- The TikTok video size and shape to aim for
- TikTok video size limits by upload method
- TikTok video length: what decides how long yours can be
- TikTok video file formats and frame rates
- Horizontal and square TikTok video shapes
- TikTok photo post sizes
- If your TikTok video won't upload or looks blurry
- TikTok video size for business and ad content
- Frequently asked questions
The best TikTok video size is vertical 9:16, the shape of a phone held upright, at 1080p. The detail people trip over is that limits depend on how you upload: TikTok Studio web takes videos up to 60 minutes and 30GB, while apps posting through TikTok's API are capped at 4GB.
Getting the shape of a TikTok video wrong is one of those small mistakes that makes a clip look amateur straight away: black bars, a cropped face, or text chopped off at the edges. If you're a creator or you run a small business and you're filming product clips, it's worth knowing the numbers before you hit record rather than after.
The tricky part is that TikTok doesn't publish one neat spec sheet for everyone. Its consumer help centre explains how to post but not the pixel sizes. The numbers live in three of TikTok's own places: its Creator Academy article on TikTok Studio web, its developer documentation, and its Ads Manager help. I've pulled each number from those official pages and said which one it comes from, because the limits change depending on how you upload.
The TikTok video size and shape to aim for
TikTok is a vertical, full-screen app, so the safest shape is 9:16, the same as a phone held upright. TikTok's Ads Manager help marks vertical 9:16 as the recommended orientation for In-Feed videos, and that's the shape the feed is built around. If you film on your phone in portrait mode, you're already there.
For sharpness, TikTok's Creator Academy says TikTok Studio web accepts uploads in 1080p, 2k and 4k resolution. Exporting at 1080p in a 9:16 frame is a sensible everyday setting: crisp on phones without creating a huge file.
TikTok video size limits by upload method
Here's where people get confused. The maximum length and file size aren't the same everywhere, because each upload route has its own rules. These are the numbers from TikTok's own pages:
| How you upload | What TikTok's own pages say |
|---|---|
| TikTok Studio on the web | Up to 60 minutes, 1080p, 2k or 4k, files up to 30GB, horizontal or vertical (Creator Academy) |
| Apps that post through TikTok's API | Up to 4GB, between 360 and 4096 pixels on each side, 23 to 60 frames per second, up to 10 minutes (developer docs) |
| In-Feed video ads | 9:16 at 540 by 960 pixels or more, files up to 500 MB, up to 10 minutes (Ads Manager help) |
| The TikTok app | Choose a maximum length before you record, or tap Upload to add a clip from your phone (help centre) |
So if a long video won't go up from your phone, the web version of TikTok Studio is the route TikTok itself points creators to for long-form content. Bear in mind that a scheduling tool uses the API route, so its limits are the developer ones, not the Studio ones.
TikTok video length: what decides how long yours can be
TikTok's developer documentation says all creators can post 3-minute videos, and some can post 5- or 10-minute videos. In other words, the length you're offered can depend on your account, not only the file. The Creator Academy article separately says TikTok Studio web takes uploads up to 60 minutes.
In the TikTok app, the Making a post help page says you select a maximum length for your video before recording. If you upload through a web browser, the help page notes that your entire video is uploaded, and if you want to change its length you'll need to upload it in the app and trim it there.
TikTok video file formats and frame rates
TikTok's developer docs list MP4 as the recommended format, with WebM and MOV also accepted. For the video codec, H.264 is recommended, with H.265, VP8 and VP9 also listed. Frame rate needs to sit between 23 and 60 frames per second.
Most phones and editing apps export MP4 with H.264 by default, so you rarely need to change anything. If you're exporting from desktop editing software, pick MP4, H.264 and your project's frame rate, and you'll be within every limit above.
Horizontal and square TikTok video shapes
You can post horizontal and square videos. The Creator Academy article says Studio web takes horizontal or vertical uploads, and the Ads Manager help lists horizontal 16:9 (at 960 by 540 pixels or more) and square 1:1 (at 640 by 640 pixels or more) alongside vertical. The catch is that a non-vertical video won't fill the screen, so you lose a lot of space in the feed.
If you're repurposing a YouTube video or a webinar recording, I'd reframe the important part into 9:16 rather than posting it wide. Keep faces and text towards the middle so the on-screen buttons and caption don't cover them.
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TikTok photo post sizes
Photo carousels have different rules. TikTok's help says you can add up to 35 photos to a single photo post. Its developer docs list WebP and JPEG for images, a maximum of 1080p, and a maximum of 20MB for each image when photos are sent through the API.
If your TikTok video won't upload or looks blurry
TikTok's Making a post help page gives a short list to work through when an upload fails:
- Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
- Clear the app's video cache.
- Restart the app and your device.
- Make sure you're running the latest version of TikTok.
Connection errors are a common culprit, and I've explained why TikTok says there's no internet connection when you're online in a separate guide. If the issue is an effect rather than the file, my piece on TikTok effects that won't work on your device covers that.
If the video uploads but looks soft, check it wasn't exported below 1080p, and avoid sending it to yourself through a messaging app first, since those often compress files.
TikTok video size for business and ad content
If you're planning to promote a video as an ad, film to the ad spec from the start: vertical 9:16, at least 540 by 960 pixels, under 500 MB and no longer than 10 minutes, as TikTok's Ads Manager help lists for In-Feed ads. The same help page says safe zone files are available, which show where TikTok's interface sits over your video so you can keep logos and on-screen text clear of it. For the creative side, my guide to TikTok ads for online shops goes further.
This guide is part of my TikTok Help: 19 Guides to Views, Pay, Freezing Fixes, Followers and TikTok Shop.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best TikTok video size?
Vertical 9:16 is the shape TikTok's Ads Manager help recommends, and 1080p is one of the resolutions TikTok Studio web accepts. A 9:16 video at 1080p works well for everyday posts.
How big can a TikTok video file be?
It depends on how you upload. TikTok's Creator Academy says Studio web takes files up to 30GB, its developer docs say apps posting through the API can send up to 4GB, and In-Feed ads are limited to 500 MB.
How long can a TikTok video be?
TikTok's Creator Academy says Studio web uploads can be up to 60 minutes. Its developer docs say all creators can post 3-minute videos and some can post 5- or 10-minute videos.
Can I post a horizontal video on TikTok?
Yes. TikTok Studio web accepts horizontal or vertical uploads, but a horizontal video won't fill the screen, so vertical usually looks better in the feed.
Which file format should I use for TikTok?
TikTok's developer docs recommend MP4 with the H.264 codec, and also accept WebM and MOV, at 23 to 60 frames per second.
