Social video specs 2026
Sizes, length limits, file sizes, codecs, caption limits and safe zones for twelve formats. Every figure links to where it came from, and says whether the platform publishes it.
Last checked 2 October 2026
The short answer
For almost everything vertical, export 1080×1920 (9:16), MP4, H.264, 30 fps, and keep text out of the top 12% and bottom 19% of the frame and away from the right edge, where the buttons are.
| Format | Size | Max length |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok Feed video | 1080×1920 (9:16) | 10 min via API; app limit not published |
| Instagram Reels | 1080×1920 (9:16) | 20 min in the app |
| Instagram Stories | 1080×1920 (9:16) | 60 s per clip |
| Instagram Feed video | 1080×1920 (9:16); 4:5 and 1:1 accepted | As Reels |
| YouTube Shorts | 1080×1920 (9:16) or square | 3 min |
| YouTube Long-form video | 1920×1080 or 3840×2160 (16:9) | 15 min, 12 h once verified |
| Facebook Reels (all video) | 1080×1920 (9:16) | No limit |
| LinkedIn Feed video | 1:2.4 to 2.4:1, up to 4096×2304 | 15 min |
| X (Twitter) Video post | 1280×720 or 720×1280 | 2:20 free, 4 h Premium |
| Snapchat Spotlight | 1080×1920 (9:16) | 5–60 s on the web; up to 5 min in the app |
| Pinterest Video Pin | 1080×1920 (9:16) | 5 min |
| Threads Video post | 9:16, up to 1920 px wide | 5 min |
TikTokInstagram ReelsInstagram StoriesInstagram Feed videoYouTube ShortsYouTube Long-form videoFacebookLinkedInX (Twitter)SnapchatPinterestThreads
TikTok · Feed video
What size is a TikTok video in 2026?
Make TikTok videos 1080×1920 pixels, a 9:16 vertical frame. TikTok does not publish an organic size, but its ads spec recommends 9:16, and uploads through its API can be 360 to 4096 pixels a side. Keep text inside the middle of the frame: the buttons cover the right edge and the caption the bottom.
- Aspect ratio
9:16 recommended. 16:9 and 1:1 are also accepted.
TikTok publishes no aspect ratio for organic posts on a page we could read; this is the ads spec (June 2026).
- Resolution
1080×1920 is common practice. API uploads: 360 px minimum, 4096 px maximum on each side. Ads: at least 540×960 for vertical.
1080×1920 for organic posts is common practice, not a published figure.
- Length
Up to 10 minutes through the API. In the app: not confirmed on an official page we could read; widely reported as 10 minutes recorded and up to 60 minutes uploaded.
TikTok's organic help pages load with JavaScript and could not be checked. The newsroom post on longer videos covers the older three-minute limit.
- Max file size
4 GB through the API. Ads: 500 MB. In-app limits are not published.
- Frame rate
23 to 60 fps.
- Codecs and file types
MP4 (recommended), MOV or WebM; H.264 (recommended), H.265, VP8 or VP9.
- Caption and text limits
Caption up to 2,200 characters through the API. The app is widely reported to allow 4,000; not published.
No limit on the number of hashtags is published.
- Cover / thumbnail
No cover image size is published. The cover is a frame picked from the video (the first frame by default).
- Safe zone (measured)
On a 1080×1920 frame, keep text and faces inside a 580×1461 px box: 204 px from the top, 255 px from the bottom, 225 px from the left and 275 px from the right.
The margins include the 9% each side that a tall phone screen crops off a 9:16 video. See "How we measured the safe zones".
- Safe zone (platform published)
Not published for organic posts. The ads help provides downloadable overlays without figures in the text.
Link to TikTok Feed video · checked 2 October 2026
Instagram · Reels
What size and how long can an Instagram Reel be in 2026?
Make Instagram Reels 1080×1920 (9:16), at least 720 pixels and 30 fps. You can record and edit Reels up to 20 minutes in the app, but Instagram does not recommend Reels over 3 minutes to new audiences. Captions take 2,200 characters and up to 5 hashtags.
- Aspect ratio
Between 1.91:1 and 9:16. 9:16 fills the screen.
- Resolution
At least 720 px. 1080×1920 is common practice; the ads guide recommends 1440×2560.
API uploads: at most 1920 px wide.
- Length
Up to 20 minutes, recorded and edited in the app. Reels over 3 minutes are not recommended to new audiences.
API uploads: 3 seconds to 15 minutes. Ads: up to 15 minutes.
- Max file size
Not published for the app. API: 300 MB. Ads: 4 GB.
- Frame rate
At least 30 fps.
API: 23 to 60 fps.
- Codecs and file types
MP4 or MOV; H.264 or HEVC; AAC audio up to 48 kHz; progressive, 4:2:0; video up to 25 Mbps.
- Caption and text limits
Caption 2,200 characters. Up to 5 hashtags.
The 2,200 limit is in the API docs. The API page (September 2026) still says 30 hashtags; the help centre says 5, which is the current rule.
- Cover / thumbnail
420×654 px (1:1.55) is Instagram's published cover size. Most creators upload a 1080×1920 cover; the profile grid shows a 3:4 crop of its middle.
The 1080×1920 cover and 3:4 grid crop are common practice, not on a Meta help page.
- Safe zone (measured)
On a 1080×1920 frame, keep text and faces inside a 580×1392 px box: 223 px from the top, 305 px from the bottom, 225 px from the left and 275 px from the right.
The margins include the 9% each side that a tall phone screen crops off a 9:16 video. See "How we measured the safe zones".
- Safe zone (platform published)
Ads only: keep 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% of each side free of text and logos (on 1080×1920: 269 px, 672 px and 65 px).
Reels ads with disclaimers: keep the bottom 40% clear. Meta publishes no organic safe zone.
Link to Instagram Reels · checked 2 October 2026
Instagram · Stories
What size is an Instagram Story, and how long can it be?
Instagram Stories are 9:16, usually 1080×1920. Each story clip can be up to 60 seconds; a longer video is split into back-to-back clips automatically. Keep text away from the top (progress bars and name) and the bottom (reply bar).
- Aspect ratio
9:16 recommended.
The API accepts 0.1:1 to 10:1. Ads: 9:16.
- Resolution
1080×1920 is common practice. Ads guide: 1440×2560.
- Length
Up to 60 seconds per story clip; longer videos are split into several clips.
API: 3 to 60 seconds. Story ads: up to 60 minutes.
- Max file size
Not published for the app. API: 100 MB. Ads: 4 GB.
- Frame rate
23 to 60 fps.
- Codecs and file types
MP4 or MOV; H.264 or HEVC; AAC audio.
- Caption and text limits
Stories have no caption field. Ads: 125 characters of primary text.
- Cover / thumbnail
Not applicable.
- Safe zone (measured)
On a 1080×1920 frame, keep text and faces inside a 732×1401 px box: 269 px from the top, 250 px from the bottom, 174 px from the left and 174 px from the right.
The margins include the 9% each side that a tall phone screen crops off a 9:16 video. See "How we measured the safe zones".
- Safe zone (platform published)
Ads only: keep roughly 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% of each side free.
Some blogs describe a "unified Stories and Reels safe zone" from March 2026; we found no Meta page announcing it.
Link to Instagram Stories · checked 2 October 2026
Instagram · Feed video
What size should an Instagram feed video be?
Instagram feed videos are shared as Reels (videos under 15 minutes, since July 2022), so Reels specs apply: 9:16 at 1080×1920 fills the screen, and anything from 1.91:1 to 9:16 is accepted. On your profile the grid shows a 3:4 crop, so keep the subject in the middle.
- Aspect ratio
As Reels: 1.91:1 to 9:16. Feed video ads: 9:16; 1:1 and 4:5 also supported.
- Resolution
Ads guide: 1080×1920. As Reels, at least 720 px.
- Length
As Reels (up to 20 minutes in the app). Feed video ads: 1 second to 60 minutes.
- Max file size
Not published for the app. Ads: 4 GB.
- Frame rate
As Reels: at least 30 fps.
- Codecs and file types
MP4 or MOV; H.264 or HEVC; AAC.
- Caption and text limits
Caption 2,200 characters. Up to 5 hashtags.
The Feed ads guide still says 30 hashtags.
- Cover / thumbnail
Profile grid tiles are 3:4 (since January 2025), cropped from the middle of the post. Not on a Meta help page.
Announced by Instagram's head on Instagram and Threads; reported by Buffer and others.
- Safe zone (measured)
Use the Reels safe zone: feed videos play as Reels.
- Safe zone (platform published)
Ads only: keep the edges of 9:16 ads clear (no figures given for Feed).
Link to Instagram Feed video · checked 2 October 2026
YouTube · Shorts
How long can a YouTube Short be, and what size?
A YouTube Short can be up to 3 minutes long, in a square or vertical frame; 1080×1920 (9:16) is the usual size. A video wider than square is not treated as a Short. Uploads from the mobile app top out at 1080p.
- Aspect ratio
Square or vertical. 9:16 fills the screen. Anything wider than square (such as 16:9) is not a Short.
- Resolution
1080×1920 is common practice. No minimum is published. Mobile-app uploads go up to 1080p.
- Length
Up to 3 minutes, recorded or uploaded. No minimum.
Shorts longer than 1 minute with an active Content ID claim are blocked worldwide.
- Max file size
256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less (the YouTube-wide limit).
- Frame rate
Upload at the frame rate you recorded. Common: 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, 60.
- Codecs and file types
MP4 with H.264 video and AAC-LC or Opus audio recommended. MOV, MPEG-4, AVI, WMV, FLV and others are accepted.
- Caption and text limits
Title 100 characters. Description 5,000 characters. More than 60 hashtags and YouTube ignores all of them.
- Cover / thumbnail
Custom Shorts thumbnail: 2160×3840 (9:16), at least 640 px high, JPG or PNG, up to 50 MB. Only in YouTube Studio on a computer, on a verified account.
- Safe zone (measured)
On a 1080×1920 frame, keep text and faces inside a 670×1333 px box: 230 px from the top, 357 px from the bottom, 135 px from the left and 275 px from the right.
The margins include the 9% each side that a tall phone screen crops off a 9:16 video. See "How we measured the safe zones".
- Safe zone (platform published)
Ads only: on 1080×1920, keep 288 px clear at the top, 672 px at the bottom, 48 px on the left and 192 px on the right.
Read from the diagram labels. Google publishes no safe zone for organic Shorts.
Link to YouTube Shorts · checked 2 October 2026
YouTube · Long-form video
What size and length is a YouTube video in 2026?
Upload YouTube videos in 16:9, at 1920×1080 or 3840×2160 for 4K. Verified accounts can upload up to 12 hours (256 GB); unverified accounts are limited to 15 minutes. A custom thumbnail is now 3840×2160, at least 640 pixels wide.
- Aspect ratio
16:9. The player adapts to other ratios; do not add black bars.
- Resolution
1920×1080 or 3840×2160 common; from 426×240 up to 7680×4320. At least 1280×720 recommended.
- Length
Up to 15 minutes for unverified accounts; up to 12 hours once verified.
A square or vertical video of 3 minutes or less becomes a Short.
- Max file size
256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less.
- Frame rate
The frame rate you recorded at. Common: 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, 60. SDR bitrate guide: 1080p 8 Mbps (12 at 48–60 fps), 4K 35–45 Mbps (53–68).
- Codecs and file types
MP4 (fast start), H.264 High profile, 4:2:0; AAC-LC or Opus audio at 48 kHz. MOV, MPEG-4, AVI, WMV, FLV and others accepted.
- Caption and text limits
Title 100 characters. Description 5,000 characters. More than 60 hashtags and all are ignored.
- Cover / thumbnail
Custom thumbnail 3840×2160 (16:9), at least 640 px wide, JPG or PNG. Up to 2 MB from a phone, 50 MB from a computer. Verified accounts only.
Replaces the old 1280×720, 2 MB rule.
- Safe zone (measured)
Not measured: in the player, nothing covers a long-form video except the end screens and cards you add yourself.
- Safe zone (platform published)
Ads only: Google's ad safe-zone diagram for 1920×1080 marks irregular margins (for example 38 px top and left, 152 px right).
Link to YouTube Long-form video · checked 2 October 2026
Facebook · Reels (all video)
What are Facebook Reels and video specs in 2026?
Since September 2025 every video posted to Facebook is shared as a Reel, of any length and orientation. Use 9:16 at 1080×1920 (at least 540×960), MP4 with H.264 and 24 to 60 fps.
- Aspect ratio
Any orientation. 9:16 recommended to fill the screen.
- Resolution
1080×1920 recommended; at least 540×960.
- Length
No minimum or maximum.
API publishing: 3 to 90 seconds. Feed video ads: up to 241 minutes. All uploads became Reels in September 2025.
- Max file size
Not published for organic uploads. Ads: 4 GB.
Third parties quote 10 GB for organic uploads; not on a Meta page.
- Frame rate
24 to 60 fps, fixed.
- Codecs and file types
MP4 or MOV recommended; H.264 or H.265; AAC-LC 48 kHz stereo.
- Caption and text limits
Not published for organic Reels.
- Cover / thumbnail
Not published. 1080×1920 is common practice.
- Safe zone (measured)
On a 1080×1920 frame, keep text and faces inside a 580×1340 px box: 223 px from the top, 357 px from the bottom, 225 px from the left and 275 px from the right.
The margins include the 9% each side that a tall phone screen crops off a 9:16 video. See "How we measured the safe zones".
- Safe zone (platform published)
Ads only: keep the edges of 9:16 ads clear; no Reels percentages. Facebook Stories ads: 14% (250 px) top, 20% (340 px) bottom.
Link to Facebook Reels (all video) · checked 2 October 2026
LinkedIn · Feed video
What are LinkedIn video specs in 2026?
LinkedIn takes videos from 3 seconds to 15 minutes, up to 5 GB, between 256×144 and 4096×2304 pixels, in any shape from 1:2.4 to 2.4:1. Vertical 1080×1920 and 4:5 1080×1350 both fit. Posts can carry 3,000 characters.
- Aspect ratio
Anything from 1:2.4 to 2.4:1, so 16:9, 1:1, 4:5 and 9:16 all fit. No recommended ratio for organic posts.
- Resolution
256×144 to 4096×2304.
Ads spec for 9:16: 720×1280 recommended, 1080×1920 maximum.
- Length
3 seconds (2 in the mobile app) to 15 minutes.
An older LinkedIn Pages article says 10 minutes. Video ads run up to 30 minutes.
- Max file size
75 KB to 5 GB. Ads: 500 MB.
- Frame rate
10 to 60 fps. Bitrate 192 kbps to 30 Mbps.
- Codecs and file types
MP4, MOV, AVI, WebM, MKV, WMV, MPEG and others. MP4 with H.264 and AAC is the safe choice.
An older LinkedIn Pages article says MOV is not accepted; the newer specs page lists it.
- Caption and text limits
Post text up to 3,000 characters.
- Cover / thumbnail
Not published for member posts. Ads: JPG or PNG thumbnail up to 2 MB, same ratio as the video.
- Safe zone (measured)
On a 1080×1920 frame, keep text and faces inside a 631×1383 px box: 211 px from the top, 326 px from the bottom, 174 px from the left and 275 px from the right.
The margins include the 9% each side that a tall phone screen crops off a 9:16 video. See "How we measured the safe zones".
- Safe zone (platform published)
Not published.
Link to LinkedIn Feed video · checked 2 October 2026
X (Twitter) · Video post
How long can a video be on X (Twitter)?
On X, free accounts can post videos up to 2 minutes 20 seconds and 512 MB. Premium subscribers can upload up to 4 hours (16 GB) on the web and iPhone, 10 minutes on Android. Use MP4 or MOV, H.264, at 1280×720 or 720×1280.
- Aspect ratio
Between 1:3 and 3:1. 16:9, 9:16 and 1:1 recommended.
- Resolution
1280×720 (landscape), 720×1280 (portrait), 720×720 (square) recommended. Premium: 1080p up to 2 hours, 720p from 2 to 4 hours.
The 1080p/720p rule for long videos is on X Help: Premium longer videos.
- Length
Free: 140 seconds (2:20). Premium: up to 4 hours on x.com and iOS, 10 minutes on Android.
The API docs give different upload limits (20 minutes by default, 125 for Premium). X Help pages block automated reading, so these were read from X's own indexed pages.
- Max file size
Free: 512 MB. Premium: 16 GB.
The API docs say 8 GB by default for posts.
- Frame rate
60 fps or less; 30 or 60 recommended.
- Codecs and file types
MP4 or MOV; H.264 High Profile; AAC-LC audio; 4:2:0, progressive.
- Caption and text limits
280 characters; 25,000 with Premium. A link counts as 23.
The 25,000 figure is on X Help: X Premium.
- Cover / thumbnail
Not published for posts.
- Safe zone (measured)
Not measured. X shows video in the timeline without covering it; the full-screen player overlays the bottom.
- Safe zone (platform published)
Not published.
Link to X (Twitter) Video post · checked 2 October 2026
Snapchat · Spotlight
What are Snapchat Spotlight video specs?
Snapchat Spotlight videos are 9:16, at least 540×960 (1080×1920 is usual), and at least 5 seconds long. Snapchat's own pages disagree on the maximum: the web uploader takes 5 to 60 seconds, while Snap announced uploads of up to 5 minutes in the app. The description can be 160 characters.
- Aspect ratio
9:16. Snapchat crops other shapes.
- Resolution
At least 540×960. 1080×1920 is common practice.
- Length
At least 5 seconds. Web uploads: 5 to 60 seconds. In the app: record up to 3 minutes, upload up to 5 minutes.
Snap's own sources conflict: help (5 s minimum), web article (5–60 s), API (6–60 s), newsroom March 2024 (3 min recorded, 5 min uploaded). Monetised Spotlight videos must be at least 30 seconds.
- Max file size
1 GB through the API. App and web limits are not published.
- Frame rate
Not published.
- Codecs and file types
MP4 (API). MP4 or MOV for ads. H.264 is the safe choice.
- Caption and text limits
Description up to 160 characters, hashtags included.
- Cover / thumbnail
Not published.
- Safe zone (measured)
On a 1080×1920 frame, keep text and faces inside a 631×1440 px box: 211 px from the top, 269 px from the bottom, 174 px from the left and 275 px from the right.
The margins include the 9% each side that a tall phone screen crops off a 9:16 video. See "How we measured the safe zones".
- Safe zone (platform published)
Not published in text for organic Spotlight.
Link to Snapchat Spotlight · checked 2 October 2026
Pinterest · Video Pin
What size should a Pinterest video Pin be?
Pinterest recommends 9:16 at 1080×1920 for video Pins, and also takes 1:2, 2:3, 3:4, 4:5 and 1:1. Organic video Pins run from 4 seconds to 5 minutes (ads go to 15 minutes). Titles take 100 characters and descriptions 800.
- Aspect ratio
9:16 recommended. Also 1:2, 2:3, 3:4, 4:5 and 1:1.
- Resolution
1080×1920 recommended. No minimum or maximum published.
- Length
4 seconds to 5 minutes.
Video ads: 4 seconds to 15 minutes. Many guides quote 15 minutes for all Pins; the organic spec says 5.
- Max file size
Not published for organic Pins. Ads: up to 2 GB.
- Frame rate
Not published.
- Codecs and file types
Web: MP4 or M4V. App: MP4, MOV or M4V. H.264 or H.265.
- Caption and text limits
Title 100 characters. Description 800 characters. Text overlay 250 characters.
- Cover / thumbnail
Pick a frame with "Edit cover". No image size published.
- Safe zone (measured)
Not measured by us; Pinterest publishes its own (next row).
- Safe zone (platform published)
Keep text clear of the top 270 px, left 65 px, right 195 px and bottom 790 px.
Pinterest does not state the frame size beside these figures; they read as margins on a 1080×1920 Pin.
Link to Pinterest Video Pin · checked 2 October 2026
Threads · Video post
How long can a video be on Threads?
Threads videos can be up to 5 minutes and 1 GB, 9:16 recommended, up to 1920 pixels wide, at 23 to 60 fps. A post carries 500 characters of text.
- Aspect ratio
9:16 recommended.
- Resolution
Up to 1920 px wide. No minimum published.
- Length
Up to 5 minutes.
The Threads help centre would not load; the in-app limit is not confirmed separately.
- Max file size
1 GB.
- Frame rate
23 to 60 fps.
- Codecs and file types
MP4 or MOV; H.264 or HEVC; AAC 48 kHz.
- Caption and text limits
500 characters of text.
- Cover / thumbnail
Not published.
- Safe zone (measured)
Not measured. Threads shows video in the feed without covering it.
- Safe zone (platform published)
Not published.
Link to Threads Video post · checked 2 October 2026
How we measured the safe zones
Apart from Pinterest, no platform publishes a safe zone for ordinary posts; the figures they do publish are for ads, and those are listed separately in each table. Our safe zones come from our free safe-zone tools, which draw each app's interface element by element on a phone, modelled on the live apps and on each platform's published guidance. Where two sources disagreed, we drew the larger zone: a zone that is too big costs a little room, one that is too small puts a caption under a button.
We then measure the green safe box from those tool pages with a script, and a test holds both this page and our Shorts editor to that measurement within half a percent. Figures are for a 1080×1920 frame and include the 9% on each side that a tall phone screen crops off a 9:16 video.
TikTok safe zoneInstagram Reels safe zoneYouTube Shorts safe zoneFacebook Reels safe zoneInstagram Stories safe zoneLinkedIn safe zoneSnapchat Spotlight safe zone
What the labels mean
- Official On the platform's own help or creator pages, for normal posts.
- Official (ads spec) On the platform's own pages, but for ads. Normal posts may differ.
- Official (API docs) In the platform's developer docs, for uploads through its API. The app may allow more.
- Not published The platform does not say. Where we give a figure, it is common practice and says so.
- Measured by Slice Ours, measured as described above.
Every source was opened on 2 October 2026. Where a platform's own pages disagree, the note under the figure says so. To cite this page: Slice, “Social video specs 2026”, tryslicemedia.com/data/social-video-specs-2026, checked 2 October 2026.
More questions
What video size works on every platform?
1080×1920 (9:16 vertical) is accepted by TikTok, Instagram Reels and Stories, YouTube Shorts, Facebook, Snapchat, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Threads. X recommends 720×1280 for vertical video but accepts larger files. For long-form YouTube, use 16:9 at 1920×1080 or 3840×2160.
Where should I put captions so the app does not cover them?
On a 1080×1920 frame, keeping text inside x 225–805 px and y 230–1563 px clears TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts at once. Each platform's own box is in its table below, measured from our safe-zone tools.
Free tools for the same job
Social media specs quick sheetTikTok safe zoneInstagram Reels safe zoneYouTube Shorts safe zoneReels cover creatorCrop video to verticalExport settingsAspect ratio calculator
Turning a long recording into vertical clips that fit these specs? Shorts by Slice finds the clips in a podcast or stream and exports 1080×1920 MP4s with captions placed inside the safe zone.
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