TikTok Video Size 2026: Dimensions, Ratio and File Specs
September 29, 2026 · 4 min read · By Wavnil
Key takeaways
- Make TikTok videos at 1080 × 1920 pixels (9:16). TikTok's ad specs require at least 540 × 960 and recommend 720 × 1280 or more for quality.
- Length: up to 10 minutes when recorded in the app and up to 60 minutes when uploaded, depending on your account.
- Through TikTok's posting API, used by scheduling tools: MP4, WebM or MOV, 23 to 60 fps, up to 4 GB, within each creator's maximum duration.
- Photo posts published through the API: JPEG or WebP, up to 1080p and 20 MB per image.
The best TikTok video size is 1080 × 1920 pixels, in a vertical 9:16 ratio. TikTok's ad specifications accept vertical videos from 540 × 960 pixels and recommend at least 720 × 1280 for quality, so full HD gives you a comfortable margin on every phone.
Below are the dimensions, file limits and lengths that apply in 2026, including the stricter rules that apply when a scheduling tool publishes for you through TikTok's API. All specs were checked on September 29, 2026.
TikTok video size at a glance
| Specification | Recommendation | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Size and ratio | 1080 × 1920 px, 9:16 | Ad specs: 540 × 960 minimum, 720 × 1280 or more recommended |
| Horizontal videos | 1920 × 1080 px, 16:9 | Ad specs: 960 × 540 minimum |
| Length | Under 3 minutes for most posts | 10 min recorded in the app, 60 min uploaded |
| File format | MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio | API: MP4, WebM or MOV; H.264, H.265, VP8 or VP9 |
| Frame rate | 30 fps | API: 23 to 60 fps |
| File size | As small as quality allows | Ads: 500 MB; API: 4 GB |
| Photo posts (API) | Up to 1080p | JPEG or WebP, 20 MB per image |
Sources: TikTok Ads Manager, in-feed ad specifications and TikTok for Developers, media transfer guide, checked on September 29, 2026.
Aspect ratio and resolution
TikTok is built for vertical video. A 9:16 video fills the whole screen, with no bars, so it's the format to use for anything made for TikTok. The resolution should be at least 720 × 1280 pixels; 1080 × 1920 is the standard full-HD size, and the one most phones record in.
Filming in 4K is fine, but export a 1080 × 1920 file for upload: it's lighter and faster to process, and viewers watch on phone screens anyway.
Horizontal and square videos
TikTok accepts other shapes. Horizontal 16:9 videos start at 960 × 540 pixels in the ad specs, and square videos work too. But in the vertical feed, both appear with empty space above and below, which makes them smaller on screen.
If you repurpose a YouTube video or a webinar clip, you have two options:
- Crop it to 9:16 around the speaker or the action.
- Place it on a vertical 1080 × 1920 background with a title above and captions below.
TikTok video length and file size
| Where | Maximum length |
|---|---|
| Recorded in the TikTok app | 10 minutes |
| Uploaded video | 60 minutes |
| Published through the API (scheduling tools) | 3 minutes for everyone, 5 or 10 minutes for some creators |
TikTok caps in-feed ad videos at 500 MB, and its Content Posting API accepts files of up to 4 GB. Our guide on how long Reels, TikToks and Shorts can be compares these limits with Instagram and YouTube, and explains why shorter videos are often the better bet.
TikTok photo posts
TikTok also supports photo posts, which people swipe through like a carousel. When a tool publishes them through the API, each image must be a JPEG or WebP file of up to 1080p and 20 MB. Use the same vertical 1080 × 1920 canvas as your videos for full-screen photos, and keep every image in the set at the same size.
Keep text clear of TikTok's buttons
The TikTok interface covers part of every video: the caption and username sit at the bottom, and the like, comment and share buttons run down the right side. Keep titles, subtitles and logos in the center of the frame, a little above the middle, and preview the video in the app before posting to check nothing important is hidden.
For eye-catching bios and captions, try our TikTok fonts generator.
Recommended export settings
- Resolution: 1080 × 1920 pixels.
- Format: MP4, H.264 video, AAC audio.
- Frame rate: 30 fps, or 60 fps for fast motion.
- Length: under 3 minutes if you plan to schedule it, since every creator can post 3-minute videos through the API.
TikTok specs for scheduled posts
Scheduling tools publish through TikTok's Content Posting API, which checks every file against the specs above. TikTok also tells the tool each creator's maximum video duration, because it varies by account. In Wavnil, you can post directly to your profile or send the video to your TikTok inbox to finish it in the app, and set the privacy level, comments, Duet, Stitch and the AI-generated content label before it goes out. Our guide on how to schedule TikTok posts walks through both methods, and the best time to post on TikTok helps you pick the slot.
Your TikTok video checklist
Export 1080 × 1920 MP4 files in H.264 at 30 fps, keep text away from the bottom and the right side, stay under 3 minutes if you schedule, and use JPEG or WebP images up to 1080p for photo posts. The same vertical canvas works for Instagram Stories and Reels and YouTube Shorts. Try Wavnil free for 7 days to publish one video everywhere from a single calendar.
Sources
Checked on September 29, 2026:
- TikTok Ads Manager, Auction in-feed ads specifications.
- TikTok for Developers, Content Posting API media transfer guide.
- TikTok for Developers, Query creator info.
- TikTok Help Center, Camera tools.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a TikTok video?
1080 × 1920 pixels, in a vertical 9:16 ratio that fills the phone screen. TikTok's ad specifications accept vertical videos from 540 × 960 pixels and recommend at least 720 × 1280 for better quality, so 1080 × 1920 gives you a comfortable margin.
What is the maximum file size for a TikTok video?
It depends on how you post. TikTok's ad specs cap in-feed videos at 500 MB, and its Content Posting API, used by scheduling tools, accepts files of up to 4 GB. Exporting a 1080p MP4 in H.264 keeps most videos well under these limits.
Can I post horizontal videos on TikTok?
Yes. TikTok accepts 16:9 videos, from 960 × 540 pixels in its ad specs, but in the vertical feed they appear with empty space above and below. If you repurpose a horizontal video, crop it to 9:16 or place it on a vertical background with a title.
How long can a TikTok video be?
Up to 10 minutes when you record in the TikTok app and up to 60 minutes when you upload a video, although limits can vary by account. Through the API, every creator can post 3-minute videos, some can post 5 or 10 minutes, and 10 minutes is the API maximum.