Threads video specs
Published 28 September 2026. Every figure checked against Meta's own pages (the Instagram Help Centre, the Meta Business Help Centre and the Threads developer documentation) on 28 September 2026; Meta changes these, so follow the links in Sources before you rely on one.
Short answer: for a Threads post, a vertical 9:16 MP4 of up to 5 minutes and 1 GB works, going by the limits Meta publishes for posting through the Threads API. For a Threads ad, use 4:5: Meta accepts 1.91:1 to 9:16, but crops anything taller than 4:5 down to 4:5 in the Threads feed, and recommends 1440 × 1800. The Threads app's own help pages don't publish video limits at all.
| Spec | Post (Threads API limits) | Video ad (Threads feed) |
|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 0.01:1 to 10:1; 9:16 recommended | 1.91:1 to 9:16; taller than 4:5 is cropped to 4:5 |
| Resolution | Up to 1920 pixels wide | 1440 × 1800 recommended; no minimum or maximum |
| Length | Up to 5 minutes | Not published |
| File | MP4 or MOV; H.264 or HEVC; AAC audio; up to 1 GB | MP4, MOV or GIF; size not published |
| Frame rate | 23 to 60 fps | Not published |
| Captions | Not published | Video captions not supported |
| Safe zone | Not published | Not published |
How long can a Threads video be?
The Threads developer documentation gives a maximum of 300 seconds, 5 minutes, for a video posted through the Threads API, and 1 GB. Meta's Threads help pages for the app only say that a thread can include text, links, photos and videos, and give no length. Meta's page on Threads ads doesn't give one either. So is there an official limit for the app? Not one that Meta publishes. The API figure is the only number, and it applies to posts made through the API (by scheduling tools, for example).
For a launch, a 15 or 30-second clip is plenty: Threads is built around conversation, so the words in your post do half the work.
Size, shape and file
For API posts, Meta asks for MOV or MP4 with the moov atom at the front and no edit lists, HEVC or H.264 video, progressive scan, AAC audio at up to 48 kHz, and a frame rate of 23 to 60 fps. Width can be up to 1920 pixels. Almost any ratio is accepted, from 0.01:1 to 10:1, but Meta recommends 9:16 to avoid cropping or blank space.
Ads are different. Meta's page on ads on Threads accepts MP4, MOV and GIF from 1.91:1 to 9:16, but says videos taller than 4:5 will be cropped and centred to 4:5 in the Threads feed. It recommends 1440 × 1800 pixels, with no minimum or maximum resolution. Video captions are not supported, URLs are not allowed in the primary text, and the headline is limited to 40 characters.
Where the official pages are vague
- Posting from the app has no published length, size or ratio, so the numbers above are the API's.
- Ad length and file size are not given on Meta's Threads ads page.
- Safe zones aren't published for posts or ads.
- Shape pulls two ways: 9:16 is recommended for posts, but a 9:16 ad is cropped to 4:5.
How Launch Video Maker's formats map to Threads
For a post, our vertical format (9:16 at 1080 × 1920, MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio, 30 frames per second) matches the ratio Meta recommends and sits inside the API's width and frame-rate limits. For an ad, use our 4:5 feed cut, 1080 × 1350, which is the shape Threads crops to anyway, so nothing is lost. Meta recommends 1440 × 1800, but it sets no minimum. Because captions aren't supported in Threads video ads, our on-screen words carry the message without them. The 4:5 cut comes in the Bundle (£49), along with 16:9 and 9:16, or you can order a single 4:5 reel as the Short at £9 or the Reel at £29.
Questions
- How long can a video be on Threads?
- Meta's Threads API allows videos up to 5 minutes and 1 GB. The Threads app's help pages don't publish a limit.
- What aspect ratio should a Threads video be?
- For posts, Meta recommends 9:16. For Threads ads, it accepts 1.91:1 to 9:16 but crops anything taller than 4:5 to 4:5, so 4:5 is the safe choice.
- What size should a Threads video ad be?
- Meta recommends 1440 × 1800 pixels (4:5) and sets no minimum or maximum resolution.
- Do Threads video ads support captions?
- No. Meta's page on ads on Threads says video captions aren't supported, so put the words on screen.
Sources
All checked on 28 September 2026.
- Meta for Developers: Threads API overview (video specifications: container, codecs, frame rate, width, duration, file size)
- Meta Business Help Centre: About ads on Threads (video ad file types, ratios, 4:5 crop, recommended resolution, captions)
- Instagram Help Centre: Start a new thread on Threads (text, links, photos and videos; no limits given)