Ijharul Islam
Snapchat's help center says a video must be at least 5 seconds long to post to Spotlight. Snap's developer documentation adds the rest for uploaded files: MP4, 6 to 60 seconds, at least 540×960 pixels, and files up to 1 GB. Export vertical 1080×1920 H.264 MP4 with sound, between 6 and 60 seconds.
More on this topic: Video specs by platform, every guide in one place.
Snap publishes less than most platforms. Its help center gives no aspect ratio, maximum length or file size for the app, and third-party guides disagree (500 MB, 1 GB, 32 MB). This page sticks to what Snap's own pages say and marks the rest as unconfirmed.
The short answer
Snapchat Spotlight: at least 5 seconds to get the Post button in the app (you must be 16 or older and in a region where Spotlight posting is on). Snap's Public Profile API: MP4, 6 to 60 seconds, at least 540×960, files up to 1 GB. Snap's quality rules make letterboxed, wrongly oriented, blurry or silent videos ineligible for recommendation. Safe export: 1080×1920, 9:16, H.264 MP4 with AAC audio, 6-60 seconds.
Key takeaways
- In the app, a video needs to be 5 seconds or longer before Snapchat shows the Spotlight Post button.
- Snap's developer docs set Spotlight uploads at MP4, 6-60 seconds and at least 540×960 pixels.
- Files up to 1 GB can go through Snap's multipart upload; a 60-second 1080p video is far smaller.
- Snap doesn't publish an aspect ratio, but letterboxed and wrongly oriented videos aren't recommended: fill a vertical frame.
- Spotlight needs sound: videos missing audio are listed as low quality.
What are the Snapchat Spotlight video requirements?
Snapchat Spotlight videos must be at least 5 seconds long in the app, and Snap's developer documentation sets MP4, 6 to 60 seconds and at least 540×960 pixels for uploaded Spotlight media. Checked on 26 October 2026 against Snapchat Support and Snap's Public Profile API documentation.
| Spec | What Snap publishes | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum length (app) | 5 seconds | Snapchat Support |
| Length (uploaded media) | 6 to 60 seconds | Snap developer docs |
| Format | MP4 | Snap developer docs |
| Minimum resolution | 540×960 pixels | Snap developer docs |
| Upload size | Up to 1 GB, in chunks of up to 32 MB | Snap developer docs |
| Who can post | 16 or older, in a region where Spotlight posting is enabled | Snapchat Support |
| Aspect ratio | Not published | — |
| Maximum length in the app | Not published in the help center | — |
The developer figures describe Snap's API for public profiles, which tools use to post to Spotlight. They're the most complete official numbers Snap publishes, so they're the ones to export to, even if you post from your phone.
What size should a Snapchat Spotlight video be?
A Snapchat Spotlight video should be 1080×1920 pixels, vertical 9:16. Snap's minimum is 540×960, which is the same shape at half the size, and Snapchat is a full-screen vertical app. Snap doesn't publish an aspect ratio, but its recommendation guidelines list incorrect orientation and letterboxed videos as low quality, so a horizontal video with black bars is unlikely to be shown widely.
| Setting | Export |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080×1920 (540×960 minimum) |
| Aspect ratio | 9:16, filling the frame |
| Format | MP4, H.264 video, AAC audio |
| Frame rate | 30 fps (Snap doesn't publish a limit) |
| Length | 6 to 60 seconds |
| Sound | Yes; voice, music or both |
Got a horizontal clip? Don't letterbox it. Crop it to 9:16 with the free video cropper, keeping the subject in the middle, or see how to convert horizontal video to vertical. Work out any frame size with the free video aspect ratio calculator.
How long can a Snapchat Spotlight video be?
A Snapchat Spotlight video can be up to 60 seconds, according to Snap's developer documentation, and must be at least 5 seconds to post from the app. Snap's help center doesn't state a maximum for videos made in the app, and some third-party scheduling tools describe longer limits, so treat 60 seconds as the safe ceiling.
| Content | Practical length |
|---|---|
| Joke, reaction or trend | 6-15 seconds |
| Quick tip or before-and-after | 15-30 seconds |
| Mini tutorial or story | 30-60 seconds |
| Podcast or interview moment | 20-60 seconds |
To cut a longer video to 60 seconds, the free video trimmer works in your browser, free, runs in your browser and never uploads your file. How to write a hook for short videos covers the first three seconds, which matter most on a swipe feed.
What is the maximum file size for Snapchat Spotlight?
Snap's developer documentation allows files up to 1 GB through its multipart upload, split into chunks of up to 32 MB. Snap's help center doesn't give a file size for the app or the web uploader. Third-party API services quote 32 MB, 100 MB, 500 MB or 1 GB; those are their own limits or readings, not Snap's.
For a 60-second video, file size is rarely the problem:
| Setting | Video bitrate | Size of 60 seconds with 128 kbps audio |
|---|---|---|
| Light 1080p | 3 Mbps | about 24 MB |
| Good 1080p30 | 8 Mbps | about 61 MB |
| High-quality 1080p60 | 12 Mbps | about 91 MB |
| Phone 4K recording | 50 Mbps | about 376 MB |
If a tool you post through has a smaller cap, compress to 1080p with the free video compressor, or work out a target with the free video bitrate calculator.
Why isn't my Snapchat Spotlight getting views?
A Spotlight usually gets few views because it doesn't meet Snap's recommendation guidelines, not because of its size. Snap says content must meet stricter standards to be recommended beyond your friends and subscribers, and lists these quality problems as ineligible:
- Blurry, low-resolution or pixelated video.
- Incorrect orientation (for example, a sideways phone video).
- Letterboxed video (black bars) or poorly reformatted clips.
- Unoriginal content.
- Missing audio.
- Flashing or strobing effects without a warning.
Snap also reserves the right to limit recommendations based on moderation history, feedback and engagement. So shoot or crop to full-screen vertical, keep the sound on, and post your own footage. If you reuse a clip from TikTok or Reels, remove the other app's watermark by exporting the original, not the downloaded copy.
How do you post to Spotlight from a computer?
You post to Spotlight from a computer at Snapchat's web uploader: drag in your video (or choose it), tick Spotlight Snaps under Send to, add topics, agree to the creator terms and post. Snap's support article for the web uploader lists the steps but no file rules, so use the same 1080×1920 MP4 export.
On the phone, record or upload a video of 5 seconds or more, tap Post on the preview screen (or pick Spotlight on the Send To screen), add a description and topics, and submit.
How does Spotlight compare with TikTok, Reels and Shorts?
Spotlight is the strictest of the short-video feeds on length. A 1080×1920 vertical clip under 60 seconds fits all of them:
| Platform | Where to check the limits |
|---|---|
| Snapchat Spotlight | This page: 6-60 seconds via Snap's API |
| TikTok | TikTok video size |
| Instagram Reels | Instagram Reels dimensions |
| YouTube Shorts | YouTube Shorts size and length |
Add captions so the clip works muted in every feed: QuickVeed's auto subtitles burn them in 11 styles. For every platform on one page, see the free social media video size guide.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Snapchat Spotlight video?
1080×1920 (9:16). Snap's developer docs set a minimum of 540×960.
How long can a Snapchat Spotlight be?
Snap's developer docs say 6 to 60 seconds for uploaded Spotlight videos; the app needs at least 5 seconds to show the Post button.
What is the file size limit for Snapchat Spotlight?
Snap's API accepts files up to 1 GB. Snap's help center doesn't publish a limit for the app.
Does Snapchat publish a Spotlight aspect ratio?
No. It publishes a 540×960 minimum and says letterboxed or wrongly oriented videos aren't recommended, so use full-screen 9:16.
Can I post a horizontal video to Spotlight?
You can try, but black bars count as low quality in Snap's guidelines. Crop it to vertical first.
Who can post to Spotlight?
Snapchatters 16 or older in a region where Spotlight posting is enabled, per Snapchat Support.
Try it with your own video
Caption your vertical clips in 32 languages so they work with the sound off. Upload a 60-second clip, pick a caption style, and check it before you post. 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.
