Ad video specs for TikTok, Snapchat, and Reels
One vertical video covers most ad platforms, as long as it's filmed to the right specs from the start. These are the basics to ask your creator for.
Abdulrahman Yaqut · Last updated:
A video suited to TikTok, Snapchat, Reels, and YouTube Shorts ads is vertical at a 9:16 ratio, ideally at 1080×1920. Place text and the product in the middle of the screen, away from the edges covered by the app's buttons.
The basics for every platform
- Orientation: vertical, 9:16.
- Resolution: 1080×1920 is the standard resolution for vertical ads.
- Audio: clear sound with no background noise, since most of these platforms are watched with sound on.
- On-screen captions: add text that summarizes what's said, for people watching without sound.
- No watermark: the final video downloads without the UGCeer watermark once you approve it.
Safe zones: where to put text and the product
Every platform overlays buttons and text on the video: the account name and caption at the bottom, the like and share buttons on the side, and the call-to-action button on ads. Any text or product under these elements won't be seen by the viewer.
The simple rule: keep the bottom and one side clear of anything important, and put the creator's face, the product, and the text in the middle of the screen. Check each platform's guidelines when you upload the ad, as they're updated regularly.
Notes for each platform
- TikTok: a video that looks like regular platform content does better than a polished ad. See TikTok ad videos.
- Snapchat: the audience watches fast, so a strong hook matters a lot. See Snapchat ad videos.
- Reels (Meta): the same vertical video works in Reels and Stories. See Meta ads.
- YouTube Shorts: a short vertical video with the same specs. See YouTube Shorts.
What to write to the creator
Write in the brief: "Vertical 9:16 video, no built-in music, product and speech in the middle of the screen." You can add music yourself from the platform's library of tracks cleared for ads, so you avoid rights issues.