HypeNestGuides · Video specs
Short-form video specs, side by side
YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels all take vertical 9:16 video, commonly 1080×1920 pixels; they differ in length limits, files, and safe zones. Every value below comes from the platform’s own documentation, and 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, on paid plans | Yes, on paid plans | 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.
Tools for vertical video
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