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.
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 4 GB | 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 |
| 16:9 or 9:16 | 1920×1080 | Up to 10 min | Up to 5 GB | MP4 / H.264 | 30 fps | |
| 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. Instagram accepts uploads up to roughly 4 GB, which is far more than a short Reel needs. 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.