Ijharul Islam
TikTok auction in-feed video ads should be vertical 9:16 at 540×960 or larger (1080×1920 is the usual export), up to 500 MB, at least 516 kbps and up to 10 minutes long, in MP4, MOV, MPEG, 3GP or AVI. Horizontal 16:9 and square 1:1 are accepted. Spark Ads, which boost an organic post, have no length limit.
More on this topic: Video specs by platform, every guide in one place.
Those are the figures on TikTok's auction in-feed specs page, last updated June 2026. Reservation formats such as TopView are stricter (5 to 60 seconds, at least 2,500 kbps). This page lists each one, from TikTok's Ads Help center.
The short answer
TikTok auction in-feed ads (non-Spark): 9:16 at 540×960 or more (16:9 at 960×540+, 1:1 at 640×640+ also accepted); .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .3gp or .avi; up to 500 MB; at least 516 kbps; up to 10 minutes. Display name: 20 characters (10 in Chinese, Japanese or Korean). Profile image 98×98, under 50 KB. Spark Ads: MP4 or MOV, no length limit, captions from the organic post. TopView and reservation in-feed: 5-60 seconds, at least 2,500 kbps.
Key takeaways
- Export 1080×1920 (9:16) H.264 MP4; TikTok's minimum is 540×960.
- Auction in-feed ads can run up to 10 minutes and 500 MB; reservation ads and TopView are 5-60 seconds.
- Bitrate floors differ: 516 kbps for auction in-feed, 2,500 kbps for reservation in-feed and TopView.
- Ad captions show four lines; TikTok suggests about 100 characters (50 in CJK) to avoid the See more cut.
- Use TikTok's downloadable safe zone files; the right side and bottom are covered by buttons and text.
What are the TikTok ad specs for in-feed video ads?
TikTok's in-feed video ad specs are 9:16 vertical at 540×960 or more, up to 500 MB, at least 516 kbps and up to 10 minutes for auction ads. Checked on 26 October 2026 against TikTok Ads Help (auction in-feed specs, last updated June 2026).
| Spec | Auction in-feed (non-Spark) | Spark Ads (pull) |
|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio and size | 9:16 ≥ 540×960 (recommended); 16:9 ≥ 960×540; 1:1 ≥ 640×640 | Uses the organic post as it is |
| File types | .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .3gp, .avi | .mp4 or .mov |
| Length | Up to 10 minutes | No restriction |
| File size | 500 MB or less | Not listed |
| Bitrate | 516 kbps or more | Not listed |
| Ad caption | White, fixed font; no links, @ mentions or hashtags | Taken from the organic post; 4 lines shown |
| Display name | One line: 20 characters (10 in Chinese, Japanese, Korean) | The post's account |
| Profile image | 98×98 px, JPG or PNG, under 50 KB; key element in the central 66×66 | The account's profile |
Note that the 516 kbps floor is low. It's a minimum to be accepted, not a quality target: export 1080×1920 at 8 to 12 Mbps and the file stays well under 500 MB for any ad under 5 minutes.
What are the TopView and reservation in-feed ad specs?
TopView and reservation in-feed ads are 9:16 vertical videos of 5 to 60 seconds, up to 500 MB, at a bitrate of at least 2,500 kbps. TikTok recommends 9 to 15 seconds for both:
| Spec | TopView | Reservation in-feed (Reach & Frequency) |
|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 9:16, ≥ 540×960 | 9:16 recommended; 16:9 and 1:1 accepted |
| Length | 5-60 s (9-15 s recommended) | 5-60 s (9-15 s recommended) |
| File size | 500 MB or less | 500 MB or less |
| File types | .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .3gp | .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .3gp |
| Bitrate | 2,500 kbps or more | 2,500 kbps or more |
| Caption | Up to 100 characters | 4 lines; about 100 characters (50 CJK) suggested |
| Spark Ads (pull) | No length restriction | No length restriction; captions up to 150 characters or blank |
The TopView page was last updated October 2026 and the reservation in-feed page July 2025. Because the formats differ, check the spec page for the exact buying type you use before you export.
What size should a TikTok ad be?
A TikTok ad should be 1080×1920 pixels (9:16). TikTok lists 540×960 as the minimum for vertical, but a 1080p file looks sharper on modern phones and is still small. If you only have landscape footage, 16:9 is accepted for in-feed ads, though it fills a small strip of a vertical screen; cropping to 9:16 usually works better. The free video cropper reframes footage to 9:16, and the free video resizer places a landscape clip on a blurred vertical background.
| Footage you have | What to do |
|---|---|
| Vertical phone video | Export 1080×1920 H.264 MP4 at 30 fps |
| Landscape product video | Crop to 9:16 around the product, or resize onto a 1080×1920 background |
| Square video | Accepted at 640×640+, but a 9:16 version fills the screen |
| 4K master | Export a 1080×1920 copy; it's faster to upload and review |
For organic TikTok sizes and lengths, see TikTok video size.
How long should a TikTok ad be?
A TikTok ad can be up to 10 minutes as an auction in-feed ad, but TikTok recommends 9 to 15 seconds for TopView and reservation in-feed ads. Most ads work best short: a hook in the first two seconds, the product or offer in the middle, and a clear call to action at the end.
| Ad goal | Practical length |
|---|---|
| Awareness, single product | 9-15 seconds |
| UGC-style review or demo | 15-30 seconds |
| Explainer or comparison | 30-60 seconds |
| Long-form story (auction only) | 60 seconds and up, if the first seconds hold |
How to write a hook for short videos covers the opening, and UGC ad script examples has templates that fit 15 to 30 seconds.
What are the TikTok ad caption and text limits?
TikTok shows up to four lines of ad caption and hides the rest behind See more, so it suggests keeping captions to about 100 characters (50 in Chinese, Japanese or Korean). Its counting rules: English characters count as one, Chinese, Japanese and Korean characters as two, punctuation counts, and leading or trailing spaces don't.
| Field | Limit |
|---|---|
| Ad caption (in-feed) | 4 lines shown; about 100 characters suggested (50 CJK) |
| Spark Ads caption (pull) | From the organic post; up to 150 characters or blank (reservation spec) |
| Display name | One line, 20 characters (10 CJK) |
| Image ad description (Global App Bundle) | 1-100 Latin characters, 1-50 Asian; no emojis, braces or # |
| App name (image ads) | 4-40 Latin or 2-20 Asian characters |
Non-Spark in-feed captions can't carry links, @ mentions or hashtags, and appear in a fixed white font. Put the offer on screen as well, in case the caption is skipped.
Where is the safe zone in a TikTok ad?
TikTok publishes downloadable safe zone files for its ads rather than a list of pixel margins. The safe zone depends on orientation, caption length and add-ons such as anchors, and there are separate right-to-left versions for Arabic. As a rule, keep text, logos and faces out of the right edge (the like, comment and share buttons) and the bottom (the caption, display name and call-to-action button).
The free add text to video tool lets you place text overlays where you want them, and the YouTube Shorts safe zone gives pixel margins you can use as a cautious starting point for any vertical ad. Add captions to anything spoken: how to add captions to TikTok videos shows how.
How do TikTok ad specs compare with Facebook and Instagram?
TikTok and Meta both want 9:16 vertical video for full-screen placements, but the file and length rules differ. Facebook video ad specs covers Meta's formats, and Instagram Reels dimensions the organic Reels sizes. A 1080×1920 H.264 MP4, 15 to 30 seconds long, with captions burned in and nothing important on the right or bottom edge, works on all of them.
If you need ad creative to test, QuickVeed's UGC video ads product makes UGC-style vertical ads, and its AI video generator creates 2 to 15 second clips for b-roll. How to make UGC ads with AI covers the disclosure rules to follow.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a TikTok video ad?
9:16 vertical, at least 540×960; export 1080×1920. 16:9 and 1:1 are also accepted for in-feed ads.
How long can a TikTok ad be?
Up to 10 minutes for auction in-feed ads. TopView and reservation in-feed ads are 5-60 seconds, with 9-15 seconds recommended.
What is the TikTok ad file size limit?
500 MB or less.
What bitrate does a TikTok ad need?
At least 516 kbps for auction in-feed ads and 2,500 kbps for TopView and reservation in-feed ads.
How long can a TikTok ad caption be?
Four lines are shown; TikTok suggests about 100 characters (50 in CJK) to avoid the See more cut.
Do Spark Ads have a length limit?
No. Spark Ads use the organic post and support all lengths TikTok allows.
What file types does TikTok accept for ads?
.mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .3gp and .avi for auction in-feed ads.
Try it with your own video
Make UGC-style vertical ads and caption them in 32 languages. Write a short script, generate a draft ad, and judge it before you spend on it. 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.
