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Social Media Video Size Guide 2026

The definitive reference for social media video dimensions in 2026. Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Twitter/X, and LinkedIn — aspect ratios, exact resolutions, max durations, and format requirements, all in one place.

PlatformAspect RatioResolutionMax DurationFormatNotes
Instagram Reels9:161080 × 192090 secondsMP4 (H.264)Safe zone: keep text 14% from edges
YouTube Shorts9:161080 × 192060 secondsMP4 (H.264 / HEVC)Title and shelf UI cover bottom ~20%
TikTok9:161080 × 19203 minutesMP4, MOV (H.264)Keep captions in center 75% of frame
Twitter / X16:9 or 9:161280 × 720 (landscape) / 1080 × 1920 (portrait)2 min 20 secMP4 (H.264), MOVMax file size 512 MB
LinkedIn16:9, 1:1, or 9:16Up to 1920 × 192010 minutesMP4 (H.264)Square 1:1 performs well in feed
Instagram Reels Specs →9:16 · 1080 × 1920 · 90 secondsYouTube Shorts Specs →9:16 · 1080 × 1920 · 60 secondsTikTok Specs →9:16 · 1080 × 1920 · 3 minutesTwitter / X Specs →16:9 or 9:16 · 1280 × 720 (landscape) / 1080 × 1920 (portrait) · 2 min 20 secLinkedIn Specs →16:9, 1:1, or 9:16 · Up to 1920 × 1920 · 10 minutes

How to use it

  1. 1Find your target platform in the table below and note the aspect ratio and resolution.
  2. 2Record or export your video at that size — 9:16 at 1080 × 1920 covers Reels, Shorts, and TikTok at once.
  3. 3Click any platform name for a deep-dive page with full specs, tips, and Limelight export steps.

Getting video dimensions right before you hit record saves the crop-and-reframe loop later. Most short-form platforms in 2026 — Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok — share the same 9:16 vertical frame at 1080 × 1920 pixels, so a single recording can feed all three with no resizing at all.

Twitter/X accepts both 16:9 landscape and 9:16 portrait, making it flexible but easy to misfire: upload a 9:16 clip and the platform previews it full-screen on mobile, but squashes it in a landscape-biased desktop feed. Pick the orientation that matches your audience's primary device.

LinkedIn is the outlier for longer-form. It allows videos up to 10 minutes and supports square (1:1) content that performed well in split tests — wide enough for a demo walkthrough, compact enough to hold a feed viewer's attention before they scroll. The platform also supports 16:9 for webinar-style recordings and 9:16 for mobile-first posts.

For screen recordings specifically, H.264 MP4 is the safe universal format — every platform accepts it, it compresses efficiently, and most editing tools export it by default. HEVC (H.265) can cut file size roughly in half but is not universally accepted, so stick with H.264 unless you have a specific reason to switch.

FAQ

What video size works for all social media platforms?
9:16 at 1080 × 1920 pixels covers Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok. Twitter/X and LinkedIn also accept 9:16, so this single size works across all five major platforms. Use H.264 MP4 for maximum compatibility.
What aspect ratio is best for social media video in 2026?
9:16 (vertical) is the dominant ratio for short-form content because it fills a phone screen held upright. For LinkedIn or Twitter/X desktop, 16:9 landscape is the cleaner choice. For Instagram feed posts, 1:1 square still performs well.
How do I record a 9:16 screen video on a Mac?
Limelight has a dedicated 9:16 vertical export mode. Record your screen normally in landscape, and Limelight auto-crops and zooms the action into a vertical frame. You can also set a custom 1080 × 1920 recording region. Download Limelight free at limelightmac.com.

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