Social media video specs
Pick a platform and placement to see the aspect ratio, resolution, length and file limits, all checked against each platform's own guides.
Reels
Last checked 19 Oct 2026. Platforms change their limits often, so check the source before a big upload.
Every platform at a glance
| Platform | Aspect ratio | Resolution | Length | Max file size | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| InstagramFeed | 9:16 | 1080 x 1920 | 1 second to 60 minutes | 4 GB | MP4, MOV, GIF |
| InstagramStories | 9:16 | 1440 x 2560 | 1 second to 60 minutes | 4 GB | MP4, MOV, GIF |
| InstagramReels | 9:16 | 1440 x 2560 | Up to 15 minutes | 4 GB | MP4, MOV |
| TikTokIn-feed ads | 9:16 (recommended), 16:9, 1:1 | At least 540 x 960 for 9:16 | Up to 10 minutes | 500 MB | MP4, MOV, MPEG, 3GP, AVI |
| YouTubeVideos | 16:9 | 1920 x 1080 (up to 7680 x 4320) | 15 minutes, longer once your account is verified | 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less | varies |
| YouTubeShorts | Vertical | Up to 1080p | Up to 3 minutes | varies | varies |
| LinkedInFeed video ads | 4:5 (recommended), 16:9, 1:1, 9:16 | 720 x 900 (4:5), 1920 x 1080 (16:9), 720 x 1280 (9:16) | 3 seconds to 30 minutes, 15 to 30 seconds recommended | 75 KB to 500 MB | MP4 |
| FacebookFeed | 4:5 | 1440 x 1800 | 1 second to 241 minutes | 4 GB | MP4, MOV, GIF |
| FacebookReels | 9:16 | varies | varies | varies | varies |
| XFeed video | varies | varies | varies | varies | varies |
"Varies" means we couldn't confirm a current figure on the platform's own pages.
Tips for video that works everywhere
- Shoot wide, crop for vertical in the edit. Film in 16:9 with your subject centered and you can cut 9:16, 4:5 and 1:1 versions from the same footage.
- Turn captions on. Most social video plays on mute. Burned-in or uploaded captions keep the message clear without sound.
- Respect the safe zones. Vertical placements cover the top and bottom of the frame with profile names, captions and buttons. Keep text and logos inside the middle of the frame.
- Lead with the point. The first two seconds decide whether people keep watching, so open on the person, the product or the headline.
- Export one master, then the cut-downs. A 16:9 master plus vertical and square versions covers almost every placement in this guide.
Sources
- Meta ads guide, Facebook Feed video
- Meta ads guide, Instagram Feed video
- Meta ads guide, Instagram Stories video
- Meta ads guide, Instagram Reels video
- Meta ads guide
- TikTok ads help, video ad specifications
- YouTube help, resolution and aspect ratios; uploading longer videos
- YouTube help, upload videos longer than 15 minutes
- YouTube help, Shorts
- LinkedIn help, video ads specifications
- X business, ad specifications
Video specs questions
What is the best aspect ratio for social media video?
9:16 vertical fills the screen on Reels, Stories, TikTok and Shorts. 4:5 works well in Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn feeds, and 16:9 is the standard for YouTube.
What resolution should I export at?
Export at the platform's recommended size, such as 1080 x 1920 for vertical or 1920 x 1080 for horizontal. Meta recommends 1440 x 2560 for Reels and Stories ads.
How long can a Reel be?
Meta's ads guide lists Instagram Reels ads at up to 15 minutes. Shorter is usually better for attention, so test 15 to 30 second cuts first.
Do I need a different video for each platform?
Usually one shoot is enough. Film wide, then cut vertical, square and horizontal versions in the edit so each platform gets the right shape.
Every format from one shoot
Your dedicated team edits each video into the sizes and lengths every platform needs.