Free Guide

Social Media Video Specs & Export Settings (2026)

Resolution, aspect ratio, length, file size and codec for TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Bluesky.

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Last updated: June 26, 2026

H.264 MP430 fpsAAC 256 kbps8-12 Mbps

The recommended social media video specs are 1080×1920 resolution, 9:16 vertical aspect ratio, H.264 MP4 format and around 30 fps. That single export plays cleanly on TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and Facebook Reels. Below is the full per-platform breakdown, plus a comparison table and universal export settings you can copy into any editor.

resolution: 1080×1920; resolution
vertical aspect ratio: 9:16; vertical aspect ratio
MP4 codec: H.264; MP4 codec
frame rate: 30 fps; frame rate

Video Specs by Platform (Comparison Table)

Aspect ratio and resolution are stable across platforms. Maximum length and file-size limits change often and depend on the upload method (in-app vs. desktop vs. API), so treat those columns as current guidance rather than hard guarantees.

Platform	Aspect ratio	Resolution	Max length	Max file size	Format / codec	FPS
TikTok	9:16	1080×1920	Up to 10 min	~287 MB (in-app)	MP4 / H.264	30 fps
Instagram Reels	9:16	1080×1920	Up to 3 min	Up to 300 MB (API)	MP4 / H.264	30 fps
YouTube Shorts	9:16	1080×1920	Up to 3 min	No practical limit	MP4 / H.264	30-60 fps
Facebook Reels	9:16	1080×1920	Up to 90 sec	Up to 4 GB	MP4 / H.264	30 fps
LinkedIn	16:9 or 9:16	1920×1080	Up to 10 min	Up to 5 GB	MP4 / H.264	30 fps
Pinterest	9:16 or 1:1	1080×1920	Up to 15 min	Up to 2 GB	MP4 / MOV	30 fps
Bluesky	9:16	1080×1920	Up to 60 sec	Small (varies)	MP4 / H.264	30 fps

When in doubt, export 1080×1920 H.264 MP4 - it is accepted everywhere. The sections below cover each platform's essentials.

TikTok Video Specs

TikTok videos should be 1080×1920, 9:16 vertical, H.264 MP4, up to 10 minutes, at around 30 fps. Vertical full-screen is the native format. In-app uploads are commonly capped near 287 MB; larger files go through desktop or the official posting API. Keep important visuals centered so on-screen captions and buttons do not cover them. To publish on a schedule, use a TikTok scheduler.

Instagram Reels Specs

Instagram Reels should be 1080×1920, 9:16, H.264 MP4, up to 3 minutes. Reels published through the Instagram API, which is what scheduling tools use, are capped at 300 MB, so compress anything larger before uploading. A 9:16 Reel also appears in the main feed cropped, so keep the key action within the central area. Plan ahead with an Instagram Reels scheduler.

YouTube Shorts Specs

YouTube Shorts should be 1080×1920, 9:16, H.264 MP4, up to 3 minutes. Anything in a vertical ratio and at or under the length limit is treated as a Short. YouTube re-encodes on its end, so a clean 30-60 fps export is plenty. You can schedule YouTube Shorts alongside your other vertical clips.

Facebook Reels Specs

Facebook Reels should be 1080×1920, 9:16, H.264 MP4, up to 90 seconds. Facebook shares Meta's video pipeline with Instagram, so the same vertical export works for both. File uploads are accepted up to several GB, well beyond what a Reel requires.

LinkedIn Video Specs

LinkedIn video works best at 1920×1080 (16:9) or 1080×1920 (9:16), H.264 MP4, up to 10 minutes, with files up to 5 GB. LinkedIn supports landscape, square (1:1) and vertical, so match the ratio to your content - explainer and talking-head clips often perform well in 16:9 or 1:1 in the feed.

Pinterest Video Specs

Pinterest video Pins should be 1080×1920 (9:16) or 1:1, H.264 MP4 (MOV also accepted), up to 15 minutes, with files up to 2 GB. Tall 9:16 and square 1:1 Pins take up the most space in the feed. Shorter, looping clips tend to hold attention best.

Bluesky Video Specs

Bluesky supports short video - use 1080×1920 (9:16) H.264 MP4, up to about 60 seconds. Video support on Bluesky is newer and built for short clips, and the file-size cap is small and changes as the feature matures - so keep clips brief and lightweight.

Framing

Safe Zones: Keep Text Clear of the UI

Every vertical platform layers its own interface over your video - captions, the username, like and share buttons, and a bottom caption bar. If your text or key visuals sit under those elements, viewers cannot read them. As a general rule for a 1080×1920 frame:

Top: leave roughly the top 10% clear of essential text (status bar and platform header).
Right side: keep the right edge clear, where the like, comment and share buttons stack.
Bottom: leave the bottom 15-20% clear for the caption, username and progress bar.

Center your captions and key action in the middle of the frame, and they will stay visible no matter which platform the clip lands on.

Safe for text

Presets

Universal Export Settings

These settings export a single file that works across every short-form platform. Use them as a starting preset in any editor.

A few practical notes: 1080p is enough - platforms compress heavily, so 4K mostly adds upload time without visible benefit. H.264 MP4 keeps files small and universally compatible. Burn in or upload captions, since most social video is watched without sound.

export-settings.txt

Resolution: 1080x1920 (9:16 vertical)
Frame Rate: 30 fps
Codec: H.264 (AVC)
Container: MP4
Bitrate: 8-12 Mbps (VBR)
Audio: AAC, 256 kbps, Stereo
Loudness: around -14 LUFS

Premiere Pro: H.264 preset, match source
Final Cut: Apple Devices 1080p
DaVinci Resolve: YouTube 1080p preset
CapCut: Default export settings

Universal Settings

One File, Every Platform: Auto-Transcoding

You do not have to re-export your video for each network. Multi Upload Tool runs server-side transcoding (FFmpeg) that auto-converts format, resolution and aspect ratio per platform - so you upload one master file and it is adapted for TikTok, Reels, Shorts and the rest. It accepts MP4, MOV and AVI and handles aspect-ratio conversion between 9:16, 16:9 and 1:1 automatically.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Still stuck? Read the docs or start free and see for yourself.

What is the best video size for social media?

For most platforms, export at 1080×1920 pixels in a 9:16 vertical ratio, using H.264 MP4 at 30 fps. That single export plays cleanly on TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and Facebook Reels. For LinkedIn and other feed video, 1920×1080 (16:9) is also widely accepted.

What aspect ratio is best for Reels, Shorts and TikTok?

9:16 vertical (full-screen) is the recommended aspect ratio for Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and TikTok. It fills the screen on mobile, which is where almost all short-form video is watched. A 1080×1920 frame is the standard for all three.

What video format do all social media platforms support?

MP4 with the H.264 (AVC) video codec and AAC audio is the most universally supported format. It is accepted by TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Bluesky, and offers a good balance of quality and file size. MOV is also widely accepted.

Do I need to export a different video size for each platform?

Not necessarily. A single 1080×1920 9:16 H.264 MP4 export works across TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and Facebook Reels. You only need a different export when a platform favors a different ratio (for example 16:9 for LinkedIn or YouTube long-form). Some schedulers also auto-transcode your file per platform so you do not have to re-export manually.

What is the file size limit for Instagram Reels?

Reels published through the Instagram API, which is what scheduling tools use, are capped at 300 MB. A Reel exported at 1080×1920 H.264 rarely gets close - keeping the bitrate around 8-12 Mbps keeps files small and uploads fast.

Upload Once, Publish Everywhere

Export with the settings above, then schedule the same clip across every platform. Multi Upload Tool auto-transcodes per network so you skip the manual re-exports.

Start Scheduling Video