Ijharul Islam
Pinterest takes MP4, MOV or M4V video encoded with H.264 or H.265, up to 2 GB, from 4 seconds to 15 minutes long, in any aspect ratio between 1:2 (very tall) and 1.91:1 (wide). Pinterest recommends square (1:1) or vertical (2:3, 4:5 or 9:16) video, so export 1000×1500, 1080×1350 or 1080×1920.
More on this topic: Video specs by platform, every guide in one place.
These figures come from Pinterest's product specs page, which lists video for standard, max-width and idea formats. Here's what each means, the pixel sizes to use, and how to convert a 16:9 video without cropping out the subject.
The short answer
Pinterest video: MP4, MOV or M4V; H.264 or H.265; up to 2 GB; 4 seconds to 15 minutes (6 to 15 seconds recommended for ads); aspect ratio between 1:2 and 1.91:1, with 1:1, 2:3, 4:5 or 9:16 recommended. Export 1000×1500 (2:3) to match a standard Pin, or 1080×1920 (9:16) for full-screen. Idea ads are 9:16 at 1080×1920, up to 5 minutes.
Key takeaways
- Length: 4 seconds to 15 minutes; Pinterest recommends 6 to 15 seconds for video ads.
- File: MP4, MOV or M4V, H.264 or H.265, up to 2 GB.
- Shape: anything from 1:2 to 1.91:1; vertical 2:3, 4:5 or 9:16 or square 1:1 is recommended.
- 2:3 (1000×1500) matches a standard image Pin in the grid; 9:16 fills a phone screen when opened.
- Max-width video ads can't be taller than square.
What are Pinterest's video specs?
Pinterest's video specs are MP4, MOV or M4V files with H.264 or H.265 encoding, up to 2 GB, between 4 seconds and 15 minutes long. Pinterest's product specs page, read on 25 October 2026, lists them per format:
| Format | File | Length | Aspect ratio | Max size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard width video | MP4, MOV, M4V; H.264 or H.265 | 4 s to 15 min (6-15 s recommended) | 1:2 to 1.91:1; 1:1, 2:3, 4:5 or 9:16 recommended | 2 GB |
| Max-width video (ads only) | MP4, MOV, M4V; H.264 or H.265 | 4 s to 15 min (6-15 s recommended) | No taller than 1:1 | 2 GB |
| Idea ads | MP4, MOV, M4V; H.264 or H.265 | Up to 5 min | 9:16 (1080×1920 recommended) | 2 GB on the apps, 100 MB on the web |
| Showcase and quiz ads | — | 3 to 60 s | Full-bleed 1000×1500 recommended | 32 MB |
The page doesn't give pixel sizes for standard video, only ratios. Below are the sizes to export for each recommended ratio.
What size should a Pinterest video be in pixels?
A Pinterest video should be 1000×1500 pixels for 2:3, 1080×1920 for 9:16, 1080×1350 for 4:5 or 1080×1080 for square. The ratio matters more than the exact pixels; these are the common sizes that hit each ratio exactly:
| Ratio | Size to export | Looks like | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2:3 | 1000×1500 (or 1080×1620) | A standard image Pin | You want the video to sit in the grid like your other Pins |
| 9:16 | 1080×1920 | Full-screen vertical | You reuse Reels, TikToks or Shorts; best when opened |
| 4:5 | 1080×1350 | A tall feed post | A compromise between grid and full screen |
| 1:1 | 1080×1080 | Square | Products, recipes and text-heavy video |
| 16:9 (accepted) | 1920×1080 | Wide and short in the grid | Avoid if you can; it looks small next to vertical Pins |
Keep the title, product and any text near the middle of a 9:16 frame, so they stay visible however the Pin is previewed. To check or work out any ratio, the free video aspect ratio calculator finds the missing side; what aspect ratio is 1080×1920 has a chart of common resolutions.
How long should a Pinterest video be?
A Pinterest video can be up to 15 minutes, but most should be 6 to 15 seconds for ads and under a minute for organic Pins. Pinterest's own recommendation for video ads is 6 to 15 seconds. People on Pinterest are planning and saving ideas, so a video that shows the result in the first second, then the steps, gets saved more than one with a long intro.
| Video type | Practical length |
|---|---|
| Product or offer | 6-15 seconds |
| Recipe, craft or how-to (sped up) | 15-60 seconds |
| Before and after, room tour | 10-30 seconds |
| Full tutorial | 1-5 minutes, with the result shown first |
Need to cut a long video down? The free video trimmer trims in your browser, and how to speed up a video covers fitting a slow process into a few seconds.
How do you turn a horizontal video into a Pinterest video?
You turn a horizontal video into a Pinterest video by placing it in a vertical frame, either cropped to fill it or on a background. Two ways:
- Crop when the subject stays in the middle: crop 16:9 to 2:3 or 9:16, keeping the centre. You lose the sides.
- Resize onto a background when the whole frame matters: the free video resizer puts the video on a blurred copy of itself (or black bars) at 1080×1920, 1080×1350 or 1080×1080, or any custom size such as 1000×1500. It's free, runs in your browser and never uploads your file.
For speaker videos, crop with the face kept in frame; how to convert horizontal video to vertical covers both methods, and how to resize a video without cropping it shows the blurred-background approach step by step.
Why is my Pinterest video not uploading?
A Pinterest video usually fails to upload because it's too short, too long, too big, or in a shape or codec Pinterest doesn't take. Check these against the specs:
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Shorter than 4 seconds | Loop it or add a few seconds; the free video looper repeats a clip |
| Longer than 15 minutes (or 5 for idea ads) | Trim it or split it |
| Over 2 GB (or 100 MB for idea ads on the web) | Compress it with the free video compressor, or upload from the app |
| Wider than 1.91:1 or taller than 1:2 | Resize to 16:9, 1:1 or 9:16 |
| Unusual codec (ProRes, VP9, AV1) or WebM file | Re-export as MP4 with H.264 |
Should you upload H.264 or H.265 to Pinterest?
Upload H.264 unless your file is already H.265. Pinterest's specs accept both, so there's no need to convert an iPhone's HEVC (H.265) video before uploading. If you're exporting from an editor, though, H.264 is the safer default: it exports faster, every app and browser previews it, and the same file can go to platforms that don't take HEVC. H.265 gives similar quality at a smaller file size, which only matters if you're near the 2 GB limit, or the 100 MB limit for idea ads on the web. H.264 vs H.265 explains the trade-off.
| Your file | What to do |
|---|---|
| iPhone video in HEVC (High Efficiency) | Upload as it is |
| Editor export | H.264 MP4, 1080 px wide, 8-12 Mbps |
| WebM, ProRes or MKV | Convert to H.264 MP4 first |
Does a Pinterest video need sound and captions?
Sound is optional, and many people browse Pinterest with it off, so a Pinterest video should make sense muted. Put the key text on screen and add captions to anything spoken. QuickVeed's auto subtitles transcribe a video and burn captions in 11 styles at the bottom, middle or top, in any of 32 languages; the best caption style for Reels and TikTok works the same way on vertical Pins.
For the same video on other platforms, see the free social media video size guide, which lists sizes and lengths for YouTube, Shorts, TikTok, Reels and LinkedIn.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best video size for Pinterest?
1000×1500 (2:3) to match a standard Pin, or 1080×1920 (9:16) for full-screen vertical.
How long can a Pinterest video be?
4 seconds to 15 minutes. Idea ads can be up to 5 minutes, and Pinterest recommends 6 to 15 seconds for ads.
What is the maximum file size for a Pinterest video?
2 GB. Idea ads uploaded on the web are limited to 100 MB.
Can I post a 16:9 video on Pinterest?
Yes; anything between 1:2 and 1.91:1 is accepted. A 16:9 video looks small in the grid next to vertical Pins, though.
Does Pinterest accept H.265 (HEVC)?
Yes. Pinterest's specs list H.264 or H.265 encoding in MP4, MOV or M4V files.
What aspect ratio is a Pinterest Pin?
Standard Pins are 2:3, such as 1000×1500 pixels.
What is the Pinterest video safe zone?
For full-screen 1080×1920 Idea ads, Pinterest's product specs (checked 26 October 2026) say to keep text and other elements inside a margin of 270 px at the top, 440 px at the bottom, 65 px on the left and 195 px on the right. Pinterest doesn't publish a safe zone for standard video Pins, so the same margins are a sensible default for vertical video.
What size should a Pinterest video cover image be?
Pinterest's product specs page doesn't list a separate cover image size for video. Use a frame or image in the same shape as the video, such as 1000×1500 for 2:3 or 1080×1920 for 9:16, so the cover isn't cropped in the grid.
Try it with your own video
Add captions to vertical videos in 32 languages, so they work with the sound off. Upload a vertical clip, pick a caption style, and judge the result for yourself. QuickVeed plans start at $18/month, and new accounts get a 14-day trial with 250 credits, no card needed. Sign up or see pricing.
Sources
Competitor details in this post were checked against these public pages in October 2026. Products and prices change, so confirm with each vendor before you decide.
