Social media video sizes and aspect ratios (2026 cheat sheet)
The right video size, aspect ratio and length for X, LinkedIn, Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube, YouTube Shorts and Product Hunt, in one table.
By the LaunchDemo teamUpdated 3 min read
Short answer
Use three shapes. 16:9 (1920 × 1080) for YouTube, Product Hunt and websites. 9:16 (1080 × 1920) for Instagram Reels, TikTok and YouTube Shorts. 1:1 (1080 × 1080) or 4:5 (1080 × 1350) for LinkedIn, X and Instagram feeds. Export MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio.
Key takeaways
- Three shapes cover every major platform: 16:9, 9:16 and 1:1 (or 4:5).
- MP4 with H.264 and AAC is accepted everywhere.
- Export at 1080p or higher; platforms compress on upload.
- Keep text inside the center safe area on vertical video.
- Upload limits change often. Shorter than the limit is better anyway.
Video sizes for every platform
| Platform | Best shape | Size (pixels) | Good length for a launch |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube | 16:9 | 1920 × 1080 (or 3840 × 2160) | 30 s – 2 min |
| YouTube Shorts | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 | 15–45 s |
| Instagram Reels | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 | 15–30 s |
| Instagram feed | 4:5 or 1:1 | 1080 × 1350 / 1080 × 1080 | 15–30 s |
| TikTok | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 | 15–30 s |
| LinkedIn feed | 1:1, 4:5 or 16:9 | 1080 × 1080 / 1080 × 1350 / 1920 × 1080 | 15–45 s |
| X (Twitter) | 16:9 or 1:1 | 1920 × 1080 / 1080 × 1080 | 15–30 s |
| Product Hunt gallery | 16:9 | 1920 × 1080 (via YouTube) | 30–60 s |
| Website hero | 16:9 | 1920 × 1080 | 20–60 s, looping |
Which aspect ratio should I use?
16:9 landscape
The classic widescreen shape. Use it for YouTube, Product Hunt, your homepage and presentations. On a phone it takes up only a strip of the screen, so it's weak in vertical feeds.
9:16 vertical
Full-screen on phones. Use it for Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Stories. It's the shape that wins on mobile-first platforms.
1:1 square and 4:5 portrait
The safe choice for feeds that mix desktop and mobile, like LinkedIn, X and the Instagram feed. 4:5 takes more vertical space on phones than 1:1, so it tends to catch more attention.
Best export settings
| Setting | Use |
|---|---|
| Container | MP4 |
| Video codec | H.264 (widely supported) |
| Audio codec | AAC, 48 kHz |
| Frame rate | 30 fps (60 fps for fast UI motion) |
| Resolution | 1080p minimum; 4K for YouTube and big screens |
Every platform recompresses your video. Starting from a sharp 1080p or 4K master keeps UI text readable after compression.
Safe areas for vertical video
On Reels, TikTok and Shorts, the app draws its own buttons, captions and your username over the video. Keep important text and UI away from the edges:
- Leave roughly the bottom fifth clear for captions and the username.
- Leave the right edge clear for like, comment and share buttons.
- Keep the top tenth clear for the app's header.
- Put your key line and product screen in the middle.
One edit, every size
Re-cropping a 16:9 video into 9:16 usually cuts off the important part. It's better to design each shape so the layout adapts. LaunchDemo builds every video in all three shapes from the same edit: change a line once and it updates in 16:9, 9:16 and 1:1. Export MP4 at 1080p or 4K, or GIF.
New to launch videos? Start with how to make a product launch video.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best video size for Instagram Reels?
1080 × 1920 pixels in a 9:16 vertical shape, exported as MP4 with H.264 video.
What video size should I use for LinkedIn?
Square 1080 × 1080 or portrait 1080 × 1350 work best in the LinkedIn feed. Landscape 1920 × 1080 also works but takes less space on phones.
What size is a YouTube Short?
1080 × 1920 pixels, 9:16 vertical. Shorts can be up to 3 minutes long.
What's the best format for social media video?
MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio. Every major platform accepts it.
Can I use one video for every platform?
You can, but a single shape looks wrong somewhere. Export 16:9, 9:16 and 1:1 versions so each platform shows your video full size.