{
  "name": "Social video specs 2026",
  "publisher": "Slice",
  "url": "https://tryslicemedia.com/data/social-video-specs-2026",
  "checked": "2026-10-02",
  "statuses": {
    "official": "Official",
    "official-ads": "Official (ads spec)",
    "official-api": "Official (API docs)",
    "unpublished": "Not published",
    "measured": "Measured by Slice"
  },
  "formats": [
    {
      "id": "tiktok",
      "platform": "TikTok",
      "format": "Feed video",
      "question": "What size is a TikTok video in 2026?",
      "answer": "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.",
      "specs": [
        {
          "spec": "Aspect ratio",
          "key": "aspect",
          "value": "9:16 recommended. 16:9 and 1:1 are also accepted.",
          "status": "official-ads",
          "source": "TikTok Ads help: In-Feed Ads",
          "source_url": "https://ads.tiktok.com/help/article/tiktok-auction-in-feed-ads",
          "note": "TikTok publishes no aspect ratio for organic posts on a page we could read; this is the ads spec (June 2026)."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Resolution",
          "key": "resolution",
          "value": "1080×1920 is common practice. API uploads: 360 px minimum, 4096 px maximum on each side. Ads: at least 540×960 for vertical.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "TikTok developer docs: media transfer",
          "source_url": "https://developers.tiktok.com/doc/content-posting-api-media-transfer-guide",
          "note": "1080×1920 for organic posts is common practice, not a published figure."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Length",
          "key": "length",
          "value": "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.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "TikTok developer docs: media transfer",
          "source_url": "https://developers.tiktok.com/doc/content-posting-api-media-transfer-guide",
          "note": "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."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Max file size",
          "key": "fileSize",
          "value": "4 GB through the API. Ads: 500 MB. In-app limits are not published.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "TikTok developer docs: media transfer",
          "source_url": "https://developers.tiktok.com/doc/content-posting-api-media-transfer-guide",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Frame rate",
          "key": "frameRate",
          "value": "23 to 60 fps.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "TikTok developer docs: media transfer",
          "source_url": "https://developers.tiktok.com/doc/content-posting-api-media-transfer-guide",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Codecs and file types",
          "key": "codecs",
          "value": "MP4 (recommended), MOV or WebM; H.264 (recommended), H.265, VP8 or VP9.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "TikTok developer docs: media transfer",
          "source_url": "https://developers.tiktok.com/doc/content-posting-api-media-transfer-guide",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Caption and text limits",
          "key": "text",
          "value": "Caption up to 2,200 characters through the API. The app is widely reported to allow 4,000; not published.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "TikTok developer docs: direct post",
          "source_url": "https://developers.tiktok.com/doc/content-posting-api-reference-direct-post",
          "note": "No limit on the number of hashtags is published."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Cover / thumbnail",
          "key": "cover",
          "value": "No cover image size is published. The cover is a frame picked from the video (the first frame by default).",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "TikTok developer docs: direct post",
          "source_url": "https://developers.tiktok.com/doc/content-posting-api-reference-direct-post",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (measured)",
          "key": "safeZone",
          "value": "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.",
          "status": "measured",
          "source": "Slice safe-zone tool",
          "source_url": "https://tryslicemedia.com/tools/tiktok-safe-zone",
          "note": "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\"."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (platform published)",
          "key": "publishedSafeZone",
          "value": "Not published for organic posts. The ads help provides downloadable overlays without figures in the text.",
          "status": "unpublished",
          "source": "TikTok Ads help: TopView",
          "source_url": "https://ads.tiktok.com/help/article/tiktok-reservation-topview",
          "note": null
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "instagram-reels",
      "platform": "Instagram",
      "format": "Reels",
      "question": "What size and how long can an Instagram Reel be in 2026?",
      "answer": "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.",
      "specs": [
        {
          "spec": "Aspect ratio",
          "key": "aspect",
          "value": "Between 1.91:1 and 9:16. 9:16 fills the screen.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Instagram Help: Reels specs",
          "source_url": "https://help.instagram.com/1038071743007909",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Resolution",
          "key": "resolution",
          "value": "At least 720 px. 1080×1920 is common practice; the ads guide recommends 1440×2560.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Instagram Help: Reels specs",
          "source_url": "https://help.instagram.com/1038071743007909",
          "note": "API uploads: at most 1920 px wide."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Length",
          "key": "length",
          "value": "Up to 20 minutes, recorded and edited in the app. Reels over 3 minutes are not recommended to new audiences.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Instagram Help: Reels length",
          "source_url": "https://help.instagram.com/2720958398006062",
          "note": "API uploads: 3 seconds to 15 minutes. Ads: up to 15 minutes."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Max file size",
          "key": "fileSize",
          "value": "Not published for the app. API: 300 MB. Ads: 4 GB.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Instagram Graph API: media",
          "source_url": "https://developers.facebook.com/docs/instagram-platform/instagram-graph-api/reference/ig-user/media",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Frame rate",
          "key": "frameRate",
          "value": "At least 30 fps.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Instagram Help: Reels specs",
          "source_url": "https://help.instagram.com/1038071743007909",
          "note": "API: 23 to 60 fps."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Codecs and file types",
          "key": "codecs",
          "value": "MP4 or MOV; H.264 or HEVC; AAC audio up to 48 kHz; progressive, 4:2:0; video up to 25 Mbps.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Instagram Graph API: media",
          "source_url": "https://developers.facebook.com/docs/instagram-platform/instagram-graph-api/reference/ig-user/media",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Caption and text limits",
          "key": "text",
          "value": "Caption 2,200 characters. Up to 5 hashtags.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Instagram Help: hashtags",
          "source_url": "https://help.instagram.com/351460621611097",
          "note": "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."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Cover / thumbnail",
          "key": "cover",
          "value": "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.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Instagram Help: Reels specs",
          "source_url": "https://help.instagram.com/1038071743007909",
          "note": "The 1080×1920 cover and 3:4 grid crop are common practice, not on a Meta help page."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (measured)",
          "key": "safeZone",
          "value": "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.",
          "status": "measured",
          "source": "Slice safe-zone tool",
          "source_url": "https://tryslicemedia.com/tools/instagram-reels-safe-zone",
          "note": "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\"."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (platform published)",
          "key": "publishedSafeZone",
          "value": "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).",
          "status": "official-ads",
          "source": "Meta Ads Guide: Instagram Reels",
          "source_url": "https://www.facebook.com/business/ads-guide/update/video/instagram-reels",
          "note": "Reels ads with disclaimers: keep the bottom 40% clear. Meta publishes no organic safe zone."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "instagram-stories",
      "platform": "Instagram",
      "format": "Stories",
      "question": "What size is an Instagram Story, and how long can it be?",
      "answer": "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).",
      "specs": [
        {
          "spec": "Aspect ratio",
          "key": "aspect",
          "value": "9:16 recommended.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Instagram Graph API: media",
          "source_url": "https://developers.facebook.com/docs/instagram-platform/instagram-graph-api/reference/ig-user/media",
          "note": "The API accepts 0.1:1 to 10:1. Ads: 9:16."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Resolution",
          "key": "resolution",
          "value": "1080×1920 is common practice. Ads guide: 1440×2560.",
          "status": "official-ads",
          "source": "Meta Ads Guide: Instagram Stories",
          "source_url": "https://www.facebook.com/business/ads-guide/update/video/instagram-story",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Length",
          "key": "length",
          "value": "Up to 60 seconds per story clip; longer videos are split into several clips.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Instagram blog: how to use Stories",
          "source_url": "https://about.instagram.com/blog/tips-and-tricks/how-to-use-instagram-stories",
          "note": "API: 3 to 60 seconds. Story ads: up to 60 minutes."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Max file size",
          "key": "fileSize",
          "value": "Not published for the app. API: 100 MB. Ads: 4 GB.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Instagram Graph API: media",
          "source_url": "https://developers.facebook.com/docs/instagram-platform/instagram-graph-api/reference/ig-user/media",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Frame rate",
          "key": "frameRate",
          "value": "23 to 60 fps.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Instagram Graph API: media",
          "source_url": "https://developers.facebook.com/docs/instagram-platform/instagram-graph-api/reference/ig-user/media",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Codecs and file types",
          "key": "codecs",
          "value": "MP4 or MOV; H.264 or HEVC; AAC audio.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Instagram Graph API: media",
          "source_url": "https://developers.facebook.com/docs/instagram-platform/instagram-graph-api/reference/ig-user/media",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Caption and text limits",
          "key": "text",
          "value": "Stories have no caption field. Ads: 125 characters of primary text.",
          "status": "official-ads",
          "source": "Meta Ads Guide: Instagram Stories",
          "source_url": "https://www.facebook.com/business/ads-guide/update/video/instagram-story",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Cover / thumbnail",
          "key": "cover",
          "value": "Not applicable.",
          "status": "unpublished",
          "source": null,
          "source_url": null,
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (measured)",
          "key": "safeZone",
          "value": "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.",
          "status": "measured",
          "source": "Slice safe-zone tool",
          "source_url": "https://tryslicemedia.com/tools/instagram-stories-safe-zone",
          "note": "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\"."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (platform published)",
          "key": "publishedSafeZone",
          "value": "Ads only: keep roughly 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% of each side free.",
          "status": "official-ads",
          "source": "Meta Ads Guide: Instagram Stories",
          "source_url": "https://www.facebook.com/business/ads-guide/update/video/instagram-story",
          "note": "Some blogs describe a \"unified Stories and Reels safe zone\" from March 2026; we found no Meta page announcing it."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "instagram-feed",
      "platform": "Instagram",
      "format": "Feed video",
      "question": "What size should an Instagram feed video be?",
      "answer": "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.",
      "specs": [
        {
          "spec": "Aspect ratio",
          "key": "aspect",
          "value": "As Reels: 1.91:1 to 9:16. Feed video ads: 9:16; 1:1 and 4:5 also supported.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Meta newsroom: feed videos become Reels (July 2022)",
          "source_url": "https://about.fb.com/news/2022/07/new-ways-to-create-instagram-reels-remix/",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Resolution",
          "key": "resolution",
          "value": "Ads guide: 1080×1920. As Reels, at least 720 px.",
          "status": "official-ads",
          "source": "Meta Ads Guide: Instagram Feed",
          "source_url": "https://www.facebook.com/business/ads-guide/update/video/instagram-feed",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Length",
          "key": "length",
          "value": "As Reels (up to 20 minutes in the app). Feed video ads: 1 second to 60 minutes.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Instagram Help: Reels length",
          "source_url": "https://help.instagram.com/2720958398006062",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Max file size",
          "key": "fileSize",
          "value": "Not published for the app. Ads: 4 GB.",
          "status": "official-ads",
          "source": "Meta Ads Guide: Instagram Feed",
          "source_url": "https://www.facebook.com/business/ads-guide/update/video/instagram-feed",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Frame rate",
          "key": "frameRate",
          "value": "As Reels: at least 30 fps.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Instagram Help: Reels specs",
          "source_url": "https://help.instagram.com/1038071743007909",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Codecs and file types",
          "key": "codecs",
          "value": "MP4 or MOV; H.264 or HEVC; AAC.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Instagram Graph API: media",
          "source_url": "https://developers.facebook.com/docs/instagram-platform/instagram-graph-api/reference/ig-user/media",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Caption and text limits",
          "key": "text",
          "value": "Caption 2,200 characters. Up to 5 hashtags.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Instagram Help: hashtags",
          "source_url": "https://help.instagram.com/351460621611097",
          "note": "The Feed ads guide still says 30 hashtags."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Cover / thumbnail",
          "key": "cover",
          "value": "Profile grid tiles are 3:4 (since January 2025), cropped from the middle of the post. Not on a Meta help page.",
          "status": "unpublished",
          "source": null,
          "source_url": null,
          "note": "Announced by Instagram's head on Instagram and Threads; reported by Buffer and others."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (measured)",
          "key": "safeZone",
          "value": "Use the Reels safe zone: feed videos play as Reels.",
          "status": "measured",
          "source": "Slice safe-zone tool",
          "source_url": "https://tryslicemedia.com/tools/instagram-reels-safe-zone",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (platform published)",
          "key": "publishedSafeZone",
          "value": "Ads only: keep the edges of 9:16 ads clear (no figures given for Feed).",
          "status": "official-ads",
          "source": "Meta Business Help: safe zones",
          "source_url": "https://www.facebook.com/business/help/980593475366490",
          "note": null
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "youtube-shorts",
      "platform": "YouTube",
      "format": "Shorts",
      "question": "How long can a YouTube Short be, and what size?",
      "answer": "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.",
      "specs": [
        {
          "spec": "Aspect ratio",
          "key": "aspect",
          "value": "Square or vertical. 9:16 fills the screen. Anything wider than square (such as 16:9) is not a Short.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "YouTube Help: Shorts up to 3 minutes",
          "source_url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/15424877?hl=en",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Resolution",
          "key": "resolution",
          "value": "1080×1920 is common practice. No minimum is published. Mobile-app uploads go up to 1080p.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "YouTube Help: create Shorts",
          "source_url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/10059070?hl=en",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Length",
          "key": "length",
          "value": "Up to 3 minutes, recorded or uploaded. No minimum.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "YouTube Help: Shorts up to 3 minutes",
          "source_url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/15424877?hl=en",
          "note": "Shorts longer than 1 minute with an active Content ID claim are blocked worldwide."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Max file size",
          "key": "fileSize",
          "value": "256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less (the YouTube-wide limit).",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "YouTube Help: upload limits",
          "source_url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/71673?hl=en",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Frame rate",
          "key": "frameRate",
          "value": "Upload at the frame rate you recorded. Common: 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, 60.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "YouTube Help: recommended encoding",
          "source_url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1722171?hl=en",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Codecs and file types",
          "key": "codecs",
          "value": "MP4 with H.264 video and AAC-LC or Opus audio recommended. MOV, MPEG-4, AVI, WMV, FLV and others are accepted.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "YouTube Help: recommended encoding",
          "source_url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1722171?hl=en",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Caption and text limits",
          "key": "text",
          "value": "Title 100 characters. Description 5,000 characters. More than 60 hashtags and YouTube ignores all of them.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "YouTube Help: titles and descriptions",
          "source_url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/57404?hl=en",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Cover / thumbnail",
          "key": "cover",
          "value": "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.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "YouTube Help: custom thumbnails",
          "source_url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/72431?hl=en",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (measured)",
          "key": "safeZone",
          "value": "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.",
          "status": "measured",
          "source": "Slice safe-zone tool",
          "source_url": "https://tryslicemedia.com/tools/youtube-shorts-safe-zone",
          "note": "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\"."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (platform published)",
          "key": "publishedSafeZone",
          "value": "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.",
          "status": "official-ads",
          "source": "Google: YouTube universal ad safe zones (PDF)",
          "source_url": "https://services.google.com/fh/files/misc/universalsafezones-youtube.pdf",
          "note": "Read from the diagram labels. Google publishes no safe zone for organic Shorts."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "youtube",
      "platform": "YouTube",
      "format": "Long-form video",
      "question": "What size and length is a YouTube video in 2026?",
      "answer": "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.",
      "specs": [
        {
          "spec": "Aspect ratio",
          "key": "aspect",
          "value": "16:9. The player adapts to other ratios; do not add black bars.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "YouTube Help: recommended encoding",
          "source_url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1722171?hl=en",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Resolution",
          "key": "resolution",
          "value": "1920×1080 or 3840×2160 common; from 426×240 up to 7680×4320. At least 1280×720 recommended.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "YouTube Help: supported formats",
          "source_url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/4603579?hl=en",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Length",
          "key": "length",
          "value": "Up to 15 minutes for unverified accounts; up to 12 hours once verified.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "YouTube Help: upload limits",
          "source_url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/71673?hl=en",
          "note": "A square or vertical video of 3 minutes or less becomes a Short."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Max file size",
          "key": "fileSize",
          "value": "256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "YouTube Help: upload limits",
          "source_url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/71673?hl=en",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Frame rate",
          "key": "frameRate",
          "value": "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).",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "YouTube Help: recommended encoding",
          "source_url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1722171?hl=en",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Codecs and file types",
          "key": "codecs",
          "value": "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.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "YouTube Help: recommended encoding",
          "source_url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1722171?hl=en",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Caption and text limits",
          "key": "text",
          "value": "Title 100 characters. Description 5,000 characters. More than 60 hashtags and all are ignored.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "YouTube Help: titles and descriptions",
          "source_url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/57404?hl=en",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Cover / thumbnail",
          "key": "cover",
          "value": "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.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "YouTube Help: custom thumbnails",
          "source_url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/72431?hl=en",
          "note": "Replaces the old 1280×720, 2 MB rule."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (measured)",
          "key": "safeZone",
          "value": "Not measured: in the player, nothing covers a long-form video except the end screens and cards you add yourself.",
          "status": "unpublished",
          "source": null,
          "source_url": null,
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (platform published)",
          "key": "publishedSafeZone",
          "value": "Ads only: Google's ad safe-zone diagram for 1920×1080 marks irregular margins (for example 38 px top and left, 152 px right).",
          "status": "official-ads",
          "source": "Google: YouTube universal ad safe zones (PDF)",
          "source_url": "https://services.google.com/fh/files/misc/universalsafezones-youtube.pdf",
          "note": null
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "facebook-reels",
      "platform": "Facebook",
      "format": "Reels (all video)",
      "question": "What are Facebook Reels and video specs in 2026?",
      "answer": "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.",
      "specs": [
        {
          "spec": "Aspect ratio",
          "key": "aspect",
          "value": "Any orientation. 9:16 recommended to fill the screen.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Meta Business Help: Facebook Reels",
          "source_url": "https://www.facebook.com/business/help/581040529926114",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Resolution",
          "key": "resolution",
          "value": "1080×1920 recommended; at least 540×960.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Meta developer docs: Reels publishing",
          "source_url": "https://developers.facebook.com/docs/video-api/guides/reels-publishing",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Length",
          "key": "length",
          "value": "No minimum or maximum.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Meta Business Help: Facebook Reels",
          "source_url": "https://www.facebook.com/business/help/581040529926114",
          "note": "API publishing: 3 to 90 seconds. Feed video ads: up to 241 minutes. All uploads became Reels in September 2025."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Max file size",
          "key": "fileSize",
          "value": "Not published for organic uploads. Ads: 4 GB.",
          "status": "official-ads",
          "source": "Meta Ads Guide: Facebook Feed",
          "source_url": "https://www.facebook.com/business/ads-guide/update/video/facebook-feed",
          "note": "Third parties quote 10 GB for organic uploads; not on a Meta page."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Frame rate",
          "key": "frameRate",
          "value": "24 to 60 fps, fixed.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Meta developer docs: Reels publishing",
          "source_url": "https://developers.facebook.com/docs/video-api/guides/reels-publishing",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Codecs and file types",
          "key": "codecs",
          "value": "MP4 or MOV recommended; H.264 or H.265; AAC-LC 48 kHz stereo.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Facebook Help: video formats",
          "source_url": "https://www.facebook.com/help/218673814818907",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Caption and text limits",
          "key": "text",
          "value": "Not published for organic Reels.",
          "status": "unpublished",
          "source": null,
          "source_url": null,
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Cover / thumbnail",
          "key": "cover",
          "value": "Not published. 1080×1920 is common practice.",
          "status": "unpublished",
          "source": null,
          "source_url": null,
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (measured)",
          "key": "safeZone",
          "value": "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.",
          "status": "measured",
          "source": "Slice safe-zone tool",
          "source_url": "https://tryslicemedia.com/tools/facebook-reels-safe-zone",
          "note": "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\"."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (platform published)",
          "key": "publishedSafeZone",
          "value": "Ads only: keep the edges of 9:16 ads clear; no Reels percentages. Facebook Stories ads: 14% (250 px) top, 20% (340 px) bottom.",
          "status": "official-ads",
          "source": "Meta Business Help: safe zones",
          "source_url": "https://www.facebook.com/business/help/980593475366490",
          "note": null
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "linkedin",
      "platform": "LinkedIn",
      "format": "Feed video",
      "question": "What are LinkedIn video specs in 2026?",
      "answer": "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.",
      "specs": [
        {
          "spec": "Aspect ratio",
          "key": "aspect",
          "value": "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.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "LinkedIn Help: video specs",
          "source_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a548372",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Resolution",
          "key": "resolution",
          "value": "256×144 to 4096×2304.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "LinkedIn Help: video specs",
          "source_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a548372",
          "note": "Ads spec for 9:16: 720×1280 recommended, 1080×1920 maximum."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Length",
          "key": "length",
          "value": "3 seconds (2 in the mobile app) to 15 minutes.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "LinkedIn Help: video specs",
          "source_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a548372",
          "note": "An older LinkedIn Pages article says 10 minutes. Video ads run up to 30 minutes."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Max file size",
          "key": "fileSize",
          "value": "75 KB to 5 GB. Ads: 500 MB.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "LinkedIn Help: video specs",
          "source_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a548372",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Frame rate",
          "key": "frameRate",
          "value": "10 to 60 fps. Bitrate 192 kbps to 30 Mbps.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "LinkedIn Help: video specs",
          "source_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a548372",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Codecs and file types",
          "key": "codecs",
          "value": "MP4, MOV, AVI, WebM, MKV, WMV, MPEG and others. MP4 with H.264 and AAC is the safe choice.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "LinkedIn Help: video specs",
          "source_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a548372",
          "note": "An older LinkedIn Pages article says MOV is not accepted; the newer specs page lists it."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Caption and text limits",
          "key": "text",
          "value": "Post text up to 3,000 characters.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "LinkedIn Help: post character limit",
          "source_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a528176",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Cover / thumbnail",
          "key": "cover",
          "value": "Not published for member posts. Ads: JPG or PNG thumbnail up to 2 MB, same ratio as the video.",
          "status": "official-ads",
          "source": "LinkedIn: video ad specs",
          "source_url": "https://business.linkedin.com/advertise/ads/sponsored-content/video-ads/specs",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (measured)",
          "key": "safeZone",
          "value": "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.",
          "status": "measured",
          "source": "Slice safe-zone tool",
          "source_url": "https://tryslicemedia.com/tools/linkedin-video-safe-zone",
          "note": "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\"."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (platform published)",
          "key": "publishedSafeZone",
          "value": "Not published.",
          "status": "unpublished",
          "source": null,
          "source_url": null,
          "note": null
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "x",
      "platform": "X (Twitter)",
      "format": "Video post",
      "question": "How long can a video be on X (Twitter)?",
      "answer": "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.",
      "specs": [
        {
          "spec": "Aspect ratio",
          "key": "aspect",
          "value": "Between 1:3 and 3:1. 16:9, 9:16 and 1:1 recommended.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "X developer docs: media best practices",
          "source_url": "https://docs.x.com/x-api/media/quickstart/best-practices",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Resolution",
          "key": "resolution",
          "value": "1280×720 (landscape), 720×1280 (portrait), 720×720 (square) recommended. Premium: 1080p up to 2 hours, 720p from 2 to 4 hours.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "X developer docs: media best practices",
          "source_url": "https://docs.x.com/x-api/media/quickstart/best-practices",
          "note": "The 1080p/720p rule for long videos is on X Help: Premium longer videos."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Length",
          "key": "length",
          "value": "Free: 140 seconds (2:20). Premium: up to 4 hours on x.com and iOS, 10 minutes on Android.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "X Help: longer videos",
          "source_url": "https://help.x.com/en/using-x/premium-longer-videos",
          "note": "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."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Max file size",
          "key": "fileSize",
          "value": "Free: 512 MB. Premium: 16 GB.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "X Help: videos on X",
          "source_url": "https://help.x.com/en/using-x/x-videos",
          "note": "The API docs say 8 GB by default for posts."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Frame rate",
          "key": "frameRate",
          "value": "60 fps or less; 30 or 60 recommended.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "X developer docs: media best practices",
          "source_url": "https://docs.x.com/x-api/media/quickstart/best-practices",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Codecs and file types",
          "key": "codecs",
          "value": "MP4 or MOV; H.264 High Profile; AAC-LC audio; 4:2:0, progressive.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "X developer docs: media best practices",
          "source_url": "https://docs.x.com/x-api/media/quickstart/best-practices",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Caption and text limits",
          "key": "text",
          "value": "280 characters; 25,000 with Premium. A link counts as 23.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "X developer docs: counting characters",
          "source_url": "https://docs.x.com/fundamentals/counting-characters",
          "note": "The 25,000 figure is on X Help: X Premium."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Cover / thumbnail",
          "key": "cover",
          "value": "Not published for posts.",
          "status": "unpublished",
          "source": null,
          "source_url": null,
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (measured)",
          "key": "safeZone",
          "value": "Not measured. X shows video in the timeline without covering it; the full-screen player overlays the bottom.",
          "status": "unpublished",
          "source": null,
          "source_url": null,
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (platform published)",
          "key": "publishedSafeZone",
          "value": "Not published.",
          "status": "unpublished",
          "source": null,
          "source_url": null,
          "note": null
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "snapchat-spotlight",
      "platform": "Snapchat",
      "format": "Spotlight",
      "question": "What are Snapchat Spotlight video specs?",
      "answer": "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.",
      "specs": [
        {
          "spec": "Aspect ratio",
          "key": "aspect",
          "value": "9:16. Snapchat crops other shapes.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Snapchat Support: posting from the web",
          "source_url": "https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012310003348-How-to-Post-a-Snap-to-My-Story-from-the-Web",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Resolution",
          "key": "resolution",
          "value": "At least 540×960. 1080×1920 is common practice.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Snap developer docs: public profile assets",
          "source_url": "https://developers.snap.com/marketing-api/Public-Profile-API/ProfileAssetManagement",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Length",
          "key": "length",
          "value": "At least 5 seconds. Web uploads: 5 to 60 seconds. In the app: record up to 3 minutes, upload up to 5 minutes.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Snapchat Support: post to Spotlight",
          "source_url": "https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012288096532-How-do-I-post-Snaps-to-Spotlight",
          "note": "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."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Max file size",
          "key": "fileSize",
          "value": "1 GB through the API. App and web limits are not published.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Snap developer docs: public profile assets",
          "source_url": "https://developers.snap.com/marketing-api/Public-Profile-API/ProfileAssetManagement",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Frame rate",
          "key": "frameRate",
          "value": "Not published.",
          "status": "unpublished",
          "source": null,
          "source_url": null,
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Codecs and file types",
          "key": "codecs",
          "value": "MP4 (API). MP4 or MOV for ads. H.264 is the safe choice.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Snap developer docs: public profile assets",
          "source_url": "https://developers.snap.com/marketing-api/Public-Profile-API/ProfileAssetManagement",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Caption and text limits",
          "key": "text",
          "value": "Description up to 160 characters, hashtags included.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Snap developer docs: public profile assets",
          "source_url": "https://developers.snap.com/marketing-api/Public-Profile-API/ProfileAssetManagement",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Cover / thumbnail",
          "key": "cover",
          "value": "Not published.",
          "status": "unpublished",
          "source": null,
          "source_url": null,
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (measured)",
          "key": "safeZone",
          "value": "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.",
          "status": "measured",
          "source": "Slice safe-zone tool",
          "source_url": "https://tryslicemedia.com/tools/snapchat-spotlight-safe-zone",
          "note": "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\"."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (platform published)",
          "key": "publishedSafeZone",
          "value": "Not published in text for organic Spotlight.",
          "status": "unpublished",
          "source": null,
          "source_url": null,
          "note": null
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "pinterest",
      "platform": "Pinterest",
      "format": "Video Pin",
      "question": "What size should a Pinterest video Pin be?",
      "answer": "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.",
      "specs": [
        {
          "spec": "Aspect ratio",
          "key": "aspect",
          "value": "9:16 recommended. Also 1:2, 2:3, 3:4, 4:5 and 1:1.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Pinterest Help: Pin specs",
          "source_url": "https://help.pinterest.com/en/article/review-pin-specs",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Resolution",
          "key": "resolution",
          "value": "1080×1920 recommended. No minimum or maximum published.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Pinterest Help: Pin specs",
          "source_url": "https://help.pinterest.com/en/article/review-pin-specs",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Length",
          "key": "length",
          "value": "4 seconds to 5 minutes.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Pinterest Help: Pin specs",
          "source_url": "https://help.pinterest.com/en/article/review-pin-specs",
          "note": "Video ads: 4 seconds to 15 minutes. Many guides quote 15 minutes for all Pins; the organic spec says 5."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Max file size",
          "key": "fileSize",
          "value": "Not published for organic Pins. Ads: up to 2 GB.",
          "status": "official-ads",
          "source": "Pinterest Business Help: product specs",
          "source_url": "https://help.pinterest.com/en/business/article/pinterest-product-specs",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Frame rate",
          "key": "frameRate",
          "value": "Not published.",
          "status": "unpublished",
          "source": null,
          "source_url": null,
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Codecs and file types",
          "key": "codecs",
          "value": "Web: MP4 or M4V. App: MP4, MOV or M4V. H.264 or H.265.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Pinterest Help: Pin specs",
          "source_url": "https://help.pinterest.com/en/article/review-pin-specs",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Caption and text limits",
          "key": "text",
          "value": "Title 100 characters. Description 800 characters. Text overlay 250 characters.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Pinterest Help: Pin specs",
          "source_url": "https://help.pinterest.com/en/article/review-pin-specs",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Cover / thumbnail",
          "key": "cover",
          "value": "Pick a frame with \"Edit cover\". No image size published.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Pinterest Business Help: video Pins",
          "source_url": "https://help.pinterest.com/en/business/article/video-pins",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (measured)",
          "key": "safeZone",
          "value": "Not measured by us; Pinterest publishes its own (next row).",
          "status": "unpublished",
          "source": null,
          "source_url": null,
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (platform published)",
          "key": "publishedSafeZone",
          "value": "Keep text clear of the top 270 px, left 65 px, right 195 px and bottom 790 px.",
          "status": "official",
          "source": "Pinterest Help: Pin specs",
          "source_url": "https://help.pinterest.com/en/article/review-pin-specs",
          "note": "Pinterest does not state the frame size beside these figures; they read as margins on a 1080×1920 Pin."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "threads",
      "platform": "Threads",
      "format": "Video post",
      "question": "How long can a video be on Threads?",
      "answer": "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.",
      "specs": [
        {
          "spec": "Aspect ratio",
          "key": "aspect",
          "value": "9:16 recommended.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Threads developer docs",
          "source_url": "https://developers.facebook.com/docs/threads/overview",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Resolution",
          "key": "resolution",
          "value": "Up to 1920 px wide. No minimum published.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Threads developer docs",
          "source_url": "https://developers.facebook.com/docs/threads/overview",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Length",
          "key": "length",
          "value": "Up to 5 minutes.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Threads developer docs",
          "source_url": "https://developers.facebook.com/docs/threads/overview",
          "note": "The Threads help centre would not load; the in-app limit is not confirmed separately."
        },
        {
          "spec": "Max file size",
          "key": "fileSize",
          "value": "1 GB.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Threads developer docs",
          "source_url": "https://developers.facebook.com/docs/threads/overview",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Frame rate",
          "key": "frameRate",
          "value": "23 to 60 fps.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Threads developer docs",
          "source_url": "https://developers.facebook.com/docs/threads/overview",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Codecs and file types",
          "key": "codecs",
          "value": "MP4 or MOV; H.264 or HEVC; AAC 48 kHz.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Threads developer docs",
          "source_url": "https://developers.facebook.com/docs/threads/overview",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Caption and text limits",
          "key": "text",
          "value": "500 characters of text.",
          "status": "official-api",
          "source": "Threads developer docs",
          "source_url": "https://developers.facebook.com/docs/threads/overview",
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Cover / thumbnail",
          "key": "cover",
          "value": "Not published.",
          "status": "unpublished",
          "source": null,
          "source_url": null,
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (measured)",
          "key": "safeZone",
          "value": "Not measured. Threads shows video in the feed without covering it.",
          "status": "unpublished",
          "source": null,
          "source_url": null,
          "note": null
        },
        {
          "spec": "Safe zone (platform published)",
          "key": "publishedSafeZone",
          "value": "Not published.",
          "status": "unpublished",
          "source": null,
          "source_url": null,
          "note": null
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}