Social Media Video Specs: Sizes, Lengths and Aspect Ratios
Every major platform on one page, checked against the platforms' own documentation in October 2026.
Specs at a glance
| Platform | Aspect ratio | Recommended size | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instagram Reels | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 | Up to 3 min; some accounts can upload longer | Ads: up to 15 min, 4 GB, MP4 or MOV |
| Instagram feed video | 4:5 | 1080 × 1350 | Posted as a Reel | 4:5 fills the most of the feed on a phone |
| TikTok | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 | Up to 10 min recorded in the app; longer uploads for some accounts and regions | Ads: up to 10 min, 500 MB, minimum 540 × 960 |
| YouTube Shorts | 9:16 or 1:1 | 1080 × 1920 | Up to 3 min | Must be square or vertical to count as a Short |
| YouTube | 16:9 | 1920 × 1080 or 3840 × 2160 | 15 min, or up to 12 hours for verified accounts | Upload the highest quality master you have |
| 1:2.4 to 2.4:1 | 1920 × 1080 or 1080 × 1350 | 3 sec to 15 min | 5 GB maximum, 10 to 60 fps |
Platforms change these limits often, and longer limits roll out by account and region. Checked October 2026 against the sources at the end of this page.
Aspect ratios, explained
- 9:16 (vertical full screen): Reels, TikTok, Shorts and Stories. Fills a phone held upright.
- 4:5 (portrait): the tallest shape most feeds show without cropping. A good choice for posts that also run as ads.
- 1:1 (square): safe everywhere, but smaller on screen than 4:5. Less common now.
- 16:9 (landscape): YouTube, websites, presentations and TV. Shows up small in vertical feeds.
If you can only make one version, make it 9:16 and keep the important action in the centre. It crops to 4:5 and 1:1 far more easily than landscape footage crops to vertical.
Safe zones: where not to put text
Vertical apps lay their own interface over your video: the caption and account name at the bottom, buttons down the right, and a header at the top. Meta's guidance for Reels is to keep at least 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% of each side free of text, logos and key action. TikTok publishes downloadable safe zone templates for the same reason.
In practice, keep captions and on-screen text in the middle band of the frame, slightly above centre.
Shooting once for every format
Most businesses need the same video in several shapes. The cheapest way to get them is to plan for it before the shoot, not to crop a landscape edit afterwards.
- Frame the subject in the centre, with room above and below, so a vertical crop still works.
- Shoot at a higher resolution than you deliver, so each crop stays sharp.
- Write on-screen text for the vertical version first, then adapt it for landscape.
- Export a separate file for each ratio rather than letting the platform crop.
Export settings that work everywhere
- Format: MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio. Every platform accepts it.
- Frame rate: keep the rate you shot at. In Australia that is often 25 fps; 30 fps is also fine.
- Resolution: at least 1080 pixels on the short side.
- Captions: burn them in for Reels and TikTok, where most people watch muted. Upload a caption file (SRT) for YouTube and LinkedIn so they can be turned on and off.
Questions people ask
What is the best aspect ratio for Instagram Reels?
9:16 at 1080 × 1920 pixels. It fills the screen in Reels, and the centre of the frame still works when it appears as a 4:5 preview in the feed.
Can I post a 16:9 video as a Reel?
Yes, but it shows as a small band in the middle of the screen with empty space above and below. Recut it to 9:16 if the content matters.
How long can a YouTube Short be?
Up to three minutes for videos uploaded since 15 October 2024. It must be square or vertical to count as a Short.
What video size should I use for LinkedIn?
LinkedIn accepts aspect ratios from 1:2.4 to 2.4:1. Use 16:9 for landscape or 4:5 for portrait in the feed, at 1080 pixels or more on the short side.
Should I upload in 4K?
Upload the best master you have. Most platforms compress heavily, but a higher quality upload still gives a cleaner result, especially on YouTube.