Google 3D: showing your products in 3D and augmented reality on Google

What is 3D display on Google?

Google introduced 3D objects in its search results at its Google I/O conference in May 2019: users can rotate a 3D model, then place it in their surroundings in augmented reality, without leaving Google or installing an app. The first partners mentioned included NASA, New Balance, Samsung, Target, Volvo and Wayfair.

For merchants, the feature now goes through Google Merchant Center, where you provide the URL of a 3D model for each product. Once reviewed, Google can display it with a 3D view button and, on compatible smartphones, a "View in your space" option that launches augmented reality. For some products, Google also generates its own AI-made 360° views from photos, but without augmented reality.

The expected format is glTF or its binary version, GLB, in other words the same kind of file used by web 3D viewers and by Scene Viewer on Android.

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Where do 3D models appear on Google?

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Which countries and product categories are covered?

This is the feature's main limitation, and Google's help pages are not consistent with one another. The attribute page and the product data specification say the attribute is limited to products sold in the United States. The "Display your products in 3D and AR" page lists the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and India.

As for categories, Google mentions shoes and home goods, and also recommends the attribute for shoes and apparel. Either way, France is not listed as of our check (October 15, 2026). A French merchant selling in France therefore cannot get 3D display on Google today, although it may be available for products sold in those countries.

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What are the technical requirements for the 3D file?

For geometry, Google refers to the Scene Viewer requirements: 100,000 triangles at most (ideally 30,000 to 50,000), one unit equal to one metre and the Y axis pointing up. The model is displayed as is, so its scale must be correct in the file itself. Our article GLB or USDZ: which format should you choose? covers these recommendations in detail.

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How do you add the virtual_model_link attribute in Merchant Center?

1. Prepare the model: a true-to-scale GLB file of 15 MB at most, with reasonably sized textures. Decimate overly dense models, such as scans or AI-generated models.
2. Host it at a public, stable URL: your own server, a CDN or a 3D hosting service. Make sure robots.txt does not block access to it.
3. Validate the file with the Khronos Group's glTF Validator and fix any reported errors.
4. Add a virtual_model_link column to your product feed (or fill in the virtualModelLink field through the Merchant API) with the file URL for each relevant product.
5. Wait and monitor: Google reviews the model, which can take up to 2 weeks. Then check the Merchant Center diagnostics to spot any rejected models.

Example row in a CSV product feed:

id,title,link,image_link,virtual_model_link
FAUT-OSLO-01,Fauteuil Oslo,https://www.example.com/fauteuil-oslo,https://www.example.com/fauteuil-oslo.jpg,https://www.example.com/models/fauteuil-oslo.glb

If you are a manufacturer, Google Manufacturer Center accepts the same attribute, and models provided there are used first. For Shopping ads, however, the model must be present in Merchant Center.

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Should you also add 3DModel structured data?

It is recommended, but not sufficient. Google Search Central documents the 3DModel type as a recommended property of merchant listing structured data (Product and Offer), through the subjectOf property. The file URL goes in encoding.contentUrl and must end in .gltf or .glb; only one 3D model is allowed per product. There is no separate 3D rich result, however: this markup helps Google link the model to the product, but 3D display relies on Merchant Center.

Example JSON-LD markup on a product page:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Product",
  "name": "Fauteuil Oslo",
  "image": "https://www.example.com/fauteuil-oslo.jpg",
  "offers": {
    "@type": "Offer",
    "price": "349.00",
    "priceCurrency": "EUR",
    "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock"
  },
  "subjectOf": {
    "@type": "3DModel",
    "encoding": {
      "@type": "MediaObject",
      "contentUrl": "https://www.example.com/models/fauteuil-oslo.glb"
    }
  }
}

Then check the page with Google's Rich Results Test and track your product pages' impressions in Google Search Console.

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Why does 3D on Google matter to merchants?

• A more visible listing: a product you can handle in 3D stands out from a plain photo in the results.
• Better-qualified visits: shoppers have already examined the product from every angle, or even at home in AR, before clicking through to your site.
• A reusable model: the same GLB file works for Google, for your website's 3D viewer and for augmented reality on Android.

The actual gains depend on your products and audience: measure them in your own analytics (clicks, conversions, returns) rather than relying on unsourced figures.

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How does Visuality fit in with Google?

Visuality does not publish your models to Google Merchant Center: you do that from your own account. The two approaches do, however, complement each other.

• Same format: Visuality works with GLB, the format Google expects. A file prepared for one works for the other, as long as it stays within Google's 15 MB limit and its scale is correct in the file.
• Your website, in every country: the Visuality viewer displays 3D and augmented reality on your product pages, on iPhone (AR Quick Look, with an automatically generated USDZ) and on Android alike, with no country or category restrictions.
• Create the model: if you don't have a 3D file yet, AI 3D generation from a photo or photogrammetry will get you one quickly.

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Frequently asked questions

How do you show a product in 3D on Google?

You need to host a glTF or GLB model at a public URL, then submit that URL in Google Merchant Center using the virtual_model_link attribute. Google reviews the model, which can take up to 2 weeks, before showing it in Search and free product listings. The feature is limited to certain countries and product categories.

What is the name of the 3D attribute in Google Merchant Center?

The attribute is called virtual_model_link, labelled "3D model link" in Google's help, and virtualModelLink in the Merchant API. It is optional and expects a URL starting with http:// or https://, 2,000 characters at most, pointing to a .gltf or .glb file of 15 MB at most. The name 3d_model_link, which is sometimes quoted, does not exist.

Is 3D on Google available in France?

Not as of our check on October 15, 2026. Depending on the help page, Google limits the attribute to products sold in the United States, or to the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and India. A French merchant can still use it for products sold in those countries, and show 3D on its own website everywhere.

Is schema.org 3DModel markup enough to appear in 3D?

No. Google recommends adding a 3DModel through the subjectOf property of Product structured data, with the URL of a .gltf or .glb file. But there is no 3D rich result triggered by this markup alone: 3D and augmented reality display relies on the model submitted in Merchant Center or Manufacturer Center.

What file size does Google accept for a 3D model?

Google recommends 10 MB and sets a 15 MB maximum for the virtual_model_link attribute. For geometry, its guidelines refer to Scene Viewer: 100,000 triangles at most, ideally between 30,000 and 50,000. Scans and AI-generated models often exceed these values and must be lightened through decimation before submission.

Can I use my Visuality models for Google?

Yes, Visuality works with GLB, the format Google expects. Just check that the file stays within the 15 MB limit and that its scale is correct in the file itself, then submit it in your Merchant Center account. Visuality does not submit it for you, but it does display 3D and AR on your website.

Sources

1. 3D model link [virtual_model_link] — Google Merchant Center Help, Verified on October 15, 2026
2. Product data specification — Google Merchant Center Help, Verified on October 15, 2026
3. Display your products in 3D and AR — Google Merchant Center Help, Verified on October 15, 2026
4. Manufacturer Center Help — 3D models — Google Manufacturer Center Help, Verified on October 15, 2026
5. Merchant listing (Product, Offer) structured data — Google Search Central, Verified on October 15, 2026
6. 3DModel — Schema.org, Verified on October 15, 2026
7. Scene Viewer — File requirements for models — Google for Developers, Verified on October 15, 2026
8. glTF Validator — Khronos Group, Verified on October 15, 2026
9. Helpful new visual features in Search and Lens — Google, 2019

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Further reading

• GLB or USDZ: which format should you choose?
• How to create a 3D model for augmented reality
• Augmented Reality and E-commerce
• Comparison of e-commerce augmented reality solutions (2026)