Negative Keywords in Google Ads: The Complete Guide (2026)

Negative keywords prevent your ads from showing for irrelevant searches. They're one of the most powerful yet underutilized tools in Google Ads. A well-managed negative keyword strategy can reduce wasted spend by 15-25% while improving CTR, Quality Score, and conversion rates.

What Are Negative Keywords?

Negative keywords tell Google which searches should NOT trigger your ads. If you sell premium software, adding 'free' as a negative prevents your ads from showing when someone searches 'free CRM software' — saving you clicks from people who would never pay.

Types of Negative Match

• Negative Broad: Blocks any search containing ALL the negative words (in any order)
• Negative Phrase: Blocks searches containing the exact phrase in order
• Negative Exact: Blocks only the exact search term — most precise exclusion

Where to Find Negative Keywords

Search Terms Report

Your primary source. Go to Keywords > Search Terms to see actual queries triggering your ads. Look for irrelevant queries, informational searches, and competitor names. Review weekly for new campaigns, bi-weekly for established ones.

Proactive negative keyword lists

Don't wait for bad clicks. Build proactive lists before launching:

• Generic exclusions: free, cheap, DIY, how to, what is, tutorial, Wikipedia, Reddit
• Job-related: jobs, salary, career, hiring, intern
• Competitor brands (unless you target them intentionally)
• Unrelated industries sharing similar terms
• Geographic locations you don't serve

Negative Keyword Strategy

1. Build a master negative list before launching any campaign
2. Apply at account level for universal exclusions
3. Apply at campaign level for campaign-specific exclusions
4. Review Search Terms weekly and add new negatives
5. Audit negatives quarterly to remove ones blocking good traffic
6. Share lists across campaigns for consistency

Common Negative Keyword Mistakes

• Adding negatives too aggressively and blocking good traffic
• Using only Broad negative when Phrase or Exact would be better
• Never reviewing or updating negative lists
• Not applying negatives at the right level (account vs. campaign)
• Conflicting keywords: having a keyword and its negative in the same campaign

Negative Keywords by Industry

Starter negative lists vary by industry. Here are examples:

• SaaS: free, open source, crack, download, tutorial, course, what is
• Ecommerce: DIY, homemade, recipe, repair, used, second hand
• Services: jobs, salary, how to become, certification, school
• B2B: consumer, personal, home, individual, free

Monitoring and Maintenance

Negative keywords aren't set-and-forget. Schedule regular reviews:

• Weekly: Quick scan of Search Terms for obvious irrelevant queries
• Monthly: Deep review with conversion data to identify wasted spend patterns
• Quarterly: Audit existing negatives to ensure they're not blocking valuable traffic
• After major changes: Review whenever you add new keywords or change match types

Key Takeaways

• Negatives can reduce wasted spend by 15-25%
• Build proactive lists before launching campaigns
• Review Search Terms weekly for new negatives
• Apply at appropriate levels (account vs. campaign)
• Audit quarterly to avoid over-blocking
• Industry-specific lists provide a strong starting foundation