Social Media Video Specs Checklist for 2025

published on 20 January 2025

Want your videos to look great and perform well on social media? Here's what you need to know for 2025:

  • Why It Matters: Optimized videos boost engagement, reduce cropping issues, and improve mobile playback. 80% of users browse social media on mobile, so getting formats right is essential.
  • Platform-Specific Specs:
    • Facebook: 1920×1080 px for feed, 1080×1920 px for stories.
    • Instagram: 1080×1080 px for feed, 1080×1920 px for reels.
    • YouTube: 16:9 aspect ratio, 1080p or 4K resolution.
    • TikTok: 1080×1920 px, vertical 9:16.
    • Twitter (X): 1280×720 px, 2:1 to 1:1 aspect ratio.
  • Key Tips:
    • Use MP4 or MOV formats for quality and compatibility.
    • Stick to 30 FPS for smooth playback.
    • Match aspect ratios to each platform for better results.

Get your specs right and watch your engagement grow in 2025. Platforms like Paracast.io can help simplify the process with AI tools and templates tailored to each platform. Ready to optimize your videos?

Video Specs for Top Social Media Platforms

Facebook Video Requirements

Facebook remains a powerhouse for video content in 2025. To get the best results, follow these specs for its various video formats:

Format Specifications
In-feed 1920×1080 px, 4GB, up to 240 mins
Stories 1080×1920 px, 4GB, 15 seconds
Live 1280×720 px, N/A, up to 8 hours

Up next, Instagram's video specs bring a different set of requirements.

Instagram Video Requirements

Instagram's video features cater to different formats, each with its own rules:

  • Feed Videos: Maximum size of 650MB for videos up to 10 minutes long.
  • Stories: 1080×1080 pixels.
  • Reels: 1080×1920 pixels with a minimum frame rate of 30 FPS.
  • Live Videos: Up to 4 hours in duration.

Instagram also requires a minimum width of 500 pixels for all videos [1].

Now, let’s look at Twitter (X), which focuses on short, concise videos.

Twitter (X) Video Requirements

Twitter's video specs are designed for brevity and efficiency. Here's what you need to know:

  • Recommended Resolutions: 1280×720 (landscape) or 720×1280 (portrait) [4].
  • Aspect Ratio: Between 2:1 and 1:1.
  • Maximum File Size: 1GB.
  • Duration: Up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds.
  • Frame Rate: 30 FPS recommended.

For creators producing longer, high-quality content, YouTube is the platform to focus on.

YouTube Video Requirements

YouTube supports a wide range of high-quality video formats. Stick to these specs for the best results:

Resolution Aspect Ratio Max File Size
1080p (HD) 16:9 256GB
4K 16:9 256GB
Standard 16:9 256GB

The platform prefers videos in MP4 format [3].

Finally, TikTok's vertical-first design requires a tailored approach to video creation.

TikTok Video Requirements

TikTok videos are optimized for vertical viewing with these key specs [2]:

  • Resolution: 1080×1920 pixels in a 9:16 aspect ratio.
  • Maximum File Size: 287.6MB.
  • Supported Formats: MP4 and MOV.
  • Video Length: Up to 3 minutes (10-minute option available).
  • Frame Rate: Minimum of 30 FPS [1].

Social Media Video Sizes & Ratios - Video Size Guide for 2024

Tips for Optimizing Social Media Videos

Creating videos that grab attention on social media takes more than just meeting basic platform requirements. Here are some strategies to make your videos stand out in 2025.

Match Aspect Ratios to Each Platform

Different platforms favor different aspect ratios. For instance, Instagram Stories and TikTok are designed for 9:16 vertical videos, while YouTube sticks to the classic 16:9 widescreen format. Tailoring your video to match these preferences ensures it looks great and fits seamlessly into users' feeds.

Stick to Universal File Formats

MP4 and MOV continue to be the go-to formats in 2025. They offer excellent compression, maintain video quality, and work across most devices. These formats also retain important metadata that platforms use to optimize playback and reach.

Choose the Right Frame Rate

Frame rate plays a big role in how professional your video looks. For most content, 30 fps works well. If you're creating fast-paced or action-heavy videos, bump it up to 60 fps for smoother visuals.

"Higher frame rates like 60 fps can enhance the viewing experience, especially for videos with fast-paced content. For example, YouTube recommends 60 fps for gaming content to provide a smoother and more engaging experience" [3].

Keep in mind that higher frame rates demand more bandwidth, so consider your audience's typical internet speed and device capabilities when making your choice.

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How Paracast.io Helps with Video Creation

Paracast.io

Paracast.io makes creating social media videos easier by using AI-driven tools and ready-made templates. It simplifies the process of meeting platform-specific video requirements, saving time and effort.

AI Tools for Video Creation

With Paracast.io, you can turn a website URL into a polished video in no time. The AI takes care of the technical details - like aspect ratios, frame rates, and formats - so you don’t have to. This ensures your videos look professional and meet the standards of different social media platforms.

Templates for Social Media Platforms

Paracast.io provides a wide range of templates designed for different content types and platforms:

Content Type Platform & Specs
Product Demos YouTube, LinkedIn (16:9, 1080p)
Feature Announcements Instagram, Facebook (Square/Vertical)
Social Growth Content TikTok, Instagram Stories (9:16 Vertical)

These templates make it easy to create videos that fit the style and specifications of each platform.

Pricing Options for Small Teams

Paracast.io offers two straightforward pricing plans:

  • Maker Plan ($20/month): Unlimited 1080p video generation and downloads.
  • Pro Plan ($80/month): Includes watermark-free videos and advanced customization options.

Both plans give you full access to the template library and AI tools, making it simple for teams of any size to create professional videos without breaking the bank.

Conclusion: Create Better Videos with the Right Specs

Technical standards matter, but tools like Paracast.io make it easier to combine creativity with compliance. Platforms such as Instagram have specific requirements for various video formats, like Stories and Reels, each designed to fit different content strategies [1][2].

To get the most out of your video content, familiarize yourself with the technical requirements for each platform, include accessibility features (which are becoming even more crucial in 2025), and aim for consistent quality across different resolutions and aspect ratios - all while keeping file sizes manageable.

Paracast.io simplifies the process with features like AI-driven video creation and templates tailored to specific platforms. This lets creators focus on delivering powerful messages while ensuring their videos meet all the necessary standards.

Think of video specifications as a way to improve engagement rather than just a checklist to follow. Success comes from blending technical accuracy with creativity. Whether you're making product demos for YouTube, announcements for Instagram, or viral hits for TikTok, aligning with platform standards while creating engaging content will help you reach your social media goals. Tools like Paracast.io make this easier, allowing you to focus on what matters most - creating content that connects.

FAQs

Here are answers to some common questions about social media video specs in 2025.

Below are the key platform-specific resolutions and technical details:

Platform-Specific Resolutions:

  • Instagram: 1080×1080px (Square), 1080×1350px (Portrait), 1080×566px (Landscape)
  • Facebook: 1080×1080px (Square), 1280×720px (Landscape), 720×1280px (Portrait)
  • YouTube: 1920×1080px (HD) or 3840×2160px (4K)
  • TikTok: 1080×1920px (Portrait)

Key Technical Details:

  • Minimum Resolution: 600×315 pixels on most platforms [2][3]
  • File Size Limits:
    • Instagram: 650MB (10-min), 3.6GB (60-min)
    • Facebook: 4GB (stories), 10GB (feed)
    • Twitter: 1GB
    • YouTube: 256GB [2][1][4]

Tips for Better Results:

  • Stick to MP4 or MOV formats with high-quality compression [2][1].
  • Focus on mobile optimization since most users access social media on their smartphones [2][3].
  • Check the aspect ratio guidelines for each platform to ensure proper display.
  • Choose video quality that aligns with your audience's typical internet speed.

Always refer to the latest platform-specific guidelines before uploading, as these may change throughout 2025.

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