to be a welcoming, positive, and inspiring place, so we don’t allow divisive or disturbing advertisements. We don’t allow language or imagery that is:

• Offensive or profane (censored or not) 
• Excessively violent or gory 
• Vulgar or sickening
• False or misleading, including conspiracy theories, misinformation, and attempts to impede an election’s integrity or an individual's or group's civic participation, such as voting and being counted in a census
• Politically, culturally or racially divisive or insensitive
• Unless paired with educational or charitable information, we also don’t allow content that capitalizes on controversial or tragic events

We don’t allow the advertising of tobacco products including but not limited to:

• Cigarettes
• E-cigarettes
• Vapes or vape cartridges
• Chewing tobacco
• Paraphernalia (i.e, pipes, rolling papers, vapes, vape cartridges, etc.)
• Any brands associated with the above products

We also do not allow the advertising of hookah or cigar bars or products.

We don't allow ads that promote the following products, services or business models:

• Penny or bidding fee auctions
• Payday loans
• Plaintiff recruitment services
• Bail bonds
• Financial services that facilitate the purchase or trade of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies
• Services that promise large financial returns for minimal investment or effort, such as multilevel marketing models or get-rich-quick opportunities
• Fake online tech support
• Products or services that utilize hidden costs or bait and switch tactics
• Companies that offer homework or essay writing services for students (Tutoring services are OK)
• Companies that sell social media followers
• Negative billing option services
• Products or services that make unrealistic or exaggerated claims

We expect our advertisers to be honest with their customers and set clear expectations about product quality, delivery times, return processes, and services provided. We reserve the right to reject an advertiser based on poor third-party ratings or a record of complaints.

We don’t allow the advertising of weapons including but not limited to:

• Guns, firearms or ammunition. This includes functioning antique devices, BB guns, airsoft guns, paintball guns and lifelike fake firearms.
• Gun accessories of any kind.
• Knives intended for violent use (like switchblades or hunting knives).
• Products intended for damage or injury (like crossbows, tasers or pepper spray).
• Fireworks.
• Explosives.
• Instructions on how to make weapons or fireworks, or information on how to harm or kill people.

We allow advertising of alcohol, including beer, wine, spirits, liqueurs, and alcohol memberships.
 
In all cases, you're responsible for complying with applicable federal and local laws and regulatory guidelines, including age gating where necessary.

Alcohol ads on Pinterest:

• Can't target minors, or depict minors consuming alcoholic beverages
• Can't associate the consumption of alcohol to enhanced physical performance, improved social standing or better sexual success
• Can't imply that drinking excessively is beneficial, or that alcohol has therapeutic qualities either as a stimulant or relaxant
• Can't depict people under the influence of alcohol, or associate drinking with activities that are risky (such as driving, operating heavy machinery), antisocial or illegal
• Can't emphasize high alcoholic content as a positive quality

If you promote a contest or sweepstakes, please encourage authentic behavior, keep Pinterest spam-free and be sure to comply with all relevant laws and regulations. In addition, please:

• Don't require participants to save a specific image
• Don't allow more than one entry per participant
• Don't suggest that Pinterest sponsors or endorses you or the promotions
• Make sure participants use the word "contest" or "sweepstakes" in their descriptions or images when they save Pins for the event

We don't allow anything that directs people to click on Pinterest buttons to get money, prizes or deals.

Ads for financial products and services must clearly and prominently disclose all applicable terms and conditions as required by the local laws and regulations for any country or region your ad is targeting. Ads for consumer loans, for example, must disclose things like the APR, repayment period, fees and costs, penalties, and information about the lending institution.

We prohibit ads for certain types of financial products, such as cryptocurrencies and payday loans, as described in unacceptable business practices. 

We don’t allow the advertising of:

• Any kind of lottery
• Gambling game apps
• Gambling websites

We also don't allow advertising for fantasy sports or other online prize-based games that require payment for entry.

Ads for brick and mortar casinos that don't lead to online gambling, lotteries or games of skill are OK except where prohibited in our country-specific guidelines. 
 

We don’t allow the advertising of:

• Pharmaceutical manufacturers (branded or unbranded)
• Prescription drugs for humans or pets
• Online pharmacies
• Class III medical devices
• Clinical trial recruitment
• Paternity tests
• Direct-to-consumer genetic tests
• Claims regarding the prevention or cure of disease
• Products or advice we suspect could be unsafe, unreliable, or easily abused
• Invasive medical procedures
• The sale or purchase of human body parts, organs, tissues or fluids

We also don’t allow:

• Weight loss or appetite suppressant pills and supplements
• Unlikely or dangerous weight-loss claims and before-and-after weight-loss imagery
• Weight loss procedures like liposuction or fat burning
• Body shaming, such as imagery or language that mocks or discredits certain body types or appearances
• Claims regarding unrealistic cosmetic results

We do allow the advertising of:

• Eyeglasses and contact lenses
• Class I and II medical devices except where prohibited in our country-specific guidelines
• Over-the-counter (OTC) non-prescription medicines except where prohibited in our country-specific guidelines 
• OTC contraceptive products that don’t focus on sexual pleasure or performance except where prohibited in our country-specific guidelines 
   

We do have country specific guidelines you must follow when targeting a certain region of the world. When targeting a specific region please keep in mind local languages and cultural relevance for your audience. We recommend having your advertising in the local language of the region.

Austria

If your ad is shown in Austria, we don’t allow: 

• Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs

Belgium

If your ad is shown in Belgium, we don't allow:

• Brick-and-mortar casinos

Denmark

If your ad is shown in Denmark, we don't allow:

• Brick-and-mortar casinos

• Infant formula

• Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs

• Medical devices

• Brick-and-mortar pharmacies

France

If your ad is shown in France, we don’t allow:

• Infant formula
• Pharmacies

Germany

If your ad is shown in Germany, we don’t allow:

• Brick-and-mortar casinos

Italy

If your ad is shown in Italy, we don’t allow:

• Brick-and-mortar casinos
• Medical devices
• Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs

Netherlands

If your ad is shown in the Netherlands, we don't allow:

• Brick-and-mortar casinos

• Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs

• Medical devices

• Infant formula

Poland, Malta, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Greece, Czech Republic

If your ad is shown in Poland, Malta, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Greece, Czech Republic we don’t allow:

• Alcohol
• Brick-and-mortar casinos
• Infant formula
• Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs
• Medical devices
• Brick-and-mortar pharmacies

Portugal

If your ad is shown in Portugal, we don't allow:

• Brick-and-mortar casinos
• Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs

Spain

If your ad is shown in Spain, we don’t allow: 

• Brick-and-mortar casinos
• Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs
• Infant formula

Switzerland

If your ad is shown in Switzerland, we don't allow:

• Infant formula
• Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs

Sweden, Norway, Finland

If your ad is shown in Sweden, Norway, or Finland, we don't allow:

• Alcohol

• Brick-and-mortar casinos

• Infant formula

• Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs

• Medical devices

• Brick-and-mortar pharmacies

Trade Sanctions

You can’t use Pinterest ads products if it would be prohibited by US sanctions. Our ad service currently isn’t available in:

• Crimea
• Cuba
• Iran
• North Korea
• Syria

You need to make sure your ads follow our standard ad guidelines and any country-specific guidelines. You need to follow all applicable local laws, regulations and industry codes for any area your ads will be shown in. You must also follow our community guidelines, terms and the above advertising guidelines. These advertising guidelines apply to all parts of your promoted content, including the image, description and destination—and they apply to features like audience targeting.

We reserve the right to reject or remove any ad that negatively affects our relationship with people on Pinterest or that goes against our interests. We may also remove ads, categories of ads, or advertisers that get lots of negative feedback from people on Pinterest. These rules may change at any time.