Instagram Reels, TikTok and YouTube Shorts video size in 2026

Make short video vertical, 9:16, and export it at 1080 by 1920 pixels. That is simply 9:16 at 1080 pixels wide. None of the official pages we read for Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts state a required pixel size, so 1080 by 1920 is the safe standard, not a quoted rule. TikTok's ad specs ask for at least 540×960 at 9:16. Max length is 3 minutes (180 seconds) on YouTube Shorts and 3 minutes on Instagram Reels, and Facebook Reels states no maximum.

Only 14 of the 36 cells in the tables below have an official value, and just 7 of those are for ordinary posts rather than ads. We show "Not stated by the platform" for the rest instead of repeating numbers from third party guides. Values come from the platform's own pages, read October 29, 2026. See the social video specs tool for the same data.

How long can a Reel, TikTok or Short be?

YouTube says a Short can run up to 3 minutes and must have a square or vertical aspect ratio. Instagram's creator blog gives 3 minutes for Reels. Facebook's Reels page states a minimum of 3 seconds and no maximum. For TikTok, the only page we could confirm is the ad specs, which allow up to 10 minutes for ads.

What aspect ratio and resolution do vertical videos need?

YouTube Shorts accepts square or vertical. Facebook Reels accepts vertical or horizontal. TikTok ads use 9:16. If one file has to work everywhere, 9:16 is the only ratio all four accept. Square works on Shorts but is not what a Reels or TikTok viewer expects to see.

On safe zones, TikTok provides downloadable safe zone files for ads. We did not find official pixel margins for Reels, Shorts or Facebook Reels, so we do not quote any. The practical rule is to keep captions and faces away from the top and bottom edges, where the account name, caption, buttons and progress bar sit. Check a draft in the app's own preview before you publish.

What are the file size and format limits?

Facebook Reels asks for .mp4. TikTok ads accept .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .3gp and .avi, up to 500 MB. A 15 or 30 second 1080p clip from an AI model is usually far below that. An .mp4 file is the one format named on both the Facebook Reels and TikTok ads pages.

Which AI video models can output 9:16?

Our price list has no aspect ratio field, so we read the endpoint documentation instead. On fal, Seedance 2.0 and Seedance 2.5 list 9:16 as an aspect ratio option, and so does Kling 3.0 Pro (16:9, 9:16 and 1:1). We did not verify 9:16 for the other models in the list, so we leave them out. Google's Gemini API page says the Veo 3.1 preview models were shut down on October 22, 2026, and we did not confirm a 9:16 option on the replacement page, so Veo is not in the table.

Seedance 2.0 takes 4 to 15 seconds per clip, Seedance 2.5 takes 4 to 30 seconds, and Kling 3.0 Pro takes 3 to 15 seconds. All three list 1080p as an option. Set the aspect ratio to 9:16 yourself, because Seedance defaults to auto and Kling defaults to 16:9.

How many clips do I need for a full-length Reel?

Most Reels, Shorts and TikToks are far shorter than the 180 second limit, so one clip often covers the whole video. Only when you want more than 15 seconds does the choice of model matter. A 60 second video is 2 clips on Seedance 2.5 and 4 on Seedance 2.0 or Kling 3.0 Pro. For per-clip costs of common lengths, see how much a 30 second AI Reel costs and the reel budget planner.

Stitched clips need matching resolution, frame rate and aspect ratio, so generate every clip with the same settings. To compare models by price first, use the video model pricing tool or read the model comparison.

How do I keep text inside the safe zone?

• Do not ask the model to write text. AI video often garbles lettering. Add titles and captions as an overlay in an editor.
• Leave the top and bottom edges clear. Platform buttons and captions sit there. Put key text in the middle band.
• Frame subjects for a phone. Ask for the subject centered with room above and below in your prompt.
• Preview before posting. Upload as a draft or private post and check it on a phone.

Raytake is a Mac app that makes short videos through a chat with an AI assistant. It shows each model's price before it runs, and it asks you to approve still frames before paying for video, so a wrongly framed vertical shot is caught before it costs money.