The Complete Guide to Social Media Video Specs in 2026

You upload a video and the platform spits it back out looking nothing like the original — blurry, weirdly cropped, or stripped of its audio quality. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. Every platform processes your upload through its own encoding pipeline, and if your source file doesn't match what the platform expects, the results can be ugly. The fix isn't complicated, but it does require knowing the exact numbers before you hit the upload button.

Social media video specifications change more often than most creators realize. Platforms quietly adjust file size limits, roll out support for new codecs, and tweak their compression algorithms with each update. What worked perfectly in 2024 might be costing you quality in 2026. This guide gives you the current, up-to-date specs for every major platform — YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Snapchat — all in one place.

Whether you're a solo creator filming on your phone, a video editor exporting from Premiere Pro, or a social media manager handling video for multiple brands, these specs will save you the trial-and-error frustration of uploading and re-uploading until something looks right. Bookmark this page. You're going to use it.

Quick Reference: All Platforms at a Glance

Before diving into the platform-specific details, here's a consolidated reference table so you can compare specs side by side. This is the table to pull up when you're deciding which version of a video to export for each destination.

| Platform | Recommended Format | Recommended Resolution | Max Aspect Ratio | Max File Size | Max Duration | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | YouTube | MP4, H.264 | 1920x1080 or 3840x2160 | 16:9 (or 9:16 for Shorts) | 256 GB | 12 hours (verified) | | Instagram Feed | MP4, H.264 | 1080x1350 (4:5) | 1.91:1 to 4:5 | 4 GB | 60 minutes | | Instagram Reels | MP4, H.264 | 1080x1920 (9:16) | 9:16 | 4 GB | 90 seconds | | Instagram Stories | MP4, H.264 | 1080x1920 (9:16) | 9:16 | 4 GB | 60 seconds | | TikTok | MP4 or MOV | 1080x1920 (9:16) | 9:16 | 287.6 MB (mobile) / 2 GB (desktop) | 10 minutes | | Facebook Feed | MP4, H.264 | 1920x1080 (16:9) | 16:9 to 9:16 | 10 GB | 240 minutes | | Facebook Reels | MP4, H.264 | 1080x1920 (9:16) | 9:16 | 4 GB | 90 seconds | | Twitter/X | MP4, H.264 | 1920x1200 | 16:9 to 9:16 | 512 MB | 140 seconds | | LinkedIn | MP4, H.264 | 1920x1080 (16:9) | 1:2.4 to 2.4:1 | 5 GB | 10 minutes | | Pinterest | MP4 or MOV | 1080x1920 (9:16) or 1:1 | 9:16 to 1:1 | 2 GB | 15 minutes | | Snapchat | MP4 or MOV | 1080x1920 (9:16) | 9:16 | 1 GB | 60 seconds (Stories) |

YouTube Video Specifications

YouTube is the most forgiving platform when it comes to format variety — it accepts MOV, MP4, WebM, AVI, and others. But "accepting" a file and encoding it well are two different things. YouTube re-encodes everything you upload, and the quality of that re-encoding depends heavily on what you give it to work with. Your best strategy is to upload the cleanest, highest-quality source file your bandwidth allows.

In 2026, YouTube has expanded AV1 streaming to a much larger share of its library, which means the platform now uses AV1 as a delivery format even when you upload H.264. The better your upload quality, the better the AV1 transcode looks on the viewer's end. For Shorts, the vertical format is now handled separately from the main upload pipeline, so always confirm your Shorts are exported in 9:16 at 1080x1920 before uploading.

YouTube Specs Table

| Setting | Recommended | Minimum | |---|---|---| | Container | MP4 | MOV, WebM, MKV also accepted | | Video Codec | H.264 or H.265 | VP9 | | Resolution | 1920x1080 (1080p) or 3840x2160 (4K) | 1280x720 for HD badge | | Frame Rate | 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, or 60 fps | Any standard frame rate | | Bitrate (1080p/30fps) | 8–12 Mbps | 4 Mbps | | Bitrate (1080p/60fps) | 12–16 Mbps | 6 Mbps | | Bitrate (4K/30fps) | 35–45 Mbps | 20 Mbps | | Bitrate (4K/60fps) | 53–68 Mbps | 30 Mbps | | Audio Codec | AAC-LC | MP3 (128 kbps minimum) | | Audio Bitrate | 320 kbps | 128 kbps | | Audio Channels | Stereo | Mono acceptable | | Aspect Ratio | 16:9 (9:16 for Shorts) | Any ratio (pillarboxed/letterboxed) | | Color Space | Rec. 709 | sRGB | | Max File Size | 256 GB | — | | Max Duration | 12 hours (verified accounts) | 15 minutes (unverified) |

YouTube Shorts should be exported at 1080x1920 (portrait, 9:16), kept under 60 seconds, and uploaded as standard MP4 H.264 files. The platform handles the Shorts classification automatically based on the aspect ratio and duration. Don't add black bars to make a Shorts video 16:9 — just export it natively vertical.

Instagram Video Specifications

Instagram's three video surfaces — Feed, Reels, and Stories — have different requirements, and confusing them is one of the most common mistakes creators make. A video optimized for your Instagram Feed will look wrong in Reels, and vice versa. Understanding the distinction between all three will save you significant rework. For a deeper look at optimizing specifically for Reels, read our guide on how to convert video for Instagram Reels and TikTok.

Instagram applies aggressive compression to all uploaded videos, especially on mobile connections. This makes it critical to upload at the highest quality your file size limits allow. Instagram's encoding algorithm degrades noticeably at bitrates below its internal thresholds, and once you've uploaded a lower-quality file, you cannot replace it — you'd need to delete and re-upload.

Instagram Feed Specs

| Setting | Recommended | Notes | |---|---|---| | Container | MP4 | MOV also accepted | | Video Codec | H.264 | Must be H.264 for best compatibility | | Resolution | 1080x1350 px (4:5 portrait) | 1080x1080 for square | | Aspect Ratio | 4:5 (portrait) | 1.91:1 to 4:5 supported | | Frame Rate | 23–60 fps | 30 fps recommended | | Max Bitrate | 3,500 kbps | Higher bitrates accepted but capped | | Audio | AAC, 128 kbps stereo | Required for Feed videos | | Max File Size | 4 GB | — | | Max Duration | 60 minutes | Under 60 seconds for grid previews |

Instagram Reels Specs

| Setting | Recommended | Notes | |---|---|---| | Container | MP4 | MOV accepted | | Video Codec | H.264 | — | | Resolution | 1080x1920 px | Must be vertical (9:16) | | Aspect Ratio | 9:16 | Required for Reels format | | Frame Rate | 30 fps | 60 fps supported | | Max Bitrate | 3,500 kbps | — | | Audio | AAC, 128 kbps | Music tracks added separately in app | | Max File Size | 4 GB | — | | Max Duration | 90 seconds | 15 seconds minimum for distribution |

Instagram Stories Specs

| Setting | Recommended | Notes | |---|---|---| | Container | MP4 | MOV accepted | | Video Codec | H.264 | — | | Resolution | 1080x1920 px | Safe zone: 1080x1420 center area | | Aspect Ratio | 9:16 | — | | Frame Rate | 30 fps | — | | Max File Size | 4 GB | — | | Max Duration | 60 seconds | Longer videos split automatically |

For Stories, keep interactive elements (stickers, text, CTAs) within the central 1080x1420 pixel safe zone. The top and bottom 250 pixels are used by Instagram's UI chrome (profile info at top, swipe-up zone at bottom), so anything placed there risks being hidden.

TikTok Video Specifications

TikTok is the platform most aggressively associated with vertical short-form video, but its specs have expanded significantly. In 2026, TikTok supports videos up to 10 minutes long via desktop upload, and the platform has improved its handling of horizontal (16:9) content for creators who produce landscape-format videos. That said, 9:16 vertical content still performs dramatically better in TikTok's algorithm.

TikTok's compression is noticeably heavier than YouTube's or Instagram's, particularly on text and high-frequency detail. If your video includes on-screen text, motion graphics, or fine detail like fabric textures, export at the highest bitrate you can within the file size limits. The platform will compress it down, but starting from a better source means the final output looks cleaner.

TikTok Specs Table

| Setting | Recommended | Notes | |---|---|---| | Container | MP4 or MOV | MP4 preferred | | Video Codec | H.264 or H.265 | H.264 most compatible | | Resolution | 1080x1920 px (9:16) | 1080x1080 for square | | Aspect Ratio | 9:16 | 16:9 and 1:1 also supported | | Frame Rate | 30 fps | Up to 60 fps supported | | Max Bitrate | 50 Mbps | Platform compresses down | | Audio | AAC, 44.1 kHz | Stereo preferred | | Max File Size | 287.6 MB (mobile) / 2 GB (desktop) | Desktop upload recommended | | Max Duration | 10 minutes (desktop) | 60 seconds recommended for reach |

Facebook Video Specifications

Facebook supports one of the broadest ranges of video formats among major social platforms, which reflects its position as an all-purpose platform rather than a video-first destination. In 2026, Facebook has unified much of its video infrastructure with Instagram (both under Meta), so the codec preferences align closely. Facebook Reels uses the same vertical short-form format as Instagram Reels.

For Facebook Feed videos, the 16:9 horizontal format remains the safest choice for desktop viewers, while 4:5 portrait performs better on mobile where most Facebook browsing happens. Facebook's autoplay behavior means the first two seconds of your video function like a thumbnail — make sure your hook is front-loaded and visually compelling even without sound, since autoplay is muted by default.

Facebook Feed Video Specs

| Setting | Recommended | Notes | |---|---|---| | Container | MP4 | MOV, AVI also accepted | | Video Codec | H.264 | H.265 accepted but may re-encode | | Resolution | 1920x1080 (16:9) or 1080x1350 (4:5) | 1280x720 minimum for HD | | Aspect Ratio | 16:9 to 4:5 | 9:16 supported in-feed | | Frame Rate | 30 fps | Up to 60 fps supported | | Max Bitrate | 4 Mbps (1080p) | Higher accepted up to file limit | | Audio | AAC, 128 kbps | Stereo | | Max File Size | 10 GB | 1 GB recommended for reliability | | Max Duration | 240 minutes | — |

Facebook Reels Specs

| Setting | Recommended | Notes | |---|---|---| | Container | MP4 | — | | Video Codec | H.264 | — | | Resolution | 1080x1920 px | 9:16 required | | Frame Rate | 30 fps | — | | Max File Size | 4 GB | — | | Max Duration | 90 seconds | 15 seconds minimum |

Twitter/X Video Specifications

Twitter/X has maintained relatively conservative file size limits compared to other platforms, which reflects the platform's origins as a text-first, bandwidth-light service. The 512 MB cap is meaningful if you're uploading high-bitrate content, so plan your exports accordingly. If you're regularly uploading large video files to Twitter/X, you may need to compress them before uploading. See our guide on how to compress video online for practical techniques that don't destroy quality.

Twitter/X auto-crops video previews in the timeline to an approximately 16:9 ratio, regardless of the aspect ratio of your actual video. Vertical (9:16) videos will display with the top and bottom cropped in the preview — the full video only plays when a user taps to expand. If your key visual information is at the top or bottom of a vertical video, consider whether the 16:9 crop will cut it off.

Twitter/X Specs Table

| Setting | Recommended | Notes | |---|---|---| | Container | MP4 | MOV accepted via app upload | | Video Codec | H.264 | — | | Resolution | 1920x1080 (16:9) or 1080x1920 (9:16) | 1280x720 minimum | | Aspect Ratio | 16:9 recommended | 1:2.39 to 2.39:1 supported | | Frame Rate | 30 fps | Up to 60 fps supported | | Max Bitrate | 25 Mbps | — | | Audio | AAC, 128 kbps | Stereo | | Max File Size | 512 MB | Twitter Blue/Premium may vary | | Max Duration | 140 seconds (standard) | 10 minutes for Premium subscribers |

LinkedIn Video Specifications

LinkedIn's audience and context are fundamentally different from entertainment-focused platforms. Video on LinkedIn is consumed primarily by professionals, often on desktop during work hours, which means longer and more information-dense videos perform better here than anywhere else. A 5–7 minute explainer or thought-leadership piece that would flop on TikTok might perform extremely well on LinkedIn. That said, the platform still recommends keeping native feed videos under 3 minutes for maximum completion rates.

LinkedIn's video ads and sponsored content have slightly different specs than organic posts. The table below covers organic video posts. For LinkedIn video ads, maximum duration drops to 30 minutes and you'll need to consult LinkedIn Campaign Manager for the most current ad-specific requirements.

LinkedIn Organic Video Specs

| Setting | Recommended | Notes | |---|---|---| | Container | MP4 | — | | Video Codec | H.264 | — | | Resolution | 1920x1080 (16:9) | 256x144 minimum | | Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 1:2.4 to 2.4:1 range supported | | Frame Rate | 30 fps | 10–60 fps accepted | | Max Bitrate | 30 Mbps | — | | Audio | AAC, 44.1 kHz | Stereo | | Max File Size | 5 GB | — | | Max Duration | 10 minutes | — | | Captions | SRT file upload supported | Highly recommended for accessibility |

LinkedIn auto-generates captions for native video uploads, though accuracy varies. For professional content, upload your own SRT caption file for complete control over accuracy and formatting. Captions significantly increase video completion rates on LinkedIn, where many users watch without sound in office environments.

Pinterest Video Specifications

Pinterest occupies a unique position among social platforms because its content has a much longer shelf life than anywhere else. A well-optimized Pinterest video pin can continue driving traffic months or even years after posting. This changes the optimization calculus — it's worth investing more time in getting your Pinterest video perfect because it will keep working for longer.

Pinterest's audience skews heavily toward discovery and planning, which means your video should deliver clear value (a tutorial, a product demonstration, a before-and-after) within the first 2 seconds. Vertical video (9:16) outperforms horizontal on Pinterest, mirroring the platform's predominantly mobile user base. For product videos, 1:1 square format performs nearly as well as vertical and gives you more flexibility with the content framing.

Pinterest Video Specs

| Setting | Recommended | Notes | |---|---|---| | Container | MP4 or MOV | — | | Video Codec | H.264 | — | | Resolution | 1080x1920 (9:16) or 1080x1080 (1:1) | 240p minimum | | Aspect Ratio | 9:16 or 1:1 | 1:2 to 1.91:1 supported | | Frame Rate | 25 or 30 fps | — | | Max Bitrate | No stated cap | Aim for 4–8 Mbps | | Audio | AAC | Muted autoplay by default | | Max File Size | 2 GB | — | | Max Duration | 15 minutes | 4 seconds minimum |

Snapchat Video Specifications

Snapchat is the most strictly vertical-first platform on this list. Horizontal video simply does not exist as a format in Snapchat's interface — everything is 9:16. If you're repurposing content from another platform, any horizontal video will appear letter-boxed with black bars above and below, which looks out of place in the Snapchat experience and performs poorly.

Snapchat Ads (Snap Ads) have similar specs but different duration rules: commercial Snap Ads can run 3–180 seconds. Organic content shared to Stories or Spotlight is capped at 60 seconds per snap. For Spotlight (Snapchat's TikTok-equivalent feed), keep videos under 60 seconds and lead with your most engaging moment — Spotlight's algorithm prioritizes completion rate over all other signals.

Snapchat Specs Table

| Setting | Recommended | Notes | |---|---|---| | Container | MP4 or MOV | — | | Video Codec | H.264 | — | | Resolution | 1080x1920 px | 9:16 required | | Aspect Ratio | 9:16 | No other ratios supported | | Frame Rate | 30 fps | — | | Max Bitrate | 32 Mbps | — | | Audio | AAC, 48 kHz | Stereo | | Max File Size | 1 GB | — | | Max Duration | 60 seconds (Stories/Spotlight) | 180 seconds for Snap Ads |

Universal Best Practices for Social Media Video

Regardless of which platform you're targeting, a handful of best practices apply universally. Getting these right will improve your video quality and performance across the board.

Always start with the highest quality source you have. When platforms re-encode your video, they're working with the data you provide. A higher-quality source file means a higher-quality output after compression, even when the final compressed file looks similar in size to a lower-quality source.

Use AAC audio at 128–320 kbps for every upload. MP3 audio is technically acceptable on some platforms, but AAC is universally supported, more efficient, and produces better quality at equivalent bitrates. There's no reason not to use it. Your editing software exports AAC by default in most cases.

Export with a constant frame rate, not variable frame rate (VFR). This is especially important for content shot on smartphones, which often record in variable frame rate to save battery and storage. When you upload a VFR file, some platforms struggle to process it correctly, resulting in choppy playback or audio sync issues. Before uploading, convert your footage to a constant frame rate using a video converter.

Include captions or subtitles wherever possible. Autoplay on mute is the default behavior across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Videos with on-screen text or hardcoded captions retain viewers at significantly higher rates than silent talking-head videos with no text overlay. This is one of the highest-leverage adjustments you can make to improve engagement rates.

Optimize your aspect ratio for the primary viewing context. If 80% of your audience watches on mobile, vertical formats (9:16) will always outperform horizontal (16:9). Use platform analytics to understand your audience's device split, then optimize your primary export accordingly.

Keep your file sizes within the sweet spot. Every platform has a maximum file size, but uploading at or near the maximum isn't always better. Extremely large files take longer to upload, are more likely to time out on slower connections, and often have no visible quality advantage over a well-optimized file at 30–50% of the maximum size. For a 1080p video under 5 minutes, a well-encoded H.264 file should be between 300 MB and 1.5 GB depending on bitrate.

How to Convert Your Videos to the Right Format

Even if you know the exact specs you need, your current video files may not match them. You might have footage shot on a GoPro in MP4 but with the wrong resolution. You might be working with MOV files from a Mac. You might have received footage as an AVI or MKV that needs to be converted before it can be uploaded anywhere. All of these situations call for a conversion step before you upload.

The fastest way to handle this is with an online video converter that doesn't require software installation. You drag in your source file, choose your output format and settings, and get a properly formatted file back in minutes. For the most common conversion — getting MOV files into a universally compatible format — our mov-to-mp4 tool handles this in seconds with no quality loss.

If you're working with footage that needs to move from one codec to another (for example, H.265 to H.264 for maximum compatibility), our MP4 converter lets you control the output codec, resolution, and bitrate settings so you can match any platform's specs exactly.

For content creators managing videos across multiple platforms, the most efficient workflow is:

1. Edit and export from your editing software at the highest quality your project allows (this is your master file).
2. Identify which platforms you're posting to and what specs each requires.
3. Use a converter to create platform-specific exports from your master file.
4. Upload each export to its respective platform.

This master-file workflow means you only do the creative work once and then produce multiple derivatives from it. It also protects you from accidentally deleting your source material after uploading compressed copies.

For more on understanding which formats are best suited for different use cases, read our explainer on best video formats in 2024 for foundational knowledge that still applies in 2026. And for a broader look at format strategy across all social platforms, see our companion post on the best video format for social media in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the universal video format that works on all social media platforms?

MP4 with H.264 video encoding and AAC audio is the single format accepted without issue on every major social media platform. YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Snapchat all support MP4 H.264. If you can only export in one format, this is it. Some platforms also accept MOV, but MP4 is more broadly compatible and works on a wider range of devices and operating systems.

Why does my video look blurry after uploading to Instagram or TikTok?

Blurriness after upload is almost always caused by one of two issues: either your source file had a bitrate that was too low before upload, or the platform aggressively compressed the video because it detected content that was already compressed. Both platforms apply heavy compression, especially in areas of motion. Upload at the highest bitrate your file size limits allow (3,500 kbps or higher for Instagram, as high as 50 Mbps for TikTok), and make sure your source file is not already a compressed export from another platform.

Does TikTok prefer MP4 or MOV format?

TikTok officially supports both MP4 and MOV. In practice, MP4 with H.264 encoding uploads more reliably and processes faster than MOV. MOV is the native QuickTime container used by Apple devices and Final Cut Pro exports — if your footage is in MOV format, you can either upload it directly (it will work) or convert it to MP4 first for maximum compatibility. The quality difference between the two is negligible as long as the codec inside the container is H.264.

What video specs should I use for YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts require a 9:16 vertical aspect ratio at 1080x1920 pixels. Keep the duration under 60 seconds. Export as MP4 with H.264 encoding at a bitrate of 8–12 Mbps. Use AAC audio at 320 kbps. The platform identifies videos as Shorts automatically based on the vertical format and under-60-second duration — you don't need to tag them specially during export. Just make sure your video is genuinely 9:16 and not a 16:9 video with black bars added to make it look vertical.

How do I reduce my video file size without losing quality for Twitter/X uploads?

Twitter/X's 512 MB file size limit is the tightest cap of any major platform. To reduce file size without significant quality loss, lower your bitrate (aim for 8–12 Mbps for 1080p), use H.264 instead of H.265 (paradoxically, some platforms handle H.264 compression more gracefully), trim any dead air from the beginning and end of the video, and limit your duration to under 60 seconds if possible. If the file is still too large, use a compression tool — our guide on how to compress video online covers the most effective approaches.

Should I upload 4K video to social media platforms?

Only YouTube and Facebook have meaningful support for 4K video delivery. On all other platforms — Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Snapchat — there is no 4K streaming regardless of what you upload. These platforms cap their delivery at 1080p or lower. Uploading 4K to a platform that only delivers 1080p means a larger upload file for no visible quality gain for your audience. Unless you're specifically targeting YouTube's 4K streaming quality, export at 1080p to keep your file sizes manageable.

What's the best aspect ratio for reaching the most people across all platforms?

If you're producing one video meant to be shared across multiple platforms, 9:16 vertical (1080x1920) is the most broadly useful format. It's the native format for TikTok, Instagram Reels, Instagram Stories, Snapchat, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook Reels. Horizontal (16:9) platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook Feed can display vertical content, though it appears letterboxed on desktop. The alternative is the 4:5 portrait format (1080x1350), which works well on Instagram Feed and Facebook Feed while losing less screen space than full 9:16 on desktop screens.

Conclusion

Getting your video specs right isn't about obsessing over technical details — it's about making sure the content you worked hard to create actually reaches your audience looking the way you intended. Every blurry upload, every awkward crop, every rejected file is a small piece of your credibility and viewer trust chipping away.

The specs in this guide are current as of early 2026, but social media platforms update their requirements regularly. YouTube has updated its recommended bitrates several times in the past two years, Instagram has expanded its Reels duration limits, and TikTok has gradually increased its file size caps. Check back here when you notice something has changed, and check platform help centers if you're running into unexpected errors.

Your takeaways from this guide: use MP4 with H.264 and AAC as your default format for everything. Export at the highest bitrate your file size allows. Match the aspect ratio to the platform surface you're targeting — not just the platform itself, but the specific feed (Reels vs. Feed vs. Stories on Instagram, for instance). Keep your original high-quality master file. And when you need to convert, compress, or reformat video before uploading, use a reliable video converter that gives you control over the output settings.

For more on how formats and quality interplay across platforms, see our full breakdown on the best video format for social media in 2026.