This guidance helps you to prepare high quality videos that work well across all platforms. You should follow this when preparing videos for social media.
Aspect ratio
The aspect ratio is the shape of your video – the width compared to the height.
Different platforms prefer different shapes. These are the formats we recommend:
- 16:9 (landscape) – best for YouTube
- 9:16 (portrait) – best for Instagram Reels, Facebook Reels, TikTok and LinkedIn
- 1:1 (square) – best for X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook
- 4:5 (portrait) – also works well on Facebook and LinkedIn
Check the latest guidance from each platform before you publish. They may update their recommended formats.
File type and resolution
- Save your video as an MP4 file.
- Use the highest resolution and data rate the platform will allow.
- Some platforms limit file size. You may need to reduce the resolution if your video is too large.
Video length
People spend different amounts of time watching videos on different platforms.
- YouTube viewers may watch longer videos.
- On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, people often watch for just a few seconds.
Design your video content with this in mind. Keep it short and engaging where needed.