50 eye-catching web banner design examples to help you create your own

Banner ads – we see them everywhere.

Normally they’re bright, flashy, and encroach on your internet experience. We’ve all tried our best to become immune to them. It’s safe to say they’ve got quite a bad rap.

In actuality, web banner ads are great tools to spread a message to a large audience. But with so many terrible examples of banner ads pummeling us every day, how do you stand out (in a good way) and really make an impression?

To save you some time, we’ve taken the liberty of curating 50 great examples of web banner advertisements to help and inspire you to create your own.

This set of banner ads by Dear Miss Modern⁠(opens in a new tab or window) pairs together text and photography in an effective and beautiful way. Each typeface in every individual banner is a nice reflection of the photograph within it, and they form a relationship that works very well together.

The photos that are more fun and playful have more playful text, and the images that are more sophisticated sport a classier typeface.

Does your typography need some work? Check out this article, 10 Ways to Improve Typography In Your Designs⁠(opens in a new tab or window).

Visa’s⁠(opens in a new tab or window) holiday banner ad uses hierarchy to its advantage. The photo is front and center stage, while the type (particularly the main message) works alongside it just enough to not get lost.

The offer button is positioned smartly right above the focal point of the image, which allows your eye to be drawn up and into the message.

This banner ad for Google⁠(opens in a new tab or window) brings in a nice, personal touch with its hand drawn icons.

They’re all images we recognize, yet it feels exclusive to the ad, as though the person in the photo was writing out their actions for the world to see. The hand drawn features adds in an incredibly personal touch, and makes the ad feel more than just an ad.

Sometimes, skipping a typeface and writing out your message, like Google⁠(opens in a new tab or window) has done here, is a great solution.

It works particularly well in this advertisement because Google is looking for new employees, and the style gives off a vibe similar to those you’d find on community boards. It makes the notion of working for Google much more personal and attainable rather than intimidating.

Adding in illustrations to your banner ad is a great way to have an element of fun and playfulness, like in this ad for Google⁠(opens in a new tab or window). Many looks can be achieved with illustration, whether it’s edgy and modern or childish and friendly.

Illustration adds an element that can’t always be achieved with photography, and is a great alternative if you can’t swing a photoshoot for your ad.

This banner ad for FatCow⁠(opens in a new tab or window) by Envato Studio⁠(opens in a new tab or window) shows perfectly how you can design your layout to work with a multitude of banner sizes.

Design in the size that you’ll be using the most and really perfect it, then take elements from that design and reflect it in your other sizes. Some elements will need to be shrunk down, others removed, and new elements may also need to be added.

In this ad for Google Play Music⁠(opens in a new tab or window), you can’t help but be drawn into it. The vibrant pink paired with the contrasting blue really draws your eye’s attention and makes a great impression.

Sometimes, incorporating bright pops of color in your banner ads will help make them stand out against more monotone, standard banner ads.

Interested in learning more on color theory? Take a look at this great resource⁠(opens in a new tab or window).

If there’s one thing Coca Cola⁠(opens in a new tab or window) does well, it’s keeping things simple, and this banner ad is no exception. You have the product, the logo, and a short message – that’s it, and that’s all that’s needed.

Cramming a banner full of information that consumers don’t care about won’t grant you any favors, so omit what you can and only include what’s important. Your viewers will thank you.

Staying current with trends and pop culture is a great way to get clicks on your banner ads.

Campbell’s⁠(opens in a new tab or window) created a product line featuring characters for the globally anticipated release of the new Star Wars movie, and they displayed it in banner ads. The streak of red is undeniably recognizable, and it attracts Campbell’s lovers both new and old.

Campbell’s⁠(opens in a new tab or window) created another successful ad by incorporating texture. It’s subtle just around the edges, yet adds in a nice homey, grounding touch. Campbell’s is a comfortable, relatable brand, and by adding in this texture they help drive that image through.

The ultimate goal of any ad is to appeal to your audience, and that’s exactly what this ad for Target⁠(opens in a new tab or window) does.

Their nursery line mostly communicates to mothers, so a cute little scene of a picture perfect pink nursery is shown – like in a storybook. The lines‘ your nursery your style’ are shown underneath, which encourages mothers to decorate their child’s nursery however they want.

This ad for Zarbee’s⁠(opens in a new tab or window) multivitamins lays out fruits in a nice pattern instead of using a generic product shot of the bottle. It shows that the vitamins are fresh and healthy and not full of chemicals.

Having a clear focal point in your ad is essential, you need to communicate with your audience quickly and efficiently. The focal point in this ad for Target⁠(opens in a new tab or window) is the Target logo, due to its position on the page and its bright red color.

The blue backdrop frames it nicely, and serves as a nice break from the vibrant red. Target is known well enough that it doesn’t need much more of a message, and serves as a reminder to viewers to consider Target while shopping for fashion.

This ad for McDonald’s⁠(opens in a new tab or window) pairs its imagery and message very well. The incorporation of the image allows you to drop the actual mention of coffee, which shortens the text and gives more room to play with type.

The image of the coffee cup could work on its own, but it’s much more effective when the viewer is prompted about how they enjoy their McDonald’s coffee.

This bright McFlurry is the true star of this McDonald’s⁠(opens in a new tab or window) banner ad, and rightly so.

The vibrant and colorful cup stands out against the grey background, which acts as a nice neutral ground to showcase the product. If the background had been more colorful, the product would have been lost, and the message wouldn’t have been as clear.

Creating sharp angles like Audi⁠(opens in a new tab or window) did in this ad is a great way to break up space and add energy. Sure, regularly aligned boxes could have worked, but the diagonally oriented shapes of color add in movement, which translates incredibly well alongside the speedy car.

Adding in an overlay of color on photographs is a great way to allow your message to stand out. In this banner ad, Disney⁠(opens in a new tab or window) added a dark grey overlay over a bright and happy image of a child splashing in water at a resort.

A simple white message is laid over the top and really stands out against the photo. If the overlay hadn’t been there, the message would have been too lost in the details of the photo and not been as effective.

This banner ad for Tiffany & Co.⁠(opens in a new tab or window) is very fun, energetic, and lively. A swirling cocktail glass illustration is paired with beautifully adorned jewelry, and really gives off the promise of a good time.

It suggests the types of situations in which you would wear Tiffany jewelry, and gives the brand a persona of elegance and class with a touch of playfulness.

Good typography is a great way to grab viewers’ attention. In this particular ad for Nike⁠(opens in a new tab or window), the name of the shoe is broken up and sliced away, making it feel light and almost like it’s fading away.

Visually, it’s great to look at, and it helps tremendously that the lightness of the type is related the the actual lightness of the shoe.

Illustration in your web banner ads can be simple or incredibly detailed depending on your message.

The illustration style in this banner for Nike⁠(opens in a new tab or window) is quite detailed, and really tells a story. Power and strength can be felt in the drawing, and the subtle touches of color throughout brings in a nice energy – which is exactly what Nike is about.

Try your hand at including a few different elements in your next banner ad, like this ad for Ebay⁠(opens in a new tab or window) did.

A photograph, standard type, handwritten type, and illustrative accents all come together to make an effective banner advertisement. Each element has its own strength and contributes something, which would otherwise be missed had it not been there.

Keep up with trends to make your banner ads relative to your consumers. This ad for Ebay⁠(opens in a new tab or window) took the title of a popular song by Drake and spun it to work for them.

Instead of ‘Hotline Bling’, they changed it to ‘Haute Line Bling’, which introduces an entirely new vibe and can be appreciated by those up to date with pop culture, as well as those who are interested in fashion.

Don’t feel obligated to stick to an incredibly structured style or grid in your banner ad.

In this example, Yoplait⁠(opens in a new tab or window) took a loose approach not only with their type, but with their grid. The playfulness pairs perfectly with the particular product, and has a nice energy both kids and parents can appreciate.

Creating a relationship between the elements in your banner ad is very important. You wouldn’t want people to question why you used a certain image if it doesn’t work with the text. In this example from Talbots⁠(opens in a new tab or window), the relationship is simple, but there.

The color for the type was pulled directly out of the photograph, and the text makes a cute pun relating to color.

Creating contrast in your banner ads is a good way to draw attention to them, like in this ad from ESPN⁠(opens in a new tab or window).

The background is dark and textured, while the text is light and crisp. The contrast between the two really makes the type stand out, which is important when you’re relaying time sensitive information.

Achieving symmetry and balance in your ad is something many designers strive to do, but come up short.

This ad by Apple⁠(opens in a new tab or window) uses a simple grid, the photographs are in black and white, and the area where the images would intersect houses the branding and message. It’s very cut and dry, but it works wonderfully, and allows the music to speak for itself.

If you’re trying to appeal to college students, actually take a step into their shoes, like Chegg⁠(opens in a new tab or window) has done in this banner ad.

An all too familiar statement of ‘wait, that was due today?’ is positioned over top of an image of a busy student. This is something all of us can relate to, and it certainly resonates with the college students who would be using the service.

Movement catches your eye outside of the web, so why wouldn’t it while you’re online? This motion oriented banner ad by Chegg⁠(opens in a new tab or window) moves just enough to stand out on the page and grab attention. It’s message is simple and straightforward, which helps to not overcomplicate it as a whole.

Gillette⁠(opens in a new tab or window) used angles, dark colors, and interesting image overlays to create a nice edge in this web banner.

The image overlays allow you to see how the product functions without animating it, and the darkness of the background allows the razor to shine through. The design feels clean and sharp, just like you’d want your razor.

This web banner ad for Honda⁠(opens in a new tab or window) is simple. The quick stroke of yellow behind the car helps to add in depth and ground the vehicle. If the yellow accent wasn’t there, the car would look like it was simply pasted on and was floating, and wouldn’t pop out quite as much.

Using an interesting and unique typeface can really draw attention to your web banner ad. This ad for Pepsi⁠(opens in a new tab or window) uses a fun, yet slightly structured typeface. It’s clear enough to read, yet has just enough personality to relay a sense of playfulness.

People go crazy over lettering and typography. McGrath Creative⁠(opens in a new tab or window) created some beautiful typography for this California Pizza Kitchen⁠(opens in a new tab or window) ad, and not only is it beautiful to look at, it also acts as a slice so you can see exactly what’s inside the product.

Simple graphics are very effective on websites and other applications, and they’re very effective on banner ads as well.

This ad for Coda by Stopbreathing⁠(opens in a new tab or window) uses some very simple and flat graphics, but they pair perfectly with the detailed image of the car. The simplicity of the graphics balances the photograph in a wonderful way, and really allows the car to shine.

This Adidas⁠(opens in a new tab or window) banner ad has some very interesting dimensions going on. The closeness of the lines in the background provides texture, while the reflection in the lines provides depth. The two work together to create a sense of speed, which makes perfect sense considering the product being displayed.

Accents of color help to offset the photograph in this banner ad for PayPal⁠(opens in a new tab or window).

If the photograph had been used all on its own with no accents, the banner wouldn’t have been quite as impressive. The color acts to tie in the brand, and to help give the type something to lean on – literally.

Yes, ultimately banner ads are trying to make some sort of sale, but they don’t need to do it so obviously.

This web banner ad for Free People⁠(opens in a new tab or window) encourages viewers to not just shop, but to check out the trends they have on their site. It doesn’t just seem like a sales ploy, yet it will surely create sales when customers visit the site.

Bold, rich colors are used in this web banner ad for I, Anna⁠(opens in a new tab or window). The red is vibrant and eye catching, and the yellow is just subdued enough to not strain your eyes. This colorful banner really pops on screen and grabs attention, which is exactly what you’re aiming to do.

Sometimes elaborate drawings and illustrations won’t suit your message or brand. In this particular ad for Starbucks⁠(opens in a new tab or window), instead of a detailed and fully rendered illustration of their new drink, a more simplified and flat drawing was used instead.

You can clearly see what the new drink is made of, and it’s portrayed in a way that makes you feel as if you’re looking at in directly on the Starbuck’s menu boards.

Movement is incredibly important in design, and web banner ad design is no exception. This web ad from Starbucks⁠(opens in a new tab or window) has a lot of movement in a small space.

Ripple lines emanate from the center of the product, and the product can be seen splashing through the frame. It looks light and refreshing, which is exactly what the product is.

If you’ve got animation or motion graphics skills, utilizing them in your banner ads is a great way to stand out. In this ad by Alexey Tyulin⁠(opens in a new tab or window), the motion and clean graphics work together to draw attention and tell a story.

At the end, the animation even directs you on the next action you should take, which is to learn more. It’s a great way to influence viewers to do what you need them to do as a brand.

The geometric pattern in the limes in this ad for Corona by Vasiliy Yusov⁠(opens in a new tab or window) makes it very unique. Instead of a simple photograph or regular illustration, the sharpness and angularity of the fruit adds in edge and a unique twist you don’t see too often.

Use shapes to break up space like Ckarlo Tquintana⁠(opens in a new tab or window) did in this banner for Brightgreen. They could have left the white area flat and square, but bringing in the shapes from the other side helped to tie the two together, and not have too much overwhelming negative space in the ad.

The shadow in this banner ad created by webduckdesign⁠(opens in a new tab or window) really helps to anchor the image down.

If the shadow wasn’t there, the photo of the show would have looked too ‘stuck on’, and wouldn’t have had the nice heaviness it does here. The shadow adds in dimension to the ad as well, ensuring it isn’t too flat and two dimensional.

If you’ve got an attitude you’re looking to portray, drive it home with reiteration. In this ad by Anne-Sophie Hostert⁠(opens in a new tab or window) you clearly understand the vibe because of the popsicle-and-pineapple pattern. It’s cool, it’s summer, and you know exactly the type of content you’re dealing with.

If you’re using a photo in your banner ad, don’t feel as though you have to use it in its entirety. Take a leaf out of Patrick Mead⁠(opens in a new tab or window)’s book and do what he did in these ads for TripShock⁠(opens in a new tab or window) – break up photos with color. The blocks of color add in angles and shape to the ads, which would have otherwise been too stiff and standard had they not been there.

Sometimes adding a flare to your design is as simple as adding in a few linear accents. In this banner ad for Shutterfly⁠(opens in a new tab or window), four lines are stacked at the top and bottom of the text.

These lines help separate the text from the image, and allows it to be its own element and stand out. Without the lines, the text would look as though it was simply placed on the wall, but with the lines the placing of the text becomes much more deliberate.

The ultimate goal of an ad is to sell a product, and the most effective way to sell a product is to tell a story using that product.

This ad for Audible⁠(opens in a new tab or window) tells a story within a story. Audible is an app that allows you to purchase and listen to audiobooks, and here it shows how you can get lost in everyday tasks while listening to a good book.

People love to laugh, and if you can get them to do it while looking at your banner ad, why wouldn’t you?

This ad for State Farm by Seth DeCroce⁠(opens in a new tab or window) provides viewers with a nice chuckle. It’s specifically addressing Coachella, a popular multi-day music festival, and how you can watch it in the comfort of your own home (while having a shower, if you wish), instead of camping out at the festival for days, sans shower.

Bringing together multiple typefaces or styles of typefaces like Pizza Hut⁠(opens in a new tab or window) has done in this ad is a great way to amp up a simple design. In this instance, different line weights of the same font are used in the initial message.

Had these words all been depicted in the exact same weight and size, it would have fell flat and not had as much impact from both a design perspective and in message effectiveness.

This banner ad from MTV⁠(opens in a new tab or window) is super simple. It’s simply a flat color with text on top, but the shapes used throughout the type add in dimension and movement.

The message would have looked incredibly plain had the shapes not been in there, and it wouldn’t have resonated with MTV’s audience very well.

Hopefully after seeing all of these awesome examples of web banners, some new life has been breathed into them. Sure, there will always be obnoxious ads online, but with enough creative people (like you) making expertly designed ones, they’ll soon just be white noise.

Did you know you can create web banner ads directly in Canva? Try it out here⁠(opens in a new tab or window). Share any awesome ads you create in the comments.