Author: hootsuite / Source: Hootsuite Social Media Management
Struggling to keep on top of all the changes to social media video specs?
Video is increasingly crucial to a successful social media marketing strategy. According to a recent survey, spending on digital video ads has grown by more than 50 percent over the last two years. Advertisers today spend more than half of all their digital/mobile ad dollars on video.
But as platforms release new video ad formats and update old ones, it can be hard to keep up. Tailoring your video to each platform’s specifications and making sure that your content is looking its best can be a real challenge.
But not if you use our guide to social media video specs.
Read on to find the most up-to-date video specifications for each of the most popular social platforms.
Facebook video specs
Optimizing video content for Facebook is tricky, mainly because of the many different ways it delivers video to its users.
When you buy a video ad on Facebook today, it could appear in dozens of different formats (in someone’s mobile news feed, in the sidebar on the desktop version of Facebook, or even in someone’s inbox on Facebook Messenger). It pays to become familiar with the varieties of Facebook video and to find a delivery format that matches your campaign goals.
Regular Facebook feed video:
Recommended size: 1280 by 720 pixels
Minimum width: 600 pixels
Supported aspect ratios: 16:9 (horizontal), 9:16 (full portrait), 2:3 (vertical), 4:5 (vertical), square (1:1)
Tips: For best results, Facebook recommends uploading videos in .MP4 and .MOV format (see a full list of supported file formats here), with H.264 compression, square pixels, fixed frame rate, progressive scan, and stereo AAC audio compression at 128kbps+. Videos can be up to 240 minutes long, up to 4GB large, and have a maximum frame rate of 30fps.
Resource: How to Use Facebook Live Video: A Guide for Marketers
Facebook 360 video:
Maximum size: 4096 by 2048 pixels, 2:1 aspect ratio
Minimum size: 600 pixels wide
Recommended specs: .MP4 format, maximum file size 1.75GB, maximum length 40 min, maximum frame rate 60fps
Tips: If the camera you recorded your video on automatically includes 360 video metadata with the video file, you can upload the video like you would any other video. If it doesn’t, click on the ‘Advanced’ tab when uploading to bring up Facebook’s ‘360 controls’ tab, which will let you convert unformatted footage into a 360 video.
Facebook in-stream video ads:
Recommended size: 1280 by 720 pixels
Minimum size, landscape video: 600 by 315 pixels (1.9:1 aspect ratio)
Minimum size, square video: 600 by 600 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
Recommended specs: .MP4 or .MOV format, maximum file size 4GB, maximum length 120 min, maximum frame rate 30fps
Tips: For in-stream ads, Facebook recommends uploading the “highest resolution source video available without letter or pillar boxing.” Facebook provides an exhaustive list of aspect ratios and features available for each ad type.
Facebook Messenger video ads:
Recommended size: 1280 by 720 pixels
Supported aspect ratios: 16:9 to 1.91:1
Tips: Facebook recommends uploading “the highest resolution video available that meets file size and ratio limits.” Videos can be up to 240 minutes long, up to 4GB large, and have a maximum frame rate of 30fps.
Facebook carousel video ads:
Recommended size: 1080 by 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
Minimum size, landscape video: 600 by 315 pixels (1.9:1 aspect ratio)
Minimum size, square video: 600 by 600 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
Recommended specs: .MP4 or .MOV format, maximum length 240 minutes, maximum frame rate 30fps, maximum file size 4GB
Tips: Carousels let you showcase up to 10 images or videos in one ad, without having the user navigate to a new page. For best results, use a 1080 by 1080 pixel square (1:1) video.
Facebook Collection cover video:
Recommended size: 1200 by 628 pixels
Minimum size, landscape video: 600 by 315 pixels (1.9:1 aspect ratio)
Minimum size, square video: 600 by 600 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
Recommended specs: .MP4 or .MOV format, maximum file size 4GB, maximum length 120 min, maximum frame rate 30fps
Tips: Collections are a new ad type that makes it easier for users to browse and purchase products directly in the Facebook feed. You can choose to have your video autoplay when a user scrolls over your collection, and clicking the video will open Canvas, a full-screen experience designed to drive traffic directly to your product pages.
Facebook Canvas video:
Recommended size: 1200 by 628 pixels
Minimum size, landscape video: 600 by 315 pixels (1.9:1 aspect ratio)
Minimum size, square video: 600 by 600 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
Recommended specs: .MP4 or .MOV format, maximum file size 4GB, maximum length 120 min, maximum frame rate 30fps
Tips: Similar to Facebook’s instant articles, clicking on a Canvas ad immediately triggers a full-screen experience, to which you can add buttons, carousels, photos, text and video. Video and audio will automatically play when you scroll past it inside Canvas.
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Peter Bordes Jr
Founder & Managing Partner Trajectory Ventures. Lifetime entrepreneur, CEO, Board Member, mentor, advisor and investor.
Obsessed with the infinite realm of possibility in disruptive innovation driving global digital transformation in technology, cloud-based infrastructure, artificial intelligence, data, DevOps, fintech, robotics, aerospace, blockchain and digital media and advertising.