Getting video specs wrong is one of those problems that's invisible when you're creating - and painfully obvious once the video goes live. Cropped faces, black bars on the sides, distorted aspect ratios, rejected uploads. None of it needs to happen, and all of it is avoidable if you know the right numbers upfront.
This guide covers every major platform, every key format, and the file size limits that trip people up most often. Whether you're creating organic content or running video ads, keep this page open while you're exporting.
And if you need footage that already matches platform specs - vertical, square, or widescreen - ImgSearch's free video library offers AI-generated clips you can use directly in your projects.
Why Video Sizes Matter on Social Media
Each platform renders video differently. A clip that looks perfect on YouTube will appear cropped on TikTok. A square video designed for an Instagram feed looks wrong in a Story. A horizontal ad that works on Facebook Watch looks wrong in a mobile feed.
The key specs to get right for every platform:
- Aspect ratio - the proportional relationship between width and height (16:9, 9:16, 1:1)
- Resolution - the pixel dimensions of the video (e.g., 1080 x 1920)
- File size limit - maximum upload size the platform accepts
- Length limit - maximum video duration
- Recommended format - the file type each platform prefers (almost always MP4)
Standard Video Size: The Three Core Formats
Before diving into platform specifics, these are the three aspect ratios you'll use across all social media:
Horizontal - 16:9
The traditional widescreen format. 1920 x 1080 pixels. Standard for YouTube, desktop viewing, and LinkedIn. What most cameras and phones default to when held horizontally.
Vertical - 9:16
The mobile-first format. 1080 x 1920 pixels. Used for TikTok, Instagram Reels, Instagram Stories, YouTube Shorts, Facebook Stories, and Snapchat. Increasingly, the most important format for social media content.
Square - 1:1
1080 x 1080 pixels. Works across Instagram feed posts and Facebook feed posts. Not optimal for Reels but useful for content that needs to display cleanly in a grid layout.
If you're creating content for multiple platforms, shooting vertically gives you the most flexibility. Vertical footage can be cropped to square, and you can create a horizontal version by adding side panels or backgrounds. Going the other direction - from 16:9 to 9:16 - almost always means losing parts of the frame.
TikTok Video Sizes
TikTok is built entirely around vertical video. Horizontal content is technically accepted but performs significantly worse - the platform's interface is designed for 9:16, and horizontal videos appear small with black bars on either side.
Recommended specs:
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 (vertical)
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- File format: MP4 or MOV
- Maximum file size: 287.6 MB (iOS) / 72 MB (Android) / 500 MB for desktop uploads
- Maximum length: 10 minutes (some accounts up to 30 minutes)
- Minimum length: 3 seconds
- Recommended frame rate: 30fps minimum, 60fps preferred
TikTok video ad sizes:
- Aspect ratio: 9:16, 1:1, or 16:9 (9:16 strongly recommended)
- Resolution: 540 x 960, 640 x 640, or 960 x 540 pixels minimum
- File size: Maximum 500 MB
- Duration: 5-60 seconds (9-15 seconds recommended for ads)
Instagram Video Sizes
Instagram supports several video placements, each with different requirements.
Instagram Reels:
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 (vertical)
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- File format: MP4 or MOV
- Maximum file size: 650 MB
- Maximum length: 90 seconds
- Frame rate: 30fps recommended
Instagram Feed Video:
- Aspect ratio: 1:1 (square), 4:5 (portrait), or 16:9 (landscape)
- Resolution: 1080 x 1080 (square), 1080 x 1350 (portrait), or 1080 x 608 (landscape)
- File format: MP4 or MOV
- Maximum file size: 650 MB
- Maximum length: 60 minutes
- Frame rate: 30fps recommended
Instagram Stories:
- Aspect ratio: 9:16
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- File format: MP4 or MOV
- Maximum file size: 250 MB per clip
- Maximum length: 60 seconds per clip
- Frame rate: 30fps recommended
Social media portrait video size for Instagram (the most used format):
The safe zone in vertical Instagram content is the middle portion of the 1080 x 1920 frame. The top and bottom 14% of the frame can be obscured by the interface - keep important content (faces, text, logos) in the middle 1080 x 1420-pixel area.
Instagram video ad sizes:
- Feed video ads: 1:1 or 4:5, maximum 60 seconds
- Stories ads: 9:16, maximum 15 seconds
- Reels ads: 9:16, maximum 60 seconds
- File size: Maximum 4 GB for ads
Facebook Video Sizes
Facebook supports the widest range of video placements and aspect ratios of any major platform.
Facebook Feed Video:
- Aspect ratio: 16:9, 1:1, or 4:5 (4:5 recommended for mobile - takes up more screen space)
- Resolution: 1080 x 1080 (square), 1080 x 1350 (4:5)
- File format: MP4 or MOV
- Maximum file size: 4 GB
- Maximum length: 240 minutes
- Recommended frame rate: 30fps
Facebook Stories:
- Aspect ratio: 9:16
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- File format: MP4 or MOV
- Maximum file size: 4 GB
- Maximum length: 20 seconds per clip
Facebook Reels:
- Aspect ratio: 9:16
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- File format: MP4
- Maximum file size: 4 GB
- Maximum length: 60 seconds
Facebook video ad sizes:
- Feed ads: 4:5 recommended (more mobile screen real estate), 1:1 acceptable
- Stories ads: 9:16
- In-stream ads: 16:9 horizontal, 5-15 seconds
- Reels ads: 9:16, under 60 seconds
- File size: Maximum 4 GB
- Minimum resolution: 1080 x 1080 for square, 1080 x 1920 for vertical
Social media square video size:
For Facebook and Instagram feeds, a 1:1 square (1080 x 1080 pixels) is a reliable, safe choice that looks consistent across both platforms without requiring different exports.
YouTube Video Sizes
YouTube is primarily a horizontal platform, though Shorts has introduced vertical video.
YouTube Standard (long-form):
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (minimum recommended), up to 3840 x 2160 (4K)
- File format: MP4 (recommended), MOV, AVI, WMV, FLV, WebM, MPEG4
- Maximum file size: 256 GB or 12 hours (whichever comes first)
- Maximum length: 15 minutes (standard accounts), up to 12 hours (verified accounts)
- Recommended frame rate: 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, or 60fps
YouTube Shorts:
- Aspect ratio: 9:16
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- File format: MP4 or MOV
- Maximum file size: 256 MB
- Maximum length: 60 seconds
LinkedIn Video Sizes
LinkedIn video occupies a professional context - content here is typically more polished and focused than on consumer platforms.
LinkedIn Feed Video:
- Aspect ratio: 16:9, 1:1, or 4:5 (vertical)
- Resolution: 256 x 144 minimum, 4096 x 2304 maximum
- File format: MP4 (strongly recommended)
- Maximum file size: 5 GB
- Maximum length: 10 minutes
- Minimum length: 3 seconds
- Recommended frame rate: 30fps
LinkedIn video ad sizes:
- Aspect ratio: 16:9 (horizontal), 1:1 (square), or 9:16 (vertical)
- Recommended resolution: 1920 x 1080 (16:9) or 1080 x 1080 (1:1)
- File format: MP4
- Maximum file size: 200 MB
- Duration: 3 seconds to 30 minutes
X (Twitter) Video Sizes
X Feed Video:
- Aspect ratio: 16:9 recommended, 1:1 and 9:16 also supported
- Resolution: 1280 x 720 minimum recommended
- File format: MP4 or MOV
- Maximum file size: 512 MB
- Maximum length: 2 minutes 20 seconds (140 seconds)
- Recommended frame rate: 30fps
X video ad sizes:
- Aspect ratio: 16:9 or 1:1
- Resolution: 1200 x 1200 (1:1) or 1920 x 1080 (16:9)
- Maximum file size: 1 GB
- Duration: 6 seconds to 2 minutes 20 seconds
Snapchat Video Sizes
Snapchat Stories and Spotlight:
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 (vertical only)
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- File format: MP4 or MOV
- Maximum file size: 32 MB per snap
- Maximum length: 60 seconds per snap
Snapchat video ad sizes:
- Aspect ratio: 9:16
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- File format: MP4 or MOV
- Maximum file size: 1 GB
- Duration: 3-180 seconds (6 seconds recommended for most ad types)
Pinterest Video Sizes
Pinterest Standard and Promoted Video:
- Aspect ratio: 2:3 (400 x 600) or 1:1 (600 x 600) recommended, 16:9 supported
- Resolution: 240 x 240 minimum, no maximum
- File format: MP4 or MOV
- Maximum file size: 2 GB
- Maximum length: 15 minutes
- Recommended frame rate: 25fps or 30fps
Social Media Video File Size: Platform Quick Reference
Social Media Video Length Limits
Video File Formats: What to Use
For almost every platform, MP4 with H.264 codec is the safest choice. It's universally accepted, compresses well without significant quality loss, and produces manageable file sizes. MOV is a close second, particularly for Apple device exports.
If you're exporting from editing software, MP4 is the default recommendation for social media - it balances quality and file size better than most alternatives. TechSmith's guide to video file formats covers the technical differences between MP4, MOV, and other formats in more detail if you need to go deeper.
A few platform-specific notes:
- TikTok: MP4 recommended, MOV also accepted
- Instagram: MP4 or MOV, both are accepted
- YouTube: MP4 strongly recommended for uploads
- LinkedIn: MP4 only for ads
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the standard video size for social media?
There's no single standard - it depends on the platform. Vertical 9:16 at 1080 x 1920 pixels is the most important format for Reels, TikTok, Stories, and Shorts. Square 1:1 at 1080 x 1080 works across Facebook and Instagram feeds. Horizontal 16:9 at 1920 x 1080 is standard for YouTube.
2. What is the best video size for social media in 2026?
For most social media content, 1080 x 1920 pixels at 9:16 (vertical) is the most versatile choice. It works natively on TikTok, Reels, Stories, and Shorts - the formats with the most algorithmic reach. Shoot vertically if you're primarily creating for mobile social platforms.
3. What is the social media square video size?
1080 x 1080 pixels at a 1:1 aspect ratio. Works for Instagram feed posts and Facebook feed posts.
4. What is the social media portrait video size?
9:16 vertical video at 1080 x 1920 pixels. Used for TikTok, Instagram Reels and Stories, YouTube Shorts, Facebook Stories, and Snapchat.
5. What are the video length limits for social media platforms?
They vary considerably. TikTok allows up to 10 minutes for organic video. Instagram Reels max out at 90 seconds. YouTube allows up to 12 hours (for verified accounts). For ads, most platforms cap video at 60 seconds or less. The full breakdown is in the length limits table above.
6. What file format should I use for social media videos?
MP4 with H.264 codec for almost every platform. It's universally accepted, compresses well, and keeps file sizes manageable. MOV is an acceptable alternative, particularly if you're exporting from an Apple device.
7. What is the maximum file size for social media video?
It varies by platform. Snapchat's organic limit is just 32 MB per clip. Instagram allows up to 650 MB. Facebook and YouTube allow several gigabytes. For ads, most platforms have lower limits - LinkedIn ads max out at 200 MB.
8. Do I need different video sizes for ads versus organic content?
Often yes. Ad placements frequently have stricter specs than organic posts - shorter duration limits, lower file size limits, and sometimes specific aspect ratio requirements. Always check the ad specs for the specific placement you're buying, not just the platform's general video specs.
9. What resolution should my social media videos be?
1080 pixels on the short side, minimum. For vertical video, that's 1080 x 1920. For a square, 1080 x 1080. For horizontal, 1920 x 1080. Higher resolution (4K) is accepted by YouTube and some other platforms, but usually isn't necessary - platforms compress video on upload anyway.
10. What frame rate should I use for social media video?
30fps is the safe standard across all platforms. 60fps is accepted by most platforms and gives smoother motion, particularly useful for fast-moving content. Some platforms cap output at 30fps regardless of upload frame rate.
Final Thoughts
Getting video specs right is largely a one-time learning exercise. Once you know the key formats - 9:16 for vertical, 1:1 for square, 16:9 for widescreen - and the safe resolution targets for each, most of the guesswork disappears.
The main things to remember: shoot vertically if you're primarily creating for mobile social, export as MP4 with H.264, keep file sizes within platform limits, and check ad specs separately from organic specs when running paid campaigns.
For AI-generated footage in the right dimensions for any platform, ImgSearch's video library is worth bookmarking - clips you can use directly without the licensing headaches of traditional stock.
