Best Video Size for Facebook: Complete Guide for 2026

Facebook remains one of the most powerful platforms for video content, but using the wrong dimensions can seriously impact your reach and engagement. With different placements across the platform requiring specific sizes, getting it right matters more than ever in 2025.

This guide covers everything you need to know about optimizing your videos for Facebook—from feed posts to Stories, Reels, and ads. Let’s make sure your content looks perfect everywhere it appears.

Table of Contents

• Facebook Video Size Essentials
• Why Video Size Matters on Facebook
• Optimal Facebook Video Sizes by Placement
• Facebook Video Format Requirements
• Best Practices for Facebook Videos
• Common Facebook Video Size Mistakes to Avoid
• How To Use ZapCap To Trim Videos for Facebook
• Bottom Line
• FAQs

Facebook Video Size Essentials

Firstly, let’s cover the fundamental video specifications that apply across Facebook:

Facebook supports various aspect ratios depending on where your video will appear:

• 16:9 (landscape) – Traditional widescreen format
• 1:1 (square) – Equal height and width
• 9:16 (vertical) – Full-screen mobile format

Based on the placement of your video, Facebook has different resolution requirements but generally:

• Recommended resolution: 1080p (1920×1080 pixels)
• Minimum width: 500 pixels

Facebook has the following file size and format specifications for the videos that include:

• Maximum file size: 4GB
• Supported formats: MP4, MOV
• Video compression: H.264 codec
• Audio: AAC audio, 128kbps+

Facebook sets limitations on the duration of video depending on it placement:

• Regular feed videos: Up to 240 minutes
• Stories: 20 seconds per segment
• Reels: Up to 90 seconds

These specifications provide a starting point, but each placement has its own optimal settings for maximum impact.

Why Video Size Matters on Facebook

Using the correct video dimensions isn’t just about looking professional, it directly impacts performance in several ways:

• Making sure your videos are mobile-friendly is super important because over 80% of Facebook users are on their phones. If your video has the wrong size, it might look weird, get cropped, or show black bars, which can turn people off.
• Facebook’s algorithm loves videos that keep people watching. When your video looks good on any screen, people are more likely to watch till the end, which helps boost your reach.
• If a video looks awkward or unprofessional, most people will just scroll past it, no matter how great the content is.
• This is especially true for ads. If they aren’t the right size, they can cost more and convert less, hurting your return on investment.
• Getting the dimensions right also helps your videos load faster and play more smoothly, which means people are more likely to stick around and engage.

Optimal Facebook Video Sizes by Placement

Each placement on Facebook has specific requirements for the best results:

Facebook Feed Videos

Feed videos appear in users’ main scrolling experience, making them one of the most common video placements.

The feed supports multiple aspect ratios, but certain formats perform better:

• Square (1:1): 1080×1080 pixels
• Landscape (16:9): 1920×1080 pixels
• Vertical (4:5): 1080×1350 pixels

Square videos take up more screen space on mobile devices compared to landscape videos, making them particularly effective for mobile-first strategies. They occupy approximately 78% more space in the feed than landscape videos.

For feed videos, Facebook recommends keeping file sizes under 4GB for optimal loading times. The platform supports videos up to 240 minutes long, but engagement typically drops significantly after the first minute.

Facebook automatically plays feed videos without sound, so captions are essential for conveying your message effectively.

Facebook Stories

Stories appear at the top of the Facebook app and are designed for full-screen mobile viewing.

For Stories, use:

• Vertical (9:16): 1080×1920 pixels
• Full-screen format

Stories have a 20-second limit per segment, though you can string multiple segments together. The format is designed for quick, engaging content that captures attention immediately.

Leave approximately 250 pixels of safe space at the top and bottom of your Stories to avoid important elements being covered by profile information or call-to-action buttons.

Stories disappear after 24 hours unless saved to your profile, making them ideal for time-sensitive content or behind-the-scenes footage.

Facebook Reels

Reels are Facebook’s answer to TikTok and are designed for short-form, engaging video content.

For Reels, use:

• Vertical (9:16): 1080×1920 pixels
• Full-screen format

Reels can be up to 90 seconds long, offering more flexibility than Stories while still maintaining the vertical, mobile-first format.

The Reels algorithm favors original content with clear audio and visual quality, so proper sizing and resolution are particularly important for discovery.

Facebook allows cross-posting Reels to Instagram, making it efficient to create content once and share it across platforms.

Facebook Video Ads

Video ads appear in various placements across Facebook, each with specific requirements:

In-feed video ads:

• Square (1:1): 1080×1080 pixels
• Landscape (16:9): 1920×1080 pixels

In-stream video ads:

• Landscape (16:9): 1920×1080 pixels

Stories ads:

• Vertical (9:16): 1080×1920 pixels

Carousel video ads:

• Square (1:1): 1080×1080 pixels
• Maximum of 10 videos per carousel

For ads, Facebook recommends keeping videos under 15 seconds for optimal completion rates, though longer formats are supported.

Facebook Video Format Requirements

Beyond dimensions, Facebook has specific technical requirements for optimal video performance:

Supported file formats include:

• MP4 and MOV (recommended)
• AVI and WMV (supported but not preferred)

Video compression specifications:

• H.264 compression
• Fixed frame rate
• Progressive scan
• Stereo AAC audio compression at 128kbps minimum

Frame rate recommendations:

• 30 fps is standard
• 60 fps is supported for higher-quality playback

Resolution requirements:

• Minimum width: 500 pixels
• Maximum resolution: 1080p (higher resolutions will be downscaled)

Audio specifications:

• Stereo AAC audio codec
• 128kbps bitrate
• 44.1 kHz sample rate

Facebook’s system processes videos after upload, optimizing them for different connection speeds and devices. Higher-quality source files generally result in better-quality playback across all devices.

Best Practices for Facebook Videos

Beyond technical specifications, these practices will help maximize the performance of your Facebook videos:

• Design for mobile first. With most Facebook users on mobile devices, vertical (9:16) and square (1:1) formats typically outperform landscape videos in terms of engagement and completion rates.
• Add captions to all videos. Since 85% of Facebook videos are watched without sound, captions ensure your message gets across regardless of viewing conditions.

• Front-load important content. Capture attention in the first 3 seconds to prevent users from scrolling past your video.
• Compress your videos properly. Use tools to reduce file size without significantly impacting quality.
• Test different aspect ratios for your specific audience. While general guidelines are helpful, your particular audience might respond better to certain formats.
• Consider the viewing environment. Fast-moving content with small details might not work well on mobile devices where users are often on the go.
• Use high-contrast visuals that remain clear even on small screens or in bright outdoor environments.
• Include a clear call to action, either through captions, voiceover, or visual elements.

Common Facebook Video Size Mistakes to Avoid

These common errors can significantly reduce the effectiveness of your Facebook videos:

• One common mistake is using the same aspect ratio for every placement. What looks great in the feed might not work well in Stories or Reels.
• If you ignore resolution, your video could end up looking blurry or pixelated. Try to use at least 1080p whenever you can.
• Text placement matters too—especially in Stories. If you don’t stay within the safe zones, your message might get cut off or hidden behind buttons.
• Large file sizes can cause slow uploads or even fail to upload at all. If your video is over 4GB, it might not go through.
• Not optimizing for mobile is a big one. Always preview your video on a phone before posting to make sure it looks right.
• Posting landscape videos in vertical formats (like Stories or Reels) can leave big black bars and make your content look bad. This usually leads to fewer views and less engagement.
• And finally, if you don’t compress your video properly, it can load slowly or buffer, which makes people stop watching.

How To Use ZapCap To Trim Videos for Facebook

ZapCap makes it easy to resize and optimize your videos for any Facebook placement without needing video editing skills.

Here’s how to use ZapCap to prepare your videos for Facebook:

1. Upload Your Video
Select your video file, choose your language (for captions), and upload it to ZapCap’s web-based platform.

2. Open the Trim Tab
At the top of the dashboard, navigate to the “Trim” tab to begin editing your clip.

3. Adjust the Video Length
Drag the edges of the timeline to trim the beginning or end of your video. You can also split longer videos into multiple clips or remove specific segments for better pacing.

4. Optimize for Facebook Format
Choose your Facebook placement—Feed, Stories, or Reels—and ZapCap will automatically suggest the right aspect ratio and time limits.

5. Add Captions and Enhancements
Once trimmed, move to the Captions tab to auto-generate subtitles in over 50 languages. You can also improve your video with features like B-roll, dynamic transitions, music, and silence removal.

6. Save and Export
Click “Save” to lock in your edits. Then export your video in the correct format for Facebook, ready for upload or scheduling.

The platform handles all the technical requirements automatically, ensuring your videos meet Facebook’s specifications without requiring you to memorize all the details.

Bottom Line

Using the right video sizes for Facebook in 2025 is key to getting more views and better engagement. For feed videos, go with 1080×1080 pixels (square) or 1920×1080 pixels (landscape). For Stories and Reels, 1080×1920 pixels (vertical) works best.

Since most people use Facebook on their phones, it’s smart to focus on mobile-friendly formats. Square and vertical videos usually get more engagement than landscape ones.

Stick to these size guidelines to make sure your videos look great and perform well across all Facebook placements.

FAQs

What is the best video size for Facebook in 2025?

The best video size for Facebook in 2025 is 1080 × 1350 px (4:5 aspect ratio) for feed videos, as it takes up more screen space on mobile devices, increasing engagement. For Reels or Stories, go for 1080 × 1920 px (9:16 aspect ratio). Always aim for a resolution of at least 1080p to maintain quality.

What is the maximum resolution supported by Facebook?

Facebook supports up to 1080p (1920×1080 pixels) resolution. While you can upload higher-resolution videos, they’ll be downscaled to 1080p during processing.

What format should I use to upload videos to Facebook?

Facebook supports MP4 and MOV, but MP4 is the most recommended format due to its high compatibility, smaller file size, and quality balance. Stick to AAC audio, and aim for a frame rate of 30fps or less.

How do I resize a video for Facebook Stories?

To resize a video for Facebook Stories, you need to convert it to a 9:16 aspect ratio with dimensions of 1080×1920 pixels. You can use ZapCap’s automatic resizing tool, which maintains the important parts of your video while adapting it to the vertical format.

Is there a file size limit for Facebook video uploads?

Yes, the maximum file size for a Facebook video upload is 4GB. If your video exceeds this, consider compressing it using tools like ZapCap or adjusting bitrate settings without compromising quality.