# TikTok, Reels and Shorts Ad Specs for 2026 — Cut Marketing

> A practical 2026 spec sheet for TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts ads: ratios, lengths, safe zones, captions, file settings and QA checks.

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# 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.

2026-10-31 3 min read Cut Marketing Team

![AI-generated headphones product ad sample](/samples/problem-solution.webp)

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:

1.  Show the product or the problem.
2.  Make a specific promise.
3.  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](/tools/create-video-ad) or [UGC Product Video](/tools/ugc-product-video) tools to generate the first cut, then review it against this checklist. The [pricing page](/pricing) 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.

## Keep reading

[![AI-generated pale mint and plum compact camera with a cream woven strap](/samples/studies/daylight-camera.webp)

Production studies

### Product image to video: a camera study

Follow a fictional camera from an Indigo image to MiniMax H3 motion and a SeedVR2 1080p file. Inspect exact prompts, full-frame videos and measured delivery.

](/blog/product-image-to-video-camera-study)[![AI-generated sage ceramic coffee mug in warm sunlight on pale stone](/samples/studies/cloud-mug.webp)

Creative production

### AI product video upscaling: review the source before 1080p export

Inspect two actual MiniMax H3 and SeedVR2 product-video pairs. Compare full frames, measured dimensions and generated details before approving an upscale.

](/blog/ai-product-video-upscaling)[![AI-generated fictional green steel bottle on blue stone, beside curved ivory paper with open space on the left](/samples/field-bottle-wide-nano.webp)

Creative production

### How to review an AI product video before export

Use an actual bottle study to check product shape, camera movement, exact ad copy and approval. A practical review before handing off an AI product video.

](/blog/review-ai-product-videos)

## Make the next ad in minutes.

Start with a product image or a short brief. The studio shows the credit cost before you generate.

[Open studio](https://app.cutmarketing.app)