Video size and length limits for TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and WhatsApp Status
The shortest limit we could confirm is WhatsApp Status at 90 seconds, so a clip that fits there also fits the others on length. YouTube Shorts accept videos up to 3 minutes in a square or vertical shape. Instagram Reels accept ratios from 1.91:1 to 9:16 at a minimum of 720 px and 30 frames per second. TikTok publishes numbers for its Studio uploads and for ads. Where a platform does not state a value on its official pages, the table says “Not confirmed” instead of guessing.
Last checked: 29 October 2026
What each platform publishes
Every row links to the page it comes from. Platforms change these numbers; the date above is when we last read the pages.
| Platform | Setting | Value | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Shorts | Length | Up to 3 minutes (videos uploaded on or after 15 October 2024) | YouTube Help: Shorts |
| YouTube Shorts | Shape | Square or vertical | YouTube Help: Shorts |
| YouTube Shorts | Resolution and file size | Not confirmed | YouTube Help: Shorts |
| Instagram Reels | Aspect ratio | From 1.91:1 to 9:16 accepted | Instagram Help: Reels |
| Instagram Reels | Resolution and frame rate | At least 720 px and 30 frames per second | Instagram Help: Reels |
| Instagram Reels | Length | Reels longer than 3 minutes are not recommended to people who don't follow you | Instagram for Creators: FAQ |
| Instagram Reels | Boosting a reel | Up to 90 seconds and 9:16 | Instagram Help: boost a reel |
| Instagram Reels | File size and format | Not confirmed | Instagram Help: Reels |
| TikTok (Studio upload) | Length, size, format | Up to 30 minutes, under 10 GB, MP4 or WebM | TikTok Support: creator tools |
| TikTok (Studio upload) | Resolution | 720 × 1280 or higher | TikTok Support: creator tools |
| TikTok (ads) | Shape and resolution | Vertical 9:16 at 720 × 1280 or higher | TikTok Ads Help: video specifications |
| TikTok (ads) | Length and size | 5 to 60 seconds, up to 500 MB | TikTok Ads Help: video specifications |
| TikTok (upload in the app) | Length, size, shape | Not confirmed | TikTok Support: creator tools |
| WhatsApp Status | Length | 90 seconds; a longer video is cut to the first 90 seconds | WhatsApp Help: Status |
| WhatsApp Status | Format | 3GP and MP4 | WhatsApp Help: Status |
| WhatsApp (chats) | File size | 16 MB for photos, videos and voice messages | WhatsApp Help: size limit |
| WhatsApp Status | Shape, resolution, Status-specific size | Not confirmed | WhatsApp Help: Status |
One file for all four: which limit binds first
This table is our own comparison of the confirmed values above. It tells you what to aim for if you want a single export that suits every platform.
| Setting | The tightest confirmed limit | What to aim for |
|---|---|---|
| Length | WhatsApp Status: 90 seconds | 90 seconds or less fits Status, Reels, Shorts and TikTok ads. |
| Shape | TikTok ads: vertical 9:16 | 9:16 sits inside Instagram's 1.91:1 to 9:16 range and is vertical, which Shorts accept. |
| Resolution | TikTok Studio and ads: 720 × 1280 | 720 × 1280 also meets Instagram's 720 px minimum. |
| Frame rate | Instagram Reels: 30 frames per second minimum | Export at 30 frames per second or more. |
| File size | WhatsApp chats: 16 MB | Under 16 MB also fits the other published limits (TikTok ads 500 MB, TikTok Studio 10 GB). |
| Format | WhatsApp Status: 3GP or MP4 | MP4 is named by both TikTok Studio and WhatsApp Status. |
Making a clip fit
To bring a finished video under 16 MB, the video compressor lets you pick a target size and shows the result before you download.
Open the video compressor →Frequently asked questions
Which platform has the shortest limit?
Of the values we could confirm, WhatsApp Status at 90 seconds. Instagram suggests keeping reels under 3 minutes for new audiences, and YouTube Shorts allow up to 3 minutes.
What shape should I export?
Vertical 9:16 is inside every range we confirmed. Instagram accepts ratios from 1.91:1 to 9:16, YouTube Shorts accept square or vertical video, and TikTok ads ask for 9:16.
Why do some cells say “Not confirmed”?
Because the official pages we checked did not state that value. We prefer an empty answer to a guessed one; when a platform publishes the value, the cell is filled in with its source.
Does Pixebag upload my video to check it?
Your file contents never leave your browser. The page loads ads and visit measurement; your video is not part of either. For sensitive files use the isolated mode at /isolated.
Official sources
Last checked: 29 October 2026
- YouTube Help: Shorts
- Instagram Help: Reels
- Instagram for Creators: FAQ
- Instagram Help: boost a reel
- TikTok Support: creator tools
- TikTok Ads Help: video specifications
- WhatsApp Help: Status
- WhatsApp Help: size limit
One WhatsApp help page still mentions a shorter Status length than 90 seconds. We use the 90-second figure because two other WhatsApp pages state it; check the length in your own app before you rely on it.