Snapchat video specs
Published 28 September 2026. Every figure checked against Snapchat's own Business Help Center and Snapchat Support pages on 28 September 2026; Snapchat changes these, so follow the links in Sources before you rely on one.
Short answer: make Snapchat videos full-screen vertical, 9:16 at 1080 × 1920. A Single Image or Video ad can run from 3 seconds to 30 minutes and up to 1 GB, though Snapchat suggests keeping ads to around 5 or 6 seconds, and it asks you to keep the top 150 pixels and bottom 330 pixels clear of graphics and logos. For your business's Public Story or for Spotlight, the web uploader takes MP4 files of 5 to 60 seconds, at least 540 × 960.
| Spec | Public Story or Spotlight (web upload) | Single Image or Video ad |
|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | Not published (minimum size is vertical) | 9:16 |
| Resolution | At least 540 × 960 | 1080 × 1920 |
| Length | 5 to 60 seconds | 3 seconds to 30 minutes; shorter ones are looped to 3 seconds |
| File | .mp4; size not published | .mp4 or .mov, H.264; up to 1 GB |
| Frame rate | Not published | Not published |
| Audio | Not published | Two channels, AAC or PCM, at least 192 kbps, 16 or 24 bit, target -16 LUFS |
| Safe zone | Not published | Keep the top 150 px and bottom 330 px clear of graphics and logos |
How long can a Snapchat video be?
It depends where it goes. Snapchat's ad specs allow a Single Image or Video ad from 3 seconds to 30 minutes, as long as the file is 1 GB or less, and loop anything shorter than 3 seconds. Story ads, which group up to ten Snaps behind a tile, allow up to 180 seconds for each one. Its best-practice page is much shorter, though: it says ads of 3 to 5 seconds often drive action, and recommends keeping them to around 5 or 6 seconds. For your own Public Story or Spotlight uploaded from the web, Snapchat Support asks for 5 to 60 seconds, and Spotlight in the app needs a Snap of 5 seconds or longer.
For a launch, we'd make a 15-second vertical cut for your Story and Spotlight, and test a shorter cut if you run it as an ad.
Size, shape and file
Ads are a full-screen canvas: 1080 × 1920 pixels at 9:16, MP4 or MOV, encoded H.264, with a pixel aspect ratio of 1:1. Snapchat is unusually specific about sound. It asks for stereo audio balanced across both channels, AAC or PCM at 192 kbps or more, 16 or 24 bit, with a loudness target of -16 LUFS. The web uploader for Public Stories and Spotlight asks only for an MP4 file of at least 540 × 960.
Safe zones
Snapchat's best-practice page for Single Image or Video ads says to keep the top 150 pixels and the bottom 330 pixels of the canvas clear of graphics or logos, so they don't clash with Snapchat's own ad interface. Ads Manager has a safe-zone toggle to check it. Snapchat also suggests showing your brand in the first 2 seconds, and every ad needs a brand name (up to 32 characters) and a headline (up to 34). It doesn't publish a safe zone for Story or Spotlight posts.
Where the official pages are vague
- Frame rate isn't given on any of the pages we checked, for posts or ads.
- Organic posts have no published aspect ratio, file size or safe zone; the web uploader gives only a minimum size and a length range.
- Ad length runs to 30 minutes in the specs but 5 to 6 seconds in the advice, and Story ad Snaps are capped at 180 seconds.
How Launch Video Maker's formats map to Snapchat
Our vertical format is 9:16 at 1080 × 1920, exported as MP4 (H.264 video, AAC audio) at 30 frames per second, which is the size Snapchat asks for in ads. Every reel is checked so its essential words sit inside a safe area of 60 pixels on the left, 120 on the right, 220 at the top and 360 at the bottom. That's more than Snapchat's 150 at the top and 330 at the bottom, so our headlines stay clear of its ad interface. Our 15, 30 and 60-second lengths all fit the web uploader's 5 to 60 seconds. We don't publish a loudness figure for our soundtracks, so if you run a reel as an ad, check the audio against Snapchat's spec before you upload it.
A 15-second vertical reel is the Short, £9. The Bundle (£49) adds 16:9 and 4:5 cuts for other platforms.
Questions
- What size should a Snapchat video be?
- Snapchat's ad specs ask for 1080 × 1920 pixels at 9:16. For Public Story and Spotlight uploads from the web, the minimum is 540 × 960.
- How long can a Snapchat ad be?
- A Single Image or Video ad can be 3 seconds to 30 minutes, up to 1 GB. Snapchat recommends keeping ads to around 5 or 6 seconds.
- How long can a Spotlight video be?
- From the web uploader, 5 to 60 seconds. In the app, Spotlight needs a Snap of 5 seconds or longer.
- What is the Snapchat ad safe zone?
- Snapchat says to keep the top 150 pixels and bottom 330 pixels of the 1080 × 1920 canvas clear of graphics and logos.
Sources
All checked on 28 September 2026.
- Snapchat Business Help Center: Single Image or Video specifications (canvas, length, file, audio, brand name and headline)
- Snapchat Business Help Center: Single Image or Video creative best practices (safe zone, recommended length)
- Snapchat Business Help Center: Story ad specifications (up to 180 seconds per Snap)
- Snapchat Business Help Center: Post to your Public Story on web (.mp4, 5 to 60 seconds, at least 540 × 960)
- Snapchat Support: How do I post Snaps to Spotlight? (5 seconds or longer)