The exact specs, size limits, and compression settings you need for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and Facebook
You just finished editing a video. It looks great. You try to upload it to Instagram — and it fails because the file is too large. Or it uploads, but Instagram crushes the quality so badly the video looks like it was filmed through a shower door. You are not alone. Every social media platform has different size limits, resolution requirements, and codec preferences. Getting these wrong means wasted time, rejected uploads, or visibly degraded quality.
This guide gives you the exact specifications for every major platform, explains which codec and bitrate settings to use, and walks you through compressing videos with GoToolsOnline's free video compressor to hit the right targets every time.
| Platform | Max Size | Max Duration | Best Resolution | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instagram Feed | 4 GB | 3-60 seconds | 1080x1080 or 1080x1350 | 1:1 or 4:5 |
| Instagram Reels | 4 GB | Up to 90 seconds | 1080x1920 | 9:16 |
| Instagram Stories | 4 GB | 15 seconds per clip | 1080x1920 | 9:16 |
| TikTok | 287 MB (mobile) / 512 MB (desktop) | Up to 10 minutes | 1080x1920 | 9:16 |
| YouTube | 256 GB or 12 hours | 12 hours (default) | 1080p minimum recommended | 16:9 |
| Twitter/X | 512 MB | 2 minutes 20 seconds | 1920x1200 | 16:9 or 1:1 |
| 16 MB | No hard limit | 720p recommended | Any | |
| 5 GB | 10 minutes max | 1920x1080 | 16:9 or 1:1 | |
| 10 GB | 240 minutes max | 1080p recommended | 16:9 or 9:16 |
Instagram is one of the strictest platforms when it comes to video quality — not because of upload limits, but because of how aggressively it re-compresses your video after upload. The 4 GB upload limit is generous, but the real challenge is preventing Instagram's encoder from destroying your quality.
Feed videos perform best at 1080x1350 (4:5 portrait) because this format takes up the most screen real estate in the feed. Square (1080x1080) also works well. Landscape (1920x1080) is supported but appears smaller in the feed, reducing engagement.
Reels and Stories are vertical-first: 1080x1920 (9:16). Always shoot and export in this format for Reels — do not crop a horizontal video to vertical, as you lose significant content. Instagram Reels supports up to 90 seconds, and Stories auto-split longer videos into 15-second clips.
Pro tip: Upload at a bitrate of 8-12 Mbps for 1080p content. This gives Instagram's encoder enough quality to work with while staying well under the file size limit. Going higher wastes bandwidth — Instagram will compress it down anyway.
TikTok's mobile upload limit of 287 MB is notably tight for longer videos. A 10-minute video at high quality can easily exceed this. Desktop uploads allow 512 MB, which is more manageable. TikTok also re-encodes uploaded videos, so pre-compression is important for quality preservation.
Resolution: 1080x1920 (9:16 vertical). TikTok downscales higher resolutions, so there is no benefit to uploading 4K. Stick to 1080p for the best quality-to-size ratio.
Duration: TikTok supports videos up to 10 minutes, but the algorithm tends to favor shorter content. For content longer than 3 minutes, ensure your file size is well-managed to avoid upload failures on mobile.
YouTube is the most forgiving platform for video uploads. With a 256 GB limit and support for essentially every codec and resolution, you rarely need to worry about upload constraints. However, compression still matters for two reasons: upload speed and processing time.
Resolution: Upload at the highest resolution you have — YouTube will create multiple quality levels automatically. At minimum, upload 1080p. If you have 4K source footage, upload it as 4K; YouTube will serve it to viewers with compatible devices and connections.
Codec: YouTube recommends H.264 for standard uploads or VP9 for higher quality. YouTube will transcode to VP9 and AV1 internally regardless of what you upload, but starting with H.264 ensures the widest compatibility during the initial processing period.
Twitter's 2 minute 20 second duration limit is the main constraint. The 512 MB file size limit is reasonable for short clips, but if your video is approaching the duration limit, you may need to compress. Twitter also re-encodes aggressively, so pre-compression at a sensible bitrate helps maintain quality.
Resolution: 1920x1200 maximum, but 1080p (1920x1080) is the practical sweet spot. Vertical video is supported but appears smaller in the timeline unless the user taps to expand.
WhatsApp is by far the most restrictive platform. The 16 MB file size limit means most videos need significant compression. Even a 30-second 1080p clip can exceed 16 MB at standard quality. WhatsApp also applies its own heavy compression on top of whatever you send.
Best approach: Compress to 720p at 2-4 Mbps using our video compressor. This typically produces files under 16 MB for clips up to 60 seconds. For longer videos, you will need to reduce resolution further or split the video into shorter clips.
Document trick: Sending a video as a "Document" attachment instead of a regular video message bypasses WhatsApp's re-compression entirely. The recipient gets your exact file. The trade-off is that it will not auto-play in the chat, but the quality will be preserved.
LinkedIn supports videos up to 5 GB and 10 minutes, which is generous for professional content. The platform favors native video uploads over shared links, so uploading directly to LinkedIn is recommended for better reach.
Resolution: 1920x1080 (16:9) for landscape or 1080x1080 for square. LinkedIn's feed displays both formats well. Vertical video is supported but not as prominently featured as on Instagram or TikTok.
Facebook is relatively generous with a 10 GB limit and up to 240 minutes of video. For most users, file size is not the bottleneck — upload speed is. Compressing a 4K video from 8 GB to 1 GB dramatically reduces upload time while maintaining excellent quality on the platform.
Resolution: 1080p recommended. Facebook supports both landscape (16:9) and vertical (9:16) video. Vertical video appears larger in the mobile feed, which can increase engagement.
The codec determines how your video is encoded and compressed. Choosing the right codec affects file size, quality, and compatibility.
| Codec | Compression | Compatibility | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.264 (AVC) | Good | Universal — works everywhere | Social media, general sharing |
| H.265 (HEVC) | ~50% smaller than H.264 | Good — most modern devices | Archiving, Apple ecosystem |
| VP9 | Similar to H.265 | Good — YouTube, Chrome, Android | YouTube uploads |
| AV1 | Best — 30% smaller than H.265 | Limited — newer devices only | Future-proofing, streaming |
Recommendation: Use H.264 for social media uploads. It is universally compatible, every platform accepts it, and the quality is excellent. H.265 is appealing because of its smaller file sizes, but some platforms may re-encode it to H.264 anyway, adding an unnecessary quality loss step. AV1 offers the best compression, but support is still limited in 2026 — give it another year or two before relying on it for social media.
Bitrate is the amount of data used per second of video. Higher bitrate means better quality but larger files. Here are the practical sweet spots for social media:
| Resolution | Social Media (General) | High Quality | YouTube Upload |
|---|---|---|---|
| 720p (1280x720) | 5-8 Mbps | 8-12 Mbps | 8-12 Mbps |
| 1080p (1920x1080) | 8-12 Mbps | 12-20 Mbps | 12-20 Mbps |
| 1440p (2560x1440) | 16-24 Mbps | 24-35 Mbps | 24-35 Mbps |
| 4K (3840x2160) | 35-45 Mbps | 45-68 Mbps | 45-68 Mbps |
For social media, the "Social Media (General)" column is your target. Going higher is usually wasted — platforms will re-compress to their own target bitrate. Going lower saves file size but risks visible quality degradation.
Audio is often overlooked in video compression, but bad audio settings can ruin a video even if the picture looks great.
Here is how to compress a video for social media using our free video compressor:
Need to create a GIF from your video instead? Use our GIF Maker tool to extract short clips as animated GIFs — perfect for Twitter, Discord, and forums.
Here is a fast reference for common scenarios:
Compress your video now: Free video compressor — no signup, no watermark. Upload, choose your platform, and download the optimized file in minutes.