Guides · Video specs
Short-form video specs, side by side
Length, shape, file, and safe-zone facts for the three vertical feeds, taken from each platform’s own documentation. Where a platform does not publish a number, the table says so.
Last verified against the official pages listed below.
| Spec | YouTube Shorts | TikTok | Instagram Reels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max length | 3 min | In-app: not published · API: 3 min (5/10 for some) | 20 min (3 min for recommendations) |
| Aspect ratio | Square or vertical | 9:16 recommended (ads) | 1.91:1 to 9:16 |
| Resolution | Not published | Not published (API: 360–4096 px) | Min 720 px; ads 1440×2560 |
| Format | MP4 recommended | MP4, MOV, WebM (API) | Ads: MP4, MOV |
| Max file size | 256 GB / 12 h (all uploads) | 4 GB (API); 500 MB (ads) | Ads: 4 GB |
| Official safe zone | Not published | Ad templates only | Ads: 14% top, 35% bottom, 6% sides |
| Publish from HypeNest | Yes, after review | Yes, after review | No — export and upload yourself |
Each value is sourced on its platform page. “Not published” means we found no official number, not that there is no limit.
What holds on all three
- Deliver 9:16 at 1080×1920 unless you have a reason not to. It fills the screen everywhere and is accepted everywhere.
- Keep captions and faces out of the bottom and right edge, where each app draws its interface.
- Check length rules for monetization, not just upload: TikTok’s Creator Rewards only pays on videos longer than one minute.
FAQ
- Can I post the same vertical video to Shorts, TikTok, and Reels?
- Yes, if it fits the shortest limit you care about and keeps text inside the strictest safe zone. Titles, captions, and hashtags still need a pass per platform.
- Why do other spec guides list numbers you say are not published?
- Many repeat older help-page values or measurements from screenshots. We only list values we could read on an official page on the verification date.
Sources
- 1.YouTube Help — Shorts up to 3 minutes
- 2.YouTube Help — Recommended upload encoding settings
- 3.YouTube Help — Upload videos longer than 15 minutes
- 4.YouTube Help — How video views are counted
- 5.YouTube Help — Shorts monetization policies
- 6.Google Ads Help — Video ad safe area templates
- 7.TikTok for Developers — Content Posting API media transfer guide
- 8.TikTok Ads Help — Auction in-feed ads specs
- 9.TikTok Creator Academy — Creator Rewards eligibility
- 10.TikTok Creator Academy — Qualified views
- 11.Instagram Help — Reels length
- 12.Instagram — Reels feature overview
- 13.Instagram Help — Reels aspect ratio and quality
- 14.Meta Ads Guide — Instagram Reels video ads