How to prepare videos for Instagram, TikTok & Reels

Social platforms are picky about video. Here's the exact recipe for content that uploads fast, plays clean, and looks native.

The format recipe

• Dimensions — 1080×1920 vertical (9:16) for Reels/Shorts/TikTok
• Duration — 15–30s for maximum reach
• Format — MP4 H.264
• Size — under 50MB for instant upload

Step-by-step

1. Crop your video to 9:16 (1080×1920)
2. Trim to 15-30 seconds
3. Speed it up if it's dragging
4. Compress to under 50MB

Pro tips

• Hook viewers in the first 2 seconds — trim the setup
• Loop-friendly cuts perform better (end near the start)
• Quiet audio underperforms — boost volume with our Volume Booster