Uploading a video to social media and having it look blurry or cropped is frustrating. Each platform processes uploads differently, and using the wrong settings can ruin an otherwise great video.

YouTube

YouTube supports resolutions up to 8K, but for most creators 1080p (1920x1080) at 30 or 60 fps is the sweet spot. Use the MP4 container with H.264 video and AAC audio. A bitrate between 8 and 12 Mbps delivers sharp results without enormous file sizes.

Instagram Reels & Stories

Instagram favors vertical video at 1080x1920 (9:16 aspect ratio). Keep clips under 90 seconds for Reels. MP4 with H.264 at around 3.5 Mbps works well. Higher bitrates get re-compressed by Instagram anyway, so there is little benefit in uploading huge files.

TikTok

TikTok also uses 9:16 vertical video. The recommended resolution is 1080x1920, and videos can be up to 10 minutes long. Keep file size under 287 MB for the best upload experience. MP4 or MOV formats are accepted.

Twitter / X

Twitter accepts MP4 and MOV with a maximum file size of 512 MB. Stick with 1280x720 or 1920x1080 at 30 fps. Videos can be up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds on most accounts.

Quick Reference Table

• YouTube: 1920x1080, MP4 H.264, 8-12 Mbps
• Instagram: 1080x1920 (9:16), MP4 H.264, 3.5 Mbps
• TikTok: 1080x1920 (9:16), MP4/MOV, under 287 MB
• Twitter: 1920x1080, MP4, under 512 MB

If your video does not match these specs, use our free video converter or compressor to adjust the format and file size before uploading.