August 13, 2026 · 8 min read
Geo Exclusions: The Other Half of Location Targeting
Targeting says where you want ads. Exclusions say where you never will. Here is how to block cities, ZIPs, and countries that keep eating the budget.
Location targeting sets where ads can show. Geo exclusions block the places you will not serve. Also check Presence: people in or regularly in your locations, not people merely interested in them.
Location targeting in Google Ads is only half the setting. Geo exclusions block cities, regions, or countries you will not serve. If Presence is set to people interested in your locations, people outside the service area can still see the ads. Use targeting plus exclusions, and read the geographic report.
This is the block list that finishes location targeting. It is not a substitute for a service-area landing page.
What are location exclusions in Google Ads?
A location you exclude so ads do not show for that country, region, city, or ZIP. It is the opposite of a targeted location. You can exclude a pocket inside a radius, a neighboring city you will not drive to, or a whole country that keeps leaking in.
Location targeting vs geo exclusions: what is the difference?
Targeting is the allow list. Exclusions are the block list. Most service-area accounts need both. The settings that decide presence versus interest live in the location targeting note. This note is the exclude half: the places you refuse.
A radius around the shop is honest for a van business. Then exclude the pockets inside that radius you will not serve. Home services accounts see this every week. Same rule in a trade account: if drive time kills the job, exclude that city. One example is enough; see PPC for roofing contractors.
How do you find clicks from places you do not serve?
Open the geographic report and look at where users were, not just the targeted locations. Sort by cost. Cities you do not dispatch to are exclusion candidates. Search terms that include a city name you do not serve are a second clue. Negative the city query if needed, and exclude the place so the ads stop showing there.
How do you add city, ZIP, and country exclusions?
In the campaign's location settings, add the location as an exclusion, not as a target. City, ZIP, region, and country all work. Save. Then re-check the geographic report after a week. Old clicks in the date range are history. New clicks from that place should stop.
If Presence is still 'people interested in,' outsiders can keep coming. Set Presence to people in or regularly in your locations, then keep the exclusions.
When should you exclude a place instead of shrinking the target?
Exclude when the allow list is mostly right and a few places inside or beside it are wrong. Shrink the target when you never wanted that wide an area. Do not keep shrinking a national target to dodge one city. Name the city and exclude it.
Common questions
What is a geo exclusion in Google Ads?
A location you exclude so ads do not show for that country, region, city, or ZIP. It is the opposite of a targeted location.
Why do I still get clicks from outside my city?
Targeting may include people interested in your area, or a nearby city is not excluded. Open the geographic report for where users were, then exclude the places you will not serve.
Should I use radius targeting or city names?
Use whichever matches how you actually dispatch. A radius around the shop is honest for a van business. Then exclude the pockets inside that radius you will not serve.
AdvisorPPC is an AI manager. It can propose exclusions from out-of-area clicks. Location writes wait for approval. Manual is the default.
See which cities you paid for. Find my wasted spend.