Most platforms share an aspect ratio. Once you have a video in each of these shapes, you have them all covered:
Guide · As of 12 October 2026
Social media video formats 2026
Aspect ratio, pixel size, maximum length and the areas the apps cover – for 8 platforms: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Every platform at a glance
| Format | Aspect ratio | Pixels (1080p) | Max. length | Free of app elements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 | 10 minSome accounts may upload up to 60 minutes. | ≈ 71 % |
| Instagram Reel | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 | 3 minLonger uploads are possible but are not recommended to non-followers. | ≈ 69 % |
| Instagram Story | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 | 60 sPer story. Instagram splits longer videos into 60-second segments. | ≈ 67 % |
| Instagram Feed | 4:5 | 1080 × 1350 | not confirmedIn the feed, Instagram shows videos in a 4:5 crop – this format fills it completely. | ≈ 85 % |
| YouTube Shorts | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 | 3 min | ≈ 69 % |
| YouTube | 16:9 | 1920 × 1080 | no fixed limit15 minutes without a verified account, up to 12 hours once verified. | ≈ 85 % |
| Facebook Video | 16:9 | 1920 × 1080 | 4 h | ≈ 79 % |
| 1:1 | 1080 × 1080 | 15 min | ≈ 94 % |
As of 12 October 2026. Lengths as stated by the platforms; they change often, and the app is what counts. No figure where the platform does not confirm a limit. "Free of app elements" are guide values from FrameJet’s preview – no platform publishes its overlay exactly.
4 shapes for 8 platforms
9:16 · 1080 × 1920
TikTok, Instagram Reel, Instagram Story, YouTube Shorts
4:5 · 1080 × 1350
Instagram Feed
16:9 · 1920 × 1080
YouTube, Facebook Video
1:1 · 1080 × 1080
LinkedIn
Safe zones in portrait
In portrait, the apps lay the caption, profile and buttons over the video. Whatever sits there – a subtitle, a logo, a face – gets covered. Keep these edges clear at 1080 × 1920 pixels:
| Format | Top | Bottom | Left | Right |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 131 px | 250 px | 60 px | 60 px |
| Instagram Reel | 108 px | 321 px | 60 px | 60 px |
| Instagram Story | 180 px | 300 px | 60 px | 60 px |
| YouTube Shorts | 115 px | 250 px | 60 px | 97 px |
Rule of thumb: important things in the middle, much more space at the bottom than at the top. If you plan for all four portrait formats at once, use the largest value for each edge.
Thumbnail: upload it or take it from the video?
Your own thumbnail possible
Instagram Reel, Instagram Feed, YouTube Shorts, YouTube, Facebook Video, LinkedIn: you can upload the thumbnail as a separate file. A still frame at the start of the video is not needed for that.
A frame from the video
TikTok, Instagram Story: the platform takes a frame from the video. A still frame right at the start is the most reliable way to decide what viewers see first.
Resolution and frame rate
1080p at 30 frames per second works on every platform. 4K is mainly worth it on YouTube.
FrameJet exports in 720p, 1080p (from Starter) and 4K (from Pro).
One video in, every format out
guides-articles.videoFormats.cta.text
Frequently asked questions
Which format works for TikTok, Reels and Shorts?
All three use 9:16, i.e. 1080 × 1920 pixels. A video in this format can be uploaded unchanged to all three platforms; only the areas the apps cover with controls differ slightly.
Why 4:5 for the Instagram feed and not 1:1?
At the same width, a 4:5 video is taller than a square one and takes up more of the screen in the feed. Instagram shows videos in the feed in a 4:5 crop anyway.
Is 1080p enough, or should I upload in 4K?
For playback in the apps, 1080p is enough everywhere. 4K is mainly worth it for YouTube, where viewers watch on large screens and the platform delivers higher resolutions with better picture quality.
What are safe zones?
The edges where an app places its own elements: caption, profile picture, buttons for likes and comments. Text and faces placed there get covered. The values in the table are guide values, because no platform publishes its overlay exactly.
How do I get from one landscape video to every format?
Each portrait format needs a crop that keeps the subject in frame, or the whole picture with a filled border. FrameJet does this in one pass: upload the video, choose formats, set the framing for each format, download the files.