Compelling Comprehensive Content.

News, profiles, lifestyles, and Ann Arbor’s best calendar of events.

Deadlines & Publication Schedule

Ann Arbor Observer
Space ReservedMaterials DuePublication Date
January11/2812/712/22
February
(Restaurants & Dining)
1/41/101/25
March
(Summer Camps & Activities)
1/302/72/23
April
(Summer Camps & Activities)
2/293/73/25
May
(Health & Wellness)
4/24/94/25
June4/305/85/24
July5/306/76/25
August6/277/97/25
September
(Senior Living & Services)
7/308/98/26
October8/299/99/25
November10/110/910/25
December
(Holiday Guide)
10/2911/811/25
Community Guide
Space ReservedMaterials DuePublication Date
2024-2025 Community Guide6/137/248/9
City Guide
Space ReservedMaterials DuePublication Date
City Guide6/137/248/9

Ann Arbor Observer Rates

Rates listed are per insertion and based on the number of ads placed (1x–18x) within a 12-month contract term.
Additional charge for color: $350 for full color, $150 for one spot or one process color.

Rates
1x3x6x9x12x14x15x16x
2-Page Spread7,3617,0666,6266,2575,8885,5255,2134,963
Full Page3,8873,7293,4973,3043,1122,9152,7562,620
3/4 Page3,1592,9032,6842,5272,3682,2132,0881,988
1/2 + 1/162,6852,4672,2832,1522,0181,8801,7771,688
1/2 Page2,4232,2272,0571,9341,8151,6971,5991,523
1/4 + 1/81,9361,7851,6491,5541,4561,3591,2821,220
1/4 + 1/161,6701,5361,4201,3371,2571,1681,1061,049
1/4 Page1,3161,2151,1191,055986924872833
1/8 + 1/161,070984914860805750708674
1/8 Page754699642604568529500478
1/16 Page475437404383359330311299
Premium Placement
1x3x6x9x12x14x15x16x
Inside Front Cover5,3095,1625,0094,8614,7864,6334,3224,120
Page 14,7784,7574,6024,4374,3624,2013,9663,773
Page 24,0013,8543,6253,3963,2503,1732,9952,853
Page 34,8374,6594,5204,3624,2864,1253,8913,708
Page 44,0013,8543,6253,3963,2503,1732,9952,853
Page 54,8374,6594,5204,3624,2864,1253,8913,708
Page 64,0013,8543,6253,3963,2503,1732,9952,853
Page 7
(3/4V Masthead)
3,4903,2503,0912,9342,7782,6192,4672,351
Page 9
(1/2V T of C)
2,9912,8432,6972,5642,4362,3142,2002,089
Center Spread8,0137,7197,2796,9166,5436,1765,8645,589
Inside Back Cover
4,6964,5594,4154,2724,1304,0603,7633,584
Back Cover6,7396,3436,1065,9465,7875,6335,3145,057
Service Ads
1x3x6x9x12x14x15x
1” (2.33”W x 1"H)241214192176167162151
1.5” (2.33”W x 1.5"H)283266239231214203192
2” (2.33”W x 2"H)308295266255239228214
2.5” (2.33”W x 2.5"H)354337307295273262250
3” (2.33”W x 3"H)402389351334316302287

Tabloid format size for Ann Arbor Observer and City Guide

PLEASE forward this information to your designer. It is very important that ad submissions meet these guidelines to ensure the best possible print quality.

OR let one of our designers create an ad for you, free of charge. Ask your advertising representative for details.

For additional or updated information, or if you have any questions about our production specifications and guidelines, please contact the Observer at
ads@aaobserver.com

full page
3/4 page
half-page-vert
half-page-horiz
half+16th-page
quarter+8th-&16th-page-vert
quarter&quarter+8th-page-horiz
quarter-page-standard&vert
8th+16th-pages
8th&16th-pages
Tabloid Sizes
SIZES
Inches
PREFERRED
picas
Centerspread19.75 x 13 118.5 x 78
Full Page9.833 x 13 59 x 78
3/4 Vertical7.333 x 13 44 x 78
1/2+1/16 vertical7.333 x 9.667 44 x 58
1/2 vertical4.833 x 13 29 x 78
1/2 horizontal9.833 x 6.417 59 x 38.5
1/4+1/8 vertical4.833 x 9.667 29 x 58
1/4+1/8 horizontal7.333 x 6.417 44 x 38.5
1/4+1/16 vertical4.833 x 829 x 48
1/4 standard4.833 x 6.417 29 x 38.5
1/4 vertical2.333 x 13 14 x 78
1/4 horizontal9.833 x 3.167 59 x 19
1/8+1/16 cube4.833 x 4.75 29 x 28.5
1/8+1/16 vertical2.333 x 9.667 14 x 58
1/8+1/16 horizontal7.333 x 3.167 44 x 19
1/8 vertical2.333 x 6.417 14 x 38.5
1/8 horizontal4.833 x 3.16729 x 19
1/16 vertical2.333 x 3.16714 x 19
1/16 horizontal4.833 x 1.5 29 x 9
Color profiles and proofs

The Ann Arbor Observer is a stitched and trimmed 10.5”x 13.5” magazine printed web offset on recycled paper. The cover is printed on 50-lb. white offset paper. The text is printed on 30-lb. premium grade newsprint.

The Observer is printed using current newsprint guidelines and color profiles. While improvements have been made over the years in the processes for reproducing process color on newsprint, these standards cannot guarantee the same level of color matching that is achieved in magazine, catalog, sheetfed, gravure or heat-set printing.

For especially critical colors, we advise ordering a calibrated proof of your ad in advance to provide a closer approximation of how your ad will appear in print. There is no charge for this proof.

NOTE: Do not take measurements from the magazine. All ads must be to the exact measurements specified on this page.

See guidelines for preparing digital files on page 15 of the Media Guide.

Sending Files

Email files: ads@aaobserver.com or use a file transfer service like Dropbox, Hightail, WeTransfer, etc.
You may also submit files on CD, DVD, or USB portable memory device.

Text

Keep all text at 8pt or higher. Only non-serif type at 12 points or above should be used in cmyk trapping and reverses.

Color

All documents should be in CMYK color. Convert all spot colors and RGB images to CMYK. Do not use rich black or registration black. Keep total ink density below 225% in colors and images.

Imagery

Use only CMYK or grayscale images in your design layout. Submit photos at 300 ppi. Please respect all copyright laws that apply to any images you use.

Cropmarks

No need for crop marks! Your file should be the exact dimensions specified in our Media Guide. Do not include a bleed unless you have made special arrangements (available on cover pages only). 

a2View Banner Ads

Ann Arbor Observer’s weekly e-newsletter sent Thursdays to 13,000+.

To reserve space, adsales@aaobserver.com
To subscribe, email a2view@aaobserver.com

a2View Rates
Banner ad with website link
800 pixels wide by 400 pixels high
First placement:
1x: 416
2x: 395

3x: 3744x: 354
Second placement
1x: 312
2x: 291

3x: 2704x: 250
Third placement
1x: 208
2x: 187

3x: 1664x: 146
Fourth placement
1x: 156 2x: 135 3x: 114 4x: 94
screenshot

Circulation

EVERY permanent residence and chamber business in
ANN ARBOR • SALINE • CHELSEA • DEXTER

Ann Arbor’s Biggest Market.

The Ann Arbor Observer reaches 100% of Ann Arbor homeowners, thousands of apartment residents, and all Washtenaw County Chamber of Commerce members.

READERSHIP SURVEY*
September 2022 AnnArborObserver.com

  • 87% of our readers keep each issue at least two weeks
  • 98% rate editorial quality as excellent or good
  • 97% read the Observer as much for ads as for our compelling editorial content
  • 90% visited a business or used a product after seeing it advertised in the Observer
  • 77% of our readers have a bachelor’s degree or higher

*Circulation audited by Circulation Verification Council (CVC) September, 2022.

readership
Circulation Numbers
CirculationReadership
Ann Arbor Observer53,000 Monthly106,000 Monthly
City Guide53,500 Annually107,000 Annually
Community Guide20,500 Twice Yearly41,000 Twice Yearly
Guest Guide10,000 Biennial2,100,000 Biennial
Ann Arbor Observer by the Numbers
by Zip Code Circulation
48103 Ann Arbor20,331
48104 Ann Arbor8,047
48105 Ann Arbor10,049
48108 Ann Arbor8,314
48106, 48107, 48109
& 48111 Ann Arbor
63
48118 Chelsea,
48130 Dexter,
48176 Saline
48158 Manchester
921
48197 & 48198 Ypsilanti4,020
48116 Brighton,
48169 Pinckney, &
48189 Whitmore Lake
94
48160 Milan24
48170 Plymouth119
Toledo, N. W. Ohio,
& Other U.S. Cities
465
Total52,447

*Circulation audited by Circulation Verification Council (CVC) September, 2019.

Requested & Nonpaid CirculationAnn Arbor ObserverCity Guide
Single-Family Homes43,50043,500
Apartments, Townhomes,
& Retirement Centers
5,2005,200
Real Estate Offices & Hotels490540
Convention & Visitors Bureau - 50
Chamber of Commerce Members
Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti500500
Chelsea135135
Dexter115115
Manchester--
Saline175175
Chamber Offices100200
Advertisers365365
Comps6060
Requested & Nonpaid Circulation Total:50,64050,840
Paid CirculationAnn Arbor ObserverCity Guide
Paid Subscribers1,5601,560
Retail300400
Special Orders50100
Paid Circulation Total1,9102,060
Marketing & Office450600
Total Circulation* 53,000 53,500
Community Guide: Chelsea, Dexter, & Saline by the numbers
Requested & Nonpaid CirculationCommunity Guide
Chelsea4,075
Dexter5,180
Saline7,180
Total Single-Family Homes16,435
Condominiums, Apartments
& Retirement Centers
620
Real Estate Offices325
Chamber of Commerce Offices/Members1,425
Libraries190
Comps20
Advertisers365
Requested & Nonpaid Circulation Total:19,380
Paid CirculationCommunity Guide
Retail, Subscriptions,
& Special Orders
100
AAO-Volpay subs with CMO sub550
Marketing & Files470
Total Circulation* 20,500

*Circulation audited by Circulation Verification Council (CVC) September, 2019.

To learn more about advertising opportunities: adsales@aaobserver.com