Facebook Video Format and Size: The Complete 2026 Specs Reference (Feed, Reels, Stories)
The definitive guide to Facebook video format and size for 2026. Get technical specs for Feed, Reels, Stories, & Ads to avoid errors and maximize performance.
TL;DR quick answer
The safe, highest-compatibility Facebook video upload in 2026 is an MP4 file, H.264 video, AAC audio, 1080p resolution, at or below 30 fps. Beyond that, the right size depends on placement:
| Placement | Best aspect ratio | Recommended resolution | Max length | Max file size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feed video (now published as Reels) | 4:5 or 9:16 (16:9 still fine for landscape) | 1080x1350 (4:5) or 1920x1080 (16:9) | ~240 min documented ceiling | 4 GB (ad spec); up to ~10 GB cited for organic |
| Facebook Reels | 9:16 vertical | 1080x1920 | No hard cap since June 2025; 90s commonly cited; 15-30s performs best | ~4 GB working max |
| Facebook Stories | 9:16 vertical | 1080x1920 | 60s per segment (organic); 120s for ad placements | 4 GB (keep under ~250 MB for fast upload) |
Important context: As of June 2025, Meta unified Facebook video so that most new video uploads are published as Reels, and Meta states Reels "will also not have any length or format restrictions." Facebook "remains a home for all types of video, short, long, and Live." Specs below are accurate as of 2026, but Meta changes specs without notice, so verify your account's current limits before a critical upload. (Sources: Meta Newsroom, June 2025; Meta Facebook Video Requirements Chart.)
1. The 2026 specs at a glance (per placement)
Facebook Feed video (now published as Reels)
| Spec | Recommended / documented value |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratios supported | 16:9 (landscape), 1:1 (square), 4:5 (vertical), 9:16 (full-screen vertical). Meta's requirements chart lists Feed support as "16:9 to 9:16." |
| Recommended aspect ratio | 4:5 or 9:16 for mobile feed; 16:9 still fine for landscape/desktop |
| Recommended resolution | 1080x1080 (1:1), 1080x1350 (4:5), or 1920x1080 / 1280x720 (16:9). Meta's current Ads Guide showcases Feed video at 1440x1800 (4:5). |
| Minimum dimensions | 120px width and height (Meta Ads Guide documented hard minimum) |
| Max length | ~240 minutes (4 hours) documented ceiling; Ads Guide lists 1s to 241 min. Since the June 2025 change, the practical cap is effectively removed on rollout-complete accounts. Treat 240 min as the safe documented max and verify your account. |
| Max file size | 4 GB officially documented (ad placement); up to ~10 GB commonly cited for organic uploads. Verify for your upload method (Resumable Upload supports larger files). |
| Frame rate | At or below 30 fps recommended |
| Codec / container | H.264 video + AAC audio in MP4 or MOV |
Facebook Reels
| Spec | Recommended / documented value |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 (vertical, full-screen) recommended; 4:5 also accepted/displayed in feed |
| Recommended resolution | 1080x1920 (Full HD vertical) |
| Minimum resolution | Commonly cited as 720x1280 in 2026 guides (older guides cite 540x960). Meta does not publish a single official Reels minimum, so treat as uncertain. |
| Max length | No hard cap as of the June 2025 Meta change ("no length or format restrictions"); many 2026 guides still cite 90s as the practical/documented figure. Verify your account. Minimum ~3 seconds. |
| Best length for performance | 15-30 seconds (engagement sweet spot) |
| Max file size | ~4 GB working maximum (some outliers cite 1 GB or "no limit" post-June-2025). Verify your account. |
| Frame rate | 24-60 fps (30 fps recommended) |
| Codec / container | H.264 (H.265/HEVC also accepted) + AAC audio, MP4 or MOV |
| Safe zones | Keep key content out of UI overlays: roughly bottom ~250-300px and right edge ~120px |
Facebook Stories
| Spec | Recommended / documented value |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 (vertical, full-screen) recommended. Requirements chart lists support from 1.91:1 up to 9:16. |
| Recommended resolution | 1080x1920. Some guides cite 1440x2560 as an ideal high-res target. |
| Minimum resolution | ~540x960 (not officially published by Meta, uncertain) |
| Max length | 60 seconds per Story video for organic uploads; longer videos auto-split into sequential ~15-second segments. Ad placements documented at 1-120 seconds. Use 60s as the safe organic max; verify for paid. |
| Max file size | Up to 4 GB (photos up to ~30 MB). Keep video under ~250 MB for fast, reliable upload. |
| Frame rate | 30 fps recommended (24-60 fps accepted) |
| Codec / container | H.264 + AAC audio in MP4 or MOV |
| Safe zones | Keep text/logos clear of the top ~250px (profile, name, close) and bottom ~250px (reply bar, action buttons) |
2. Supported video file formats
Facebook accepts roughly 30 container/codec combinations, including:
MOV, MP4, M4V, AVI, FLV/F4V, WMV, MKV, MPEG/MPG/MPE/MPEG4, DAT, 3GP/3G2/3GPP, OGM/OGV, MTS/M2TS/TS, VOB, TOD, MOD, DV, DivX, NSV, and more.
But only two are reliably recommended: MP4 and MOV. Anything else risks transcoding artifacts, audio sync issues, or rejection. (Sources: Facebook Help Center, supported video formats; Meta Business Help Center, supported file formats for video ads.)
The single best upload profile (per Meta's own Ads Guide / video-quality guidance):
- Container: MP4
- Video codec: H.264
- Audio codec: AAC, stereo, 128 kbps or higher, 44.1 or 48 kHz
- Frame rate: fixed, at or below 30 fps
- Scan: progressive
- Pixels: square pixels, pixel width divisible by 16 (helps Meta's transcoder)
- Resolution: 1080p
This profile is the safest, highest-compatibility choice across Feed, Reels, and Stories as of 2026. Note: Facebook re-encodes your source bitrate on upload regardless, so uploading the highest-quality source you have is the best lever you control.
3. Video length limits by placement
- Feed video: ~240 minutes documented ceiling. Since June 2025, most new uploads publish as Reels with no stated length restriction on rollout-complete accounts.
- Reels: No hard cap as of the June 2025 change; 90 seconds is still the figure many 2026 guides cite. Minimum ~3 seconds. 15-30 seconds performs best.
- Stories: 60 seconds per organic segment (auto-split into ~15s cards); up to 120 seconds for ad placements.
Because the June 2025 change removed documented length restrictions for many accounts, always confirm your account's current limit before relying on a long upload. As of 2026, Meta can change these at any time.
4. Maximum file size
- Documented (ad placement): 4 GB across Feed, Reels, and Stories.
- Organic uploads: Commonly cited up to ~10 GB for Feed; the June 2025 change led some guides to report no enforced file-size limit on rollout-complete accounts.
- Practical advice: Keep Stories under ~250 MB and Reels well under the 4 GB working maximum for fast, reliable processing. For very large files, Meta's Resumable Upload supports larger payloads. Verify against your account and upload method.
5. Recommended settings (copy-paste checklist)
For the best result on any 2026 Facebook video upload:
- Format: MP4 (H.264 video, AAC audio)
- Resolution: 1080p, source uploaded at the highest quality available
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 vertical for Reels/Stories and mobile feed; 16:9 only if your content is genuinely landscape
- Frame rate: fixed, at or below 30 fps
- Audio: stereo AAC, 128 kbps+, 44.1 or 48 kHz
- Pixel width divisible by 16, square pixels, progressive scan
- File size: under 4 GB (under ~250 MB for Stories)
- Safe zones: keep captions, logos, and CTAs clear of top/bottom UI overlays on vertical video
- Length: 15-30s for Reels engagement; trim long Stories to 60s segments
Once your video meets spec, schedule your Facebook posts to land at the best time to post on Facebook instead of publishing whenever you finish exporting.
FAQ
1. What is the best video format for Facebook in 2026?
MP4 with the H.264 video codec and AAC audio. It's the highest-compatibility format across Feed, Reels, and Stories. MOV is the other recommended container. Facebook accepts ~30 formats in total, but MP4 and MOV are the only two reliably recommended.
2. What video size should I use for Facebook?
Upload at 1080p. For vertical placements (Reels, Stories, mobile feed) use 1080x1920 (9:16). For landscape Feed video use 1920x1080 (16:9), and for square use 1080x1080 (1:1). 4:5 (1080x1350) is a strong mobile-feed option.
3. What are the Facebook video dimensions and aspect ratios?
Feed supports 16:9 through 9:16 (including 1:1 and 4:5). Reels and Stories are best at 9:16. Stories support from 1.91:1 up to 9:16. The recommended default in 2026 is 9:16 vertical because most new Facebook video now publishes as Reels.
4. What is the Facebook video frame size?
The recommended frame size is 1080x1920 px for vertical (Reels/Stories), 1920x1080 px for landscape Feed, and 1080x1080 px for square. The documented hard minimum for Feed is 120px on each side.
5. What is the maximum Facebook video length in 2026?
It depends on placement: Feed has a ~240-minute documented ceiling, Reels has no hard cap since Meta's June 2025 change (90 seconds is still widely cited), and Stories run 60 seconds per organic segment (up to 120 seconds for ads). Verify your account, since Meta can change this.
6. What is the Facebook video upload size limit (max file size) in 2026?
4 GB is the officially documented maximum for ad placements across Feed, Reels, and Stories. Organic Feed uploads are commonly cited up to ~10 GB, and some accounts report no enforced limit after the June 2025 change. Keep Stories under ~250 MB for reliable upload.
7. What video formats does Facebook support?
Roughly 30, including MOV, MP4, M4V, AVI, FLV/F4V, WMV, MKV, MPEG/MPG/MPE/MPEG4, 3GP/3G2, MTS/M2TS/TS, VOB, DV, DivX, and more. Only MP4 and MOV are recommended for reliable results.
8. What size should a Facebook Reel be?
9:16 vertical at 1080x1920 px. Aim for 15-30 seconds for engagement, keep the file comfortably under ~4 GB, and keep captions and CTAs out of the bottom ~250-300px and right-edge ~120px safe zones.
9. What is the Facebook Stories video length and size limit?
Up to 60 seconds per organic Story segment (longer videos auto-split into ~15-second cards), or up to 120 seconds for ad placements. Use 9:16 at 1080x1920, MP4/H.264, and keep the file under ~250 MB for fast upload.
10. What is the best short video size for Facebook?
Short video on Facebook means Reels: 9:16 vertical, 1080x1920 px, MP4/H.264, 15-30 seconds. This is the default-favored format since Facebook now publishes most new video as Reels.
11. What is the recommended Facebook video frame rate and codec?
A fixed frame rate at or below 30 fps (Reels/Stories accept 24-60 fps), H.264 video codec, and AAC stereo audio at 128 kbps+ (44.1 or 48 kHz). Progressive scan and square pixels are recommended.
12. What size is a Facebook landscape (16:9) video?
1920x1080 px (Full HD) or 1280x720 px (HD), at 16:9. Landscape still works well for desktop and longer-form Feed content, though vertical is favored on mobile.
13. Why does Facebook publish my uploads as Reels now?
As of June 2025, Meta unified Facebook video so that most new uploads are published as Reels. Meta states Reels have "no length or format restrictions" and that Facebook "remains a home for all types of video, short, long, and Live." Whether Live is exempt from Reel conversion is not explicitly stated by Meta, so verify.
14. What is the single best upload setting for Facebook video?
MP4 container, H.264 video, AAC audio (stereo, 128 kbps+), 1080p, fixed frame rate at or below 30 fps, progressive scan, square pixels, pixel width divisible by 16. This is the highest-compatibility profile across all placements.
15. Will these Facebook video specs change?
Yes. These specs are accurate as of 2026, but Meta updates requirements without notice, and the June 2025 Reels unification is still rolling out across accounts. Always confirm against Meta's own documentation and your account before a critical upload.
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