TikTok, Reels and Shorts Ad Specs for 2026
A practical 2026 spec sheet for TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts ads: ratios, lengths, safe zones, captions, file settings and QA checks.
Vertical ad specs change less than platform interfaces do. The fundamentals are stable: 9:16, a readable hook, captions, and a product that is visible before the viewer decides to scroll.
This is the practical spec sheet we use when exporting AI-generated ads for TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. Always confirm current placement requirements in the ad platform before a major spend.
Core specs
| Platform | Ratio | Common lengths | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 9:16 | 5–15s | Native, sound-on, captions recommended |
| Instagram Reels | 9:16 | 5–15s | Keep text out of the top and bottom UI |
| YouTube Shorts | 9:16 | 5–15s | Strong first frame; loop-friendly endings |
| Feed placement | 4:5 or 1:1 | 6–15s | Product should fill more of the frame |
Export at 1080×1920 for 9:16. A 720×1280 draft is fine for testing, but final creative should be 1080p when the plan allows it.
Safe zones
Every vertical platform overlays interface elements on the video. Keep critical content away from:
- The top 10–15% (profile, search, status).
- The bottom 15–20% (caption, CTA, navigation).
- The right edge (like, comment, share buttons).
Put the product and the main caption in the middle 70% of the frame. If you add a CTA, keep it above the bottom UI.
The first three seconds
A vertical ad has three jobs in the first three seconds:
- Show the product or the problem.
- Make a specific promise.
- Give the viewer a reason to keep watching.
Avoid logo intros, slow fades and generic lifestyle shots. Start on the product, a face, or the problem.
Captions and sound
Most viewers start with sound on, but not all. Burn in captions for the hook and the CTA at minimum. Keep captions to two lines, use a high-contrast style, and avoid covering the product.
Use music you have rights to. Platform commercial libraries are the safest default. AI-generated voiceover should be checked for pronunciation and claims.
File and encoding settings
- Container: MP4
- Video: H.264, 8–12 Mbps for 1080×1920
- Audio: AAC, 128–192 kbps, 48 kHz
- Frame rate: 24–30 fps
- Color: sRGB / Rec.709
- Faststart: enabled for web playback
Keep a master file at the highest quality and export platform-specific versions from it.
QA checklist
- Product label is readable and unchanged.
- Hands and faces look natural.
- Captions are inside the safe area.
- The first frame works without sound.
- The CTA is visible for at least two seconds.
- No unverified claims or competitor trademarks.
- The file plays on a phone before upload.
A note on AI-generated vertical ads
AI models are good at generating 9:16 scenes, but they can crop products awkwardly. Generate at the final ratio when possible, and check the edges. If the product is cut off, regenerate with a wider framing rather than stretching the video.
Use the Create Video Ad or UGC Product Video tools to generate the first cut, then review it against this checklist. The pricing page shows how duration and resolution affect credit cost.
Specs are the easy part. The hard part is making the first second specific enough to earn the next five.
