Threads Video Length Limit and Size Specs (2026)

A video on Threads can be up to 5 minutes (300 seconds) long and up to 1 GB, according to Meta's Threads API documentation. Meta lists MP4 or MOV files with H.264 or HEVC video, 23 to 60 fps, no more than 1920 pixels wide, AAC audio, and recommends a 9:16 vertical frame to avoid cropping or blank space.

More on this topic: Video specs by platform, every guide in one place.

Those figures come from Meta's developer documentation for publishing to Threads. Meta's help center doesn't publish a separate video limit for the Threads app, so this page says what Meta has and hasn't published, gives the settings to export, and shows how to fit a longer video.

The short answer

Threads video: up to 5 minutes (300 seconds) and 1 GB. MP4 or MOV, H.264 or HEVC, 23-60 fps, at most 1920 pixels wide, AAC audio (stereo or mono, 48 kHz at most, 128 kbps). Any aspect ratio from 0.01:1 to 10:1 is accepted; 9:16 is recommended. Export 1080×1920 for vertical or 1920×1080 for landscape. A post can carry up to 20 photos and videos in a carousel.

Key takeaways

• Length: 5 minutes (300 seconds) at most. Meta's figure is for publishing through the Threads API; the help center doesn't list one for the app.
• File size: 1 GB at most, which a 5-minute 1080p video rarely gets near.
• Width: no more than 1920 pixels across, so a 4K export is too wide for the API; export 1080p.
• Shape: almost any ratio is accepted, but Meta recommends 9:16 to avoid cropping or blank space.
• Up to 20 photos and videos can go in one carousel post, with 500 characters of text.

What is the video length limit on Threads?

The video length limit on Threads is 5 minutes (300 seconds). Meta's Threads API documentation gives a maximum duration of 300 seconds and a minimum of anything longer than 0 seconds, alongside a 1 GB file size limit. Checked on 26 October 2026 against Meta's Threads API overview.

What Meta hasn't published: a help-center article that states the video limit inside the Threads app. Scheduling tools and editors repeat the same 5 minutes, which matches the API documentation, so it's the number to plan around. If your app ever shows a different limit when you upload, the app wins.

What video size and format does Threads want?

Threads wants an MP4 with H.264 (or HEVC) video and AAC audio, no wider than 1920 pixels. In practice, export one of these:

The 1920-pixel limit is on width (Meta calls it maximum columns), so a vertical 1080×1920 file is well inside it, while a 3840×2160 4K export is not. Keep the frame rate between 23 and 60 fps: a 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps export is fine, but a 120 fps slow-motion clip straight from a phone needs converting first. If you're choosing between codecs, H.264 vs H.265 explains why H.264 is the safer default.

For the same video on other networks, the free social media video size guide lists sizes and lengths side by side, and Instagram Reels dimensions covers the sister app if you cross-post.

How do you post a video longer than 5 minutes on Threads?

You post a video longer than 5 minutes on Threads by trimming it, splitting it across replies, or posting a clip with a link to the full version. The options, in order of effort:

1. Trim it. Cut the intro, the outro and any slow stretch until it's under 5:00. The free video trimmer does it in your browser; it's free, runs in your browser and never uploads your file.
2. Speed it up a little. A 5:40 talking video at 1.15× runs about 4:56. See how to speed up a video.
3. Split it. Post part 1, then reply to your own post with part 2, and so on.
4. Post a highlight. Share the best 30 to 90 seconds and link to the full video on YouTube or your site.

For long recordings, a few short clips usually do better than a full episode chopped into parts. How long a podcast clip should be and how to turn a podcast into short clips cover picking moments that stand on their own.

How do you make a video small enough for Threads?

You make a video small enough for Threads by lowering its bitrate, because file size is bitrate multiplied by length. With 1 GB for 5 minutes you can spend up to about 26 Mbps, which is far more than a 1080p video needs. Here's what a full 5-minute video weighs at common settings, with 128 kbps audio:

A 4K phone clip fails twice: it's over 1 GB at 5 minutes and wider than 1920 pixels. Shrink it to 1080p with the free video compressor, or work out any size with the free video bitrate calculator. How big is a 1-minute video has a chart for other lengths.

What aspect ratio is best for Threads videos?

9:16 vertical is the best aspect ratio for Threads videos, because it's the one Meta recommends to avoid cropping or blank space. Threads accepts nearly any shape (0.01:1 to 10:1), so a landscape clip will post, but in a phone feed it shows as a short strip. 4:5 is a sensible middle ground if the same file also goes to a feed that crops tall video.

To change the shape without cutting anyone out, the free video resizer places the video on a blurred background at 1080×1920, 1080×1350 or 1080×1080. To crop instead, the free video cropper keeps the part of the frame you choose. How to convert horizontal video to vertical compares the two.

How do Threads limits compare with X, Bluesky and Instagram?

Threads allows longer videos than a free X account and fewer minutes than Bluesky. Each platform publishes its own figures, which we cover in separate posts:

If you post the same clip everywhere, cut a version that fits the shortest limit you use, then post longer cuts where they're allowed.

Should you add captions to Threads videos?

Yes. Many people scroll with the sound off, so captions carry what's said. Burn them into the video so they show on every device; open vs closed captions explains the difference. QuickVeed's auto subtitles transcribe the clip and burn captions in 11 styles, in any of 32 languages.

Frequently asked questions

How long can a video be on Threads?

Up to 5 minutes (300 seconds), according to Meta's Threads API documentation.

What is the maximum video file size on Threads?

1 GB.

Does Meta publish Threads video limits in its help center?

Not as of 26 October 2026. The 5-minute and 1 GB figures come from Meta's developer documentation for the Threads API.

What is the best video size for Threads?

1080×1920 (9:16), as an H.264 MP4 with AAC audio at 30 fps.

Can I upload 4K video to Threads?

Meta's API documentation caps width at 1920 pixels, so export 1080p. The app may scale a larger file, but 1080p is the safe choice.

How many videos can I put in one Threads post?

A carousel can hold 2 to 20 photos or videos.

Try it with your own video

Turn one long recording into captioned clips that fit Threads, Reels and Shorts. Upload a video, caption it in your language, and check the result 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.

• Meta for Developers: Threads API overview (video and image specifications)
• Meta for Developers: Threads API posts (carousels of up to 20 items)