In today’s insight, we are bringing you our guide to social media paid ad video specs. Staying relevant and capturing your audience’s attention is a constant challenge. And now that brands rely on video content more than ever, it’s critical to use the correct social media video specs and advertising video sizes.
These changes can be challenging to keep up with, which is why we’ve created this list of social media video specs to help you put your best foot forward.
Facebook Video Ad Specs
Each video format has different dimensions and specs, making it confusing to know whether or not you are uploading the correct format. You need to produce content optimized for various platforms. Here’s a breakdown of the different specs for Facebook videos.
Facebook In-Stream Video Ads
In-stream ads are 5-15 seconds in length; therefore, ensure that you produce rich and engaging content to capture your audiences’ attention.
Video Guidelines
- Recommended Size: 1280 by 720 pixels for landscape or portrait
- Minimum Width: 600 pixels (portrait); 1200 pixels (landscape)
- Video Length: 5-15 seconds; 240 mins. maximum
- Frame Rate: 30 fps. maximum
- File Size: 4GB maximum
- File Format: .MP4 or .MOV; See the complete list of file formats
- Supported Aspect Ratios: 1.91:1 to 1:1
- Landscape video: 600 by 315 pixels (1.9:1 aspect ratio)
- Square video: 600 by 600 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
Tip: When using in-stream ads, Facebook recommends uploading the highest resolution source video available.
Facebook Messenger Stories Ads
Facebook recommends uploading your highest resolution video available (that meets file size and ratio limits) without letter or pillar boxing.
Video Guidelines
- Recommended size:1280 by 720 pixels
- Video length: Up to 240 minutes
- Frame Rate:30 fps.
- File Size: Maximum file size is 4GB
- File Format: .MP4 or .MOV; See the complete list of file formats
- Supported Ratios: 16:9 to 1.91:1
Facebook Carousel Video Ads
Carousels are an excellent option for creating episodic content – allowing for the use of up to 10 images or videos in one ad.
Video Guidelines
- Recommended size:1080 by 1080 pixels
- Video length: Up to 240 minutes
- Frame Rate:30 fps.
- File Size: Maximum file size is 4GB
- File Format: .MP4 or .MOV; See complete list of file formats
- Supported Ratios: 1.91:1 to 1:1
- Landscape video: 600 by 315 pixels (1.9:1 aspect ratio)
- Square video: 600 by 600 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
Insight: Carousel Video Ads make it easier for your audience to get the message without having to click to visit a new page.
Facebook Slideshow Video Ads
Slideshows are designed to accommodate users with slow internet access – allowing you to use a collection of 3-10 images and a sound file converted into a video ad.
Video Guidelines
- Recommended size:1200 by 720 pixels
- Video length: Up to 120 minutes
- Frame Rate:30 fps.
- File Size: Maximum file size is 4GB
- File Format (audio): WAV, MP3, M4A, FLAC and OGG
- Supported Ratios/ Image Dimensions: 16:9, 1:1, or 2:3
Tip: Facebook recommends using the highest quality images possible. Using images outside Facebook’s recommended parameters will result in your slideshow being cropped and could lead to elements or subject matter in the images cut out of the frame.
For more information on the video specs for Facebook, visit the Facebook Help Center.
Instagram Video Ad Specs
In-feed video and video ads
Instagram supports square, vertical and horizontal video. And you’re urged to use the highest video resolution possible.
Video Guidelines
- Recommended size: 1200 by 720 pixels
- Video length: Up to 60 seconds
- Frame Rate:30 fps.
- File Size: Maximum file size is 4GB
- File Format: .MP4 or .MOV format. See the complete list of file formats.
- Supported Ratios/ Image Dimensions: 16:9, 1.9:1, or 4:5
- Square video: 600 by 600 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
- Horizontal video: 600 by 315 pixels (1.9:1 aspect ratio)
- Vertical video: 600 by 750 pixels (4:5 aspect ratio)
Insight: Your video must be within the ratio limits, have H.264 compression, square pixels, fixed frame rate, progressive scan, and stereo AAC audio compression at 128kbps+.
Tip: If you don’t have the time or capacity for extra editing work, opt for square videos — they’re easier to produce and work well for desktop and mobile users.
Instagram Carousel Video Ads
Similar to Facebook carousels, Instagram allows you to show anything from 2 to 10 images or videos in one side-scrolling ad. This allows marketers to get creative with different media formats and boost engagement.
Video Guidelines
- Recommended size:1080 by 1080 pixels
- Minimum size: 600 by 600 pixels
- Video length: Up to 60 seconds
- Frame Rate:30 fps.
- File Size: Maximum file size is 4GB
- File Format: .MP4 or .MOV format. See the complete list of file formats.
- Supported Ratio: 1:1
Instagram Stories Video Ads
Instagram story videos are short videos that appear between stories from profiles users follow.
Video Guidelines
- Recommended size:1200 by 1920 pixels
- Minimum size: 600 by 1067 pixels
- Video length: Up to 15 seconds
- Frame Rate: 30 fps.
- File Size: Maximum file size is 4GB
- File Format: .MP4 or .MOV format. See the complete list of file formats.
- Supported Ratios: 16:9 to 4:5 and 9:16
Insight: The video dimensions can be challenging to nail down. Some devices have smaller screens — leaving little room for viewers to see the complete ad or click on ‘more’ links to see the rest of the text without clicking on the call to action.
Tip: To work around the challenge, leave the top and bottom 14% (approx. 250 px) empty.
For more information on the video specs for Instagram, visit the Facebook Help Center.
Twitter Video Ad Specs
As a mobile-first platform, Twitter video is optimized for mobile device-captured video.
Twitter Landscape & Portrait Videos
Twitter provides two formats of in-feed video content to share with your followers: landscape and portrait, making it easier to share content. Still, the dimensions change as the video bitrate alters.
Video Guidelines
- Recommended Size: 1280×720 (landscape), 720×1280 (portrait), 720×720 (square)
- Video Length: 140 seconds maximum
- Frame Rate: 30 or 60 fps.
- File Size: Maximum file size is 512MB
- File Format: .MP4 or .MOV format.
- Supported Aspect Ratios: 16:9 (landscape or portrait), 1:1 (square); 1:1 is recommended for rendering across devices with the best output
Character Limits
- Maximum count: 280 characters
For more information on the video specs for Twitter, visit the Twitter Help Center.
LinkedIn Video Ad Specs
While LinkedIn is still in the early stages of video content adoption, it’s safe to say LinkedIn will continue to put video content at its forefront.
LinkedIn Video Ads
LinkedIn recommends keeping your video ads to 15 seconds or less in length based on analytics collected over time.
Video Guidelines
- Recommended size:1080 by 1080 pixels
- Minimum size: 600 by 600 pixels
- Video length: Up to 30 minutes
- Frame Rate: 30 fps.
- File Size: Between 75 KB & 200 MB
- Audio Size: Less than 64KHz
- File Format: .MP4
- Audio format:AAC or MPEG4
- Supported Ratios: 1:1
Insight: It is possible to utilize longer video ads depending on social media marketing strategy. Including running a native ad series or creating a collection of advertisements as part of an episodic content campaign.
Tip: See all specifications for LinkedIn’s sponsored content.
For more information on the video specs for LinkedIn, visit the LinkedIn Help Center.
YouTube Video Ad Specs
YouTube Video Ads
As the second largest search engine in the world, YouTube reaches an audience with varying internet connectivity speeds. To ensure that you video can be enjoyed by as many people, YouTube recommends that videos be uploaded using the highest possible resolution.
Video Guidelines
- Recommended size:1080 by 1080 pixels
- Minimum size: 600 by 600 pixels
- Video length: Up to 30 minutes
- Frame Rate:30 fps.
- File Size: Between 75 KB & 200 MB
- Audio Size: Less than 64KHz
- File Format: .MP4
- Audio format:AAC or MPEG4
- Supported Ratios: 1:1
- Skippable video ads:Maximum length of 12 hours; skippable after 5 seconds
- Unskippable video ads:max length of 15, 20 or 30 seconds
- Mid-roll video ads:minimum length of 30 seconds
- Bumper video ads:maximum length of 6 seconds
- Important: In 2017, YouTube announced it would remove unskippable 30 second ads in 2018. You can use TrueView ads that run to a maximum of 30 seconds.
Insight: YouTube automatically frames videos to display optimally in their video player — avoid native aspect ratios and letterboxing. See the complete list of YouTube video encoding settings.
Tip: Aim to make your ads as compelling as possible by using call to action text and interactive elements.
See this complete list of YouTube video encoding settings.
The Takeaway
As video usage increases and brands continue to rely on video content, using the correct social media video specs is critical. For more insight on organic social media specs, click here. Can you benefit from guidance in keeping up with the latest social media trends? Contact us, and we will be more than happy to work with you in developing a digital strategy that’s right for you.
Posted In Digital Strategy & Social Media