A great video ad can still fail if it is cut to the wrong size. Text gets hidden behind buttons, products get cropped and the platform shows a letterboxed version that nobody stops for. This guide gives you the video ad specs that matter in 2026 for Meta, TikTok and YouTube, so every ad you make fits the placement it runs in.
The three aspect ratios you actually need
- 9:16 vertical (1080 × 1920): Reels, Stories, TikTok and YouTube Shorts. This is the main format for short form video ads.
- 4:5 or 1:1 (1080 × 1350 or 1080 × 1080): Facebook and Instagram feed placements.
- 16:9 landscape (1920 × 1080): YouTube in-stream ads, websites and connected TV.
If you only have budget for one version, start with 9:16. It covers the most placements in short form video ads today.
Meta ads (Facebook and Instagram)
- File: MP4 or MOV, H.264, 30 fps, AAC audio.
- Feed: 1:1 or 4:5.
- Reels and Stories: 9:16, 1080 × 1920.
- Length: Reels ads can run longer, but 15 to 30 seconds usually performs best.
- Safe zone: keep text and logos inside the centre of the frame. Stories and Reels cover roughly the top 14% and the bottom 20% with interface.
TikTok ads
- Size: 9:16 vertical, 1080 × 1920, MP4 or MOV.
- Length: up to 60 seconds for in-feed ads, but 15 to 30 seconds wins on completion.
- Safe zone: keep key text out of the top 10%, the right 10% and the bottom 20% of the frame.
- Sound: most TikTok sessions have sound on, so music, voice and sound design matter more here than on Meta.
YouTube ads
- In-stream ads: 16:9, 1920 × 1080. For skippable ads, 15 to 30 seconds is a good target, with the hook before the skip button appears.
- Shorts ads: 9:16, 1080 × 1920, built like a TikTok or Reels ad.
How to plan one ad for every platform
- Storyboard in 9:16 first. Vertical is the hardest frame, so plan text, product and faces there.
- Keep a centre-safe layout. Put headlines, prices and logos in the middle of the frame so they survive every crop.
- Design for sound off on Meta. Use captions and kinetic typography so the message works on mute.
- Export cut-downs. From one main edit, export 9:16, 4:5 and 16:9 versions, plus 6, 15 and 30 second lengths if you test on paid social.
Quick checklist before you upload
- Right aspect ratio for the placement
- Hook in the first 3 seconds
- Text inside the safe zone
- Captions for sound-off viewing
- Clear call to action at the end
Want video ads built to the right specs from the start? See the performance video ads portfolio.
About the author: Mahadi Hasan is a Visual Storyboard, Motion Designer & Video Editor based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He creates performance video ads, SaaS explainer videos and talking head edits, in long or short form. See his performance video ads portfolio or get in touch.