Short-form ad specs
Ratios, lengths, text limits and safe zones for TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Shorts ads, taken from each platform's own documentation. Each value carries a link to the page it came from.
Checked against sources on 6 October 2026
At a glance
| Placement | Ratio | Resolution | Safe zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok In-Feed | 9:16 | Min. 540 x 960 | Templates only |
| Instagram Reels | 9:16 | 1440 x 2560 | Top 14%, bottom 35%, sides 6% |
| Facebook Reels | 9:16 | 1440 x 2560 | Top 14%, bottom 35%, sides 6% |
| YouTube Shorts ads | 9:16 | 1080 x 1920 | Top 10%, bottom 25%, right 10% |
TikTok
TikTok In-Feed
TikTok publishes its safe zone as downloadable templates, not as figures. Its help page says the size depends on the ratio, the caption length and any extra formats. TikTok, June 2026
Frame
Length and file
Text
Opening
Meta
Instagram Reels
Meta suggests leaving at least 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% of each side free of text, logos and key elements. Meta, read 6 Oct 2026
Meta's help center asks for the bottom 40% to stay clear when a Reels ad carries a disclaimer (Meta, read 6 Oct 2026).
Frame
Length and file
Text
Excluded
Meta
Facebook Reels
Meta suggests leaving roughly 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% of each side clear. Meta, read 6 Oct 2026
Meta's help center also points to a safe zone guardrail setting in Ads Manager (Meta, read 6 Oct 2026).
Frame
Length and file
Text
YouTube
YouTube Shorts ads
Google advises keeping critical elements out of the top 10%, the bottom 25% and the right-hand 10% of the frame. Google, read 6 Oct 2026
Google also publishes safe zone templates and notes that overlays can appear in different places depending on the format, campaign type and screen (Google, read 6 Oct 2026).
Frame
Length
- Organic Shorts
- Up to 3 minutes, square or vertical
- Uploads from 15 October 2024. YouTube, read 6 Oct 2026
Text and CTA
Source video
Partnership formats
The rules that apply when an ad runs from a creator's own account.
TikTok Spark Ads
- Video length
- 10 minutes max
- Spark Ads help page. The In-Feed specs page lists no duration limit. TikTok, June 2026
Meta partnership ads
Sources
Platform pages change without notice. We recheck them before every new round of production.
- TikTok Auction In-Feed Ads TikTok Ads Help Center. Updated June 2026. Read 6 October 2026.
- Creative best practices for performance ads TikTok Ads Help Center. Updated June 2025. Read 6 October 2026.
- Awareness Video Ad Specs on Instagram Reels Meta Ads Guide. Not dated. Read 6 October 2026.
- Awareness Video Ad Specs on Facebook Reels Meta Ads Guide. Not dated. Read 6 October 2026.
- YouTube Shorts Ads Google for Business. Not dated. Read 6 October 2026.
- YouTube Shorts ads: Asset specs and best practices Google Ads Help. Not dated. Read 6 October 2026.
- About video ad specs Google Ads Help. Not dated. Read 6 October 2026.
- Understand three-minute YouTube Shorts YouTube Help. Not dated. Read 6 October 2026.
- How to create Spark Ads for Smart+ Campaigns in TikTok Ads Manager TikTok Ads Help Center. Updated October 2025. Read 6 October 2026.
- About Spark Ads TikTok Ads Help Center. Updated June 2026. Read 6 October 2026.
- How to create Spark Ads for Manual and Search Campaigns in TikTok Ads Manager TikTok Ads Help Center. Updated June 2026. Read 6 October 2026.
- About Partnership Ad Permissions Meta Business Help Center. Not dated. Read 6 October 2026.
- Create a partnership ad code to share with partners Instagram Help Center. Not dated. Read 6 October 2026.
- Eligible formats for partnership ads Instagram Help Center. Not dated. Read 6 October 2026.
- Supported objectives and placements for partnership ads Instagram Help Center. Not dated. Read 6 October 2026.
- About text overlays and the safe zone for ads in Stories and Reels Meta Business Help Center. Not dated. Read 6 October 2026.
Build to spec
Send the placements you buy and your target metric. We reply with a proposed first test, cut for each placement.
Plan a test