Video Ad Specs and Sizes: The Cross-Platform 2026 Guide
Video ad specs define the dimensions, aspect ratios, lengths, and file limits each platform accepts for paid video. The four sizes that cover almost every placement are 16:9 landscape (1920x1080), 9:16 vertical (1080x1920), 1:1 square (1080x1080), and 4:5 portrait (1080x1350). Match the ratio first to avoid cropping, then pick resolution for quality.
Why Video Ad Specs Decide Whether Your Creative Even Runs
A video that violates a platform's spec is rejected at upload or auto-cropped into a letterboxed, off-center mess. Each ad network renders video inside fixed frames, enforces maximum file sizes, and applies safe zones where interface elements (profile bars, captions, CTAs) cover part of the screen. Getting the spec right is the difference between a polished ad and a rejected one.
The practical rule: aspect ratio first, resolution second, length and codec third. Two videos can share a 16:9 ratio while one is 1080p and the other 4K; the ratio controls cropping, the resolution controls sharpness. For nearly all social video in 2026, 1080p is the standard and 4K is reserved for connected TV or archival reuse.
The cost of ignoring specs is not subtle. A rejected upload stalls a launch, an auto-cropped frame hides your product, and a file that exceeds the cap simply will not publish. Agencies that manage many accounts at once treat spec checks as a release gate, the same way engineers treat a build test, because the fix is always cheaper before the creative enters the ad queue.
What Are the Universal Video Sizes That Cover Most Placements?
Four aspect ratios account for the large majority of paid video inventory. Build your master assets in these shapes and you can adapt to most placements without re-shooting:
- 16:9 landscape (1920x1080): YouTube in-stream, connected TV, LinkedIn landscape, X, and most desktop web players.
- 9:16 vertical (1080x1920): YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels and Stories, Facebook Reels and Stories, TikTok, Snapchat, and Pinterest Idea Pins.
- 1:1 square (1080x1080): Meta Feed, LinkedIn, X, and carousel cards.
- 4:5 portrait (1080x1350): Meta Feed (portrait wins more screen space than square) and Pinterest.
If you only produce one asset for mixed feeds, 1:1 square is the least risky compromise, though it rarely looks best anywhere. For short-form social, 9:16 vertical is the default.
What Are the YouTube Video Ad Specs?
YouTube is the last true home of horizontal video, but Shorts flips everything vertical. Key placements:
| Placement | Aspect ratio | Resolution | Length | Max file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skippable in-stream | 16:9 | 1920x1080 (up to 4K) | 15-30s recommended | 256 GB |
| Non-skippable / Bumper | 16:9 | 1920x1080 | 15-20s / 6s max | 256 GB |
| Shorts ads | 9:16 | 1080x1920 | 60s max | 256 GB |
| Discovery (search/browse) | 16:9 | 1920x1080 | No fixed max | 256 GB |
Accepted formats include MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV, FLV, 3GPP, and WebM. Front-load your message in the first five seconds of in-stream ads because that is when the skip button appears.
What Are the Meta (Facebook and Instagram) Video Ad Specs?
Meta shares an ecosystem, so one 9:16 export usually serves both Reels and Stories. The Feed favors 4:5 portrait for extra scroll real estate.
| Placement | Aspect ratio | Resolution | Length | Max file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Facebook / Instagram Feed | 1:1 or 4:5 | 1080x1080 / 1080x1350 | Up to 241 min | 4 GB |
| Stories | 9:16 | 1080x1920 | 1-120s | 4 GB |
| Reels | 9:16 | 1080x1920 | 3-90s (aim 15-30s) | 4 GB |
| In-stream | 16:9 | 1920x1080 | 5-15s | 4 GB |
Technical standard across Meta: MP4 or MOV (MP4 preferred), H.264 video codec, AAC audio at 128kbps or higher, 30fps. Keep critical text and logos within the center 80 percent of the frame; Stories and Reels reserve roughly the top 14 percent and bottom 20 percent for interface.
What Are the TikTok Video Ad Specs?
TikTok is vertical-native. The ad format limits differ from organic upload length, so check the paid row before submitting.
| Placement | Aspect ratio | Resolution | Length | Max file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-Feed / Standard video | 9:16 (also 1:1, 16:9) | 1080x1920 min (540x960 min) | 60s max (aim 9-15s) | 500 MB |
| TopView | 9:16 | 1080x1920 | 60s | 500 MB |
| Brand Takeover | 9:16 | 1080x1920 | 3-5s | 500 MB |
| Spark Ads | Same as organic post | Same as organic post | No separate limit | Uses organic post |
Accepted formats are MP4, MOV, AVI, and GIF, with H.264 video and AAC audio, a recommended bitrate of 6-8 Mbps at 1080p, and 30fps. Keep your subject centered and away from the right-side like, comment, and share icons and the bottom-left username and caption.
What Are the LinkedIn Video Ad Specs?
LinkedIn rewards polished, professional video. It supports four ratios but caps file size far below organic upload.
| Ratio | Min dimensions | Max dimensions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4:5 vertical | 360x450 | 1080x1350 | Gaining ground on mobile |
| 9:16 vertical | 360x640 | 1080x1920 | Full-screen mobile |
| 16:9 landscape | 640x360 | 1920x1080 | Desktop professional feel |
| 1:1 square | 360x360 | 1920x1920 | Safe universal choice |
File type is MP4, audio is AAC or MPEG4 at under 64 KHz, frame rate 30fps. File size runs from 75 KB to 500 MB, duration from 3 seconds to 30 minutes. Because LinkedIn autoplays muted, always burn in captions. Custom thumbnails are JPG or PNG up to 2 MB and must match the video aspect ratio.
How Do Safe Zones and Codecs Work Across Platforms?
A safe zone is the part of the frame the platform never covers with its own UI. On vertical placements, keep faces, products, and text in the center band and leave margins at the top and bottom. On horizontal YouTube in-stream, keep key action away from the very edges.
For codecs, H.264 with AAC audio is the universal safe choice and plays on every platform. Export at 30fps for social and reserve 24-30fps for YouTube. Most platforms accept far more than 500 MB, but keeping files under that limit uploads faster and fails less often.
For platform-specific deep dives, see the TikTok ad specs guide, the LinkedIn ad specs guide, and our overview of ad creative formats that convert.
What Are the Pinterest, Snapchat, and Reddit Video Ad Specs?
Three more platforms round out a complete cross-platform plan:
| Platform | Aspect ratio | Resolution | Length | Max file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinterest (Standard Pin) | 2:3 or 1:1 | 1000x1500 or 1080x1080 | Up to 15 min (desktop) | 5 GB |
| Snapchat (Single Video) | 9:16 | 1080x1920 | Up to 180s | Accepted MP4/MOV |
| Reddit (Video) | 4:5, 1:1, or 16:9 | 1920x1080 recommended | Up to 15 min | 5 GB |
Pinterest rewards taller pins (2:3) because they occupy more feed height, while Snapchat is strictly full-screen vertical. Reddit accepts a wider range of ratios because it serves both feeds and conversation placements.
How Do I Produce One Video for Many Platforms?
You rarely want to shoot a separate video per network. A repeatable workflow keeps quality high without multiplying production:
- Shoot or design the master at 4K 16:9 if it will ever appear on TV or YouTube, then export a 1080p 16:9 version for in-stream and a 1080x1920 9:16 version for short-form.
- Frame the subject centrally so a 9:16 crop still works, and avoid edge text that gets cut on vertical exports.
- Keep on-screen text minimal and centered so it survives safe-zone cropping everywhere.
- Export H.264 MP4 with AAC audio at 30fps, then let each platform's native uploader handle final compression.
- Maintain a spec checklist per campaign so nothing ships past a platform's length or file-size cap.
Treating specs as a pre-flight step, not an afterthought, prevents the most common failure: a great creative that never runs because it broke an upload rule.
Key Takeaways
- Build master assets in 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, and 4:5 to cover almost all placements.
- Match the aspect ratio first to avoid cropping, then choose resolution for quality.
- Respect each platform's paid length and file-size caps, which often differ from organic limits.
- Keep critical content in the center safe zone and burn in captions for muted autoplay.
- Use H.264 video with AAC audio at 30fps as the universal technical baseline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Size Video Is Best for Social Media Ads?
For short-form social, 9:16 vertical at 1080x1920 covers Shorts, Reels, TikTok, and Stories in one shape. For anything that may live on YouTube, the web, or TV, use 16:9 at 1920x1080. If you need a single asset for mixed feeds, 1:1 square at 1080x1080 is the least risky compromise.
What Is the Difference Between Aspect Ratio and Resolution?
Aspect ratio is the shape of the frame, the width-to-height proportion like 16:9 or 9:16. Resolution is the actual pixel count, like 1920x1080. Two videos can share a 16:9 ratio while one is 1080p and the other is 4K. Match the ratio first to prevent cropping, then pick resolution for sharpness.
What Size Do Connected TV Ads Use?
Connected TV is 16:9, delivered at 1920x1080 or 4K (3840x2160), because it plays on real television screens through streaming apps. Standard spots are commonly 15 or 30 seconds. Deliver a clean, high-resolution file; unlike muted social feeds, CTV does not need burned-in captions.
Do I Need 4K or Is 1080p Enough for Ad Video?
For almost all social video, 1080p is plenty and it uploads faster with smaller files. Reach for 4K when the video will play on a large TV screen, when you want to crop in later without losing sharpness, or when you are archiving footage you will reuse for years. Otherwise 1080p is the practical 2026 standard.
What Codec Should I Export Ad Video In?
Use H.264 video with AAC audio at 30fps as the universal baseline; it plays on every major ad platform. Export as MP4 when the platform allows it. Keep files under 500 MB whenever possible so uploads process with fewer errors, even though most platforms accept larger.