The size of your TikTok video can make or break your content. I’ve come across too many creators with blurry videos and lack of engagement simply because they had no idea what is the correct TikTok aspect ratio dimensions to use.
Let me guide you through everything you should know about TikTok video sizes, aspect ratios, and how to maintain your content sharp.
What’s the Best TikTok Video Size for High-Quality Content?
The optimum TikTok video size is 1080 x 1920 pixels with a 9:16 aspect ratio. That is the ideal dimension for vertical videos on TikTok.
When you make use of these dimensions, your video takes up the whole screen on mobile phones. There are no black bars along the sides, and your content is professional.
Why TikTok Video Size Matters for Engagement and Quality
Your video size has a direct influence on the way individuals view your content. Uploading videos in the incorrect size causes TikTok to crop them or insert black bars. Such an effect results in your content appearing amateurish.
The algorithm also notices video quality. Videos that perfectly fill up the screen are viewed more because they give users a better experience.
I always remind creators that correct video dimensions are just as crucial as decent lighting or audio. Folks scroll quickly on TikTok. If your video is not correct, they’ll keep scrolling.
Ideal Aspect Ratio and Resolution for TikTok Videos
The perfect aspect ratio for TikTok is 9:16. That is the vertical orientation that performs well on phones.
For resolution, shoot for 1080p. That is 1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels high. This provides you with nice, sharp videos that will look great on any device.
You can scale down to 720 x 1280 pixels if necessary, but don’t go lower. Smaller resolutions cause your videos to appear pixelated and amateurish.
What Is the Correct TikTok Video Size and Aspect Ratio?
Let me explain the actual size numbers and ratio you need to understand.
Recommended Dimensions (Width × Height)
Following are the optimal dimensions for TikTok videos:
Primary recommendation: 1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio)
This is what I use for all my vertical content. It’s the standard for TikTok and gives you the best results.
Alternative options:
- 720 x 1280 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio) – reduced acceptable quality
- 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio) – for square videos
- 1920 x 1080 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio) – for landscape videos
The vertical format works best because that’s how people hold their phones. Square and landscape videos don’t fill the screen, so they get less engagement.
TikTok Aspect Ratio in Pixels and Inches
The 9:16 aspect ratio means your video is 9 units wide and 16 units tall. It’s almost twice as tall as it is wide.
In pixels, this translates to:
- Width: 1080 pixels
- Height: 1920 pixels
TikTok also accommodates 1:1 (square) and 16:9 (landscape) ratios, but they don’t get as nice a look. The 9:16 format fills the full screen, which is ideal.
For physical sizes, this depends on the device. But the pixel ratio remains the same on every screen.
Reducing TikTok Compression and Quality Loss
One of the most frustrating things I hear from creators is that their videos look wonderful before upload but go blurry on TikTok.
Why TikTok Compresses Videos
TikTok compresses all the videos you upload. They must do so because millions of videos upload every day.
The platform must conserve storage space and have videos load swiftly for users. So they shrink the file size by compression.
This compression may degrade your videos’ quality, particularly when you don’t upload them properly.
Tips to Maintain Video Quality After Upload
Here’s how I keep my videos looking sharp on TikTok:
Start with high resolution: Always record or edit your videos in 1080p or higher. If you start with 4K, that’s even better.
Enable Upload HD: In your TikTok settings, turn on the “Upload HD” option. This tells TikTok to compress your video less. You can find this in Settings > Data Saver > Upload HD.
Use the right codec: Export your videos using H.264 codec. This is what TikTok uses, so it compresses less during upload.
Keep file size under 65 MB: Larger files get compressed more. Try to keep your videos under this limit.
Upload from your computer: When possible, upload from TikTok’s desktop site. Mobile uploads sometimes get compressed more.
Don’t download and reupload: Never download a video from TikTok and reupload it. This causes double compression and makes quality terrible.
Use good lighting: This isn’t about compression, but well-lit videos hold up better during compression.
Before Uploading any video, you must know best time to post on tiktok.
TikTok Video Dimensions and Specifications
Let me give you the complete technical specs for TikTok videos.
Aspect Ratio: Portrait vs. Landscape
TikTok officially supports three aspect ratios:
9:16 (Vertical/Portrait): This is the standard. It fills the entire phone screen and gets the most engagement. Use this for regular TikTok videos.
1:1 (Square): This works okay but leaves black bars above and below. It’s better for content you’re cross-posting to Instagram.
16:9 (Horizontal/Landscape): This is for landscape videos. It leaves big black bars and doesn’t perform well. Only use this if your content requires horizontal format.
I recommend sticking with 9:16 for 95% of your content.
Frame Rate, Bitrate, and File Size Limits
Here are the technical specs you need to know:
Frame rate: 30 fps (frames per second) is standard. You can use 60 fps, but 30 fps works fine for most content.
Bitrate: Aim for 8-12 Mbps for 1080p videos. Higher bitrate means better quality but larger file size.
File size limits:
- Maximum: 287.6 MB for iOS, 72 MB for Android
- Recommended: Keep under 65 MB to avoid extra compression
Video length:
- Regular videos: Up to 10 minutes
- TikTok Stories: Up to 15 seconds
Minimum resolution:
- 540 x 960 pixels (but don’t go this low if you can avoid it)
Portrait vs. Landscape: Which Is Better for TikTok Videos?
This is an easy answer: portrait wins almost every time.
Benefits of Portrait Videos on TikTok
Portrait videos take up the full screen on mobile devices. This is huge because TikTok is a mobile-first platform.
When your video fills the screen, viewers are more engaged. They’re not distracted by black bars or other content. It’s just your video and nothing else.
The TikTok algorithm favors portrait videos. You’ll get more views, more engagement, and better performance with vertical content.
Portrait videos also feel more natural on TikTok. That’s what people expect. When they see landscape videos, it feels out of place.
When to Use Landscape Videos on TikTok
There are only a few situations where landscape makes sense:
Repurposing YouTube content: If you have existing horizontal videos you want to share, landscape might be necessary.
Wide group shots: Sometimes you need to show multiple people side by side.
Specific video formats: Some types of content, like gaming or tutorials, might require landscape.
But even in these cases, I recommend finding ways to make your content work in portrait. You can zoom in, crop strategically, or reshoot for vertical.
Best File Formats for TikTok Videos
The file format you use affects upload quality and compatibility.
Supported Video File Types (MP4, MOV, etc.)
TikTok accepts these video formats:
- MP4
- MOV
- MPEG
- AVI
- 3GP
- GIF
MP4 is the best choice. It’s compatible with Android devices and compresses well without losing much quality.
MOV works great for iPhone users. If you’re editing on iOS, MOV is fine. TikTok handles it well.
I stick with MP4 for most of my uploads because it’s universal and reliable.
Recommended Encoding Settings for Quality
When you export your video, use these settings:
Codec: H.264 (this is the standard for TikTok)
Container: MP4
Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Frame rate: 30 fps
Bitrate: 8-12 Mbps for 1080p
Audio codec: AAC
Audio bitrate: 128-320 kbps
Most video editing software has presets for social media or mobile video. These usually work well for TikTok.
TikTok Ad Dimensions and Requirements
If you’re running TikTok ads, the requirements are slightly different.
In-Feed Ad Size and Aspect Ratio
In-feed ads appear in users’ For You feeds. They look like regular TikTok videos.
Required specs:
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 (recommended), 1:1, or 16:9
- Resolution: 720 x 1280 pixels (minimum), 1080 x 1920 pixels (recommended)
- File type: MP4 or MOV
- Video length: 5-60 seconds (recommended)
- File size: Maximum 500 MB
In-feed ads also need a display image (profile picture) and ad text. Make sure your video includes captions since many users watch without sound.
TopView and Spark Ads Specifications
TopView ads appear when users first open TikTok. They’re the first thing people see.
TopView specs:
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 (standard) or 16:9
- Resolution: 720 x 1280 pixels (minimum)
- Video length: 5-60 seconds
- File size: Maximum 500 MB
Spark ads boost existing organic TikTok posts. They use the same specs as regular videos:
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 recommended
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- No specific length restriction
- File size: Maximum 500 MB
How to Resize TikTok Videos to Perfect Dimensions
Sometimes you have videos in the wrong size and need to fix them.
Using Mobile Apps or Online Tools
There are several tools you can use to resize videos:
Mobile apps:
- CapCut (free and powerful)
- InShot
- TikTok’s built-in editor
Online tools:
- Kapwing
- Clideo
- FlexClip
I personally use CapCut for most of my editing. It’s free and has a built-in TikTok export preset that automatically sets the right dimensions.
How to resize in CapCut:
- Import your video
- Tap on the video in the timeline
- Select “Ratio”
- Choose 9:16
- Adjust positioning if needed
- Export at 1080p
Adjusting Aspect Ratio Without Cropping
When you change aspect ratio, you might lose parts of your video. Here’s how to avoid that:
Add a background: Instead of cropping, add a blurred or colored background to fill the empty space. Most editing apps have this feature.
Use zoom and pan: Slowly zoom and pan across your video to show different parts without cropping.
Split your video: For wide shots, split the video into multiple clips that show different areas.
Shoot in portrait from the start: The best solution is to plan ahead and shoot in vertical format.
How Long Should a TikTok Video Be?
Video length affects engagement in different ways.
Optimal Duration for Engagement
The sweet spot for TikTok videos is between 21 and 34 seconds. Videos in this range tend to get the highest engagement.
Shorter videos (7-15 seconds) also work well because people watch them multiple times. This boosts your view count and completion rate.
Longer videos (1-3 minutes) can work if your content is really engaging. But you need to hook viewers in the first 3 seconds or they’ll scroll past.
I try to keep most of my videos under 30 seconds. This length is long enough to tell a story but short enough to keep attention.
TikTok Length Limits by Content Type
Here are the current length limits:
Regular videos: Up to 10 minutes
TikTok Stories: Up to 15 seconds
Live streams: Up to 60 minutes (but you need 1,000 followers to go live)
For most creators, the 10-minute limit is more than enough. Remember, TikTok is about short, snappy content. Just because you can make a 10-minute video doesn’t mean you should.
What’s the Best TikTok Video Format?
Let’s wrap up the technical details with format recommendations.
Ideal File Type and Codec for Uploading
The best combination for TikTok is:
- File type: MP4
- Video codec: H.264
- Audio codec: AAC
This combination gives you the best quality while keeping file sizes reasonable.
H.264 is efficient and widely supported. TikTok uses this codec internally, so videos encoded in H.264 go through less processing during upload.
Best Practices for Smooth Playback
Follow these tips to ensure your videos play smoothly:
Export at the right frame rate: Stick with 30 fps. Higher frame rates create larger files without much benefit on TikTok.
Don’t overcomplicate effects: Too many transitions or effects can cause playback issues. Keep it simple.
Test on mobile: Always watch your video on a phone before posting. What looks good on a computer might not work on mobile.
Check audio sync: Make sure your audio and video stay in sync throughout the entire video.
Avoid extreme compression: Don’t try to make your file super small. Let TikTok handle the compression.
FAQs: TikTok Aspect Ratio
What is the best resolution for TikTok videos?
The optimum resolution is 1080 x 1920 pixels. This provides you with sharp, high-quality videos that appear professional on any device. You can reduce it to 720 x 1280 pixels, but I would not suggest lower than that.
Why does my TikTok video look blurry after uploading?
Your video likely got compressed too much. To resolve this, turn on “Upload HD” in your TikTok app settings, begin with higher resolution video, and limit your file size below 65 MB. Also, ensure that you upload at 1080p and that you’re using H.264 codec.
Can I upload landscape videos to TikTok?
Yes, you can upload landscape videos, but they will not do well. Landscape videos produce black bars at the top and bottom, which minimizes engagement. I suggest making your content vertical whenever possible.
What aspect ratio should I use for TikTok ads?
For TikTok advertisements, apply 9:16 aspect ratio with 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution. TikTok also supports 1:1 and 16:9, but vertical video works best since they fill the entire screen.
How do I enable Upload HD on TikTok?
Go to your profile, tap the three lines at the top right, choose “Settings and privacy,” then “Data Saver,” and toggle on “Upload HD.” This instructs TikTok not to compress your videos as much and keep them higher quality.
What’s the maximum video length on TikTok?
Standard TikTok videos are up to 10 minutes long. But the most engaging videos are between 21-34 seconds long. Stories are 15 seconds long.
Should I shoot TikTok videos in 4K?
You may record at 4K, yet TikTok will compress it to 1080p. Recording at 4K provides you with greater room for editing and can produce higher quality once compressed. Just ensure you export at 1080p prior to uploading.
Conclusion
Having the right TikTok video size is perhaps the simplest way to get your content quality up. Use 1080 x 1920 pixels in 9:16 aspect ratio and you’re set.
Don’t forget to turn on Upload HD in settings, H.264 codec, and decent-sized files. These quick tips will make your videos appear crisp and professional.
At AI Connecto, we assist creators in optimizing content for optimal performance. Either you’re new to TikTok or aiming to improve your current content, correct video dimensions are the essence of quality content.
Begin with the correct size, ensure proper quality in your editing process, and let TikTok’s platform take care of the rest. Your audience will notice a difference, and your engagement will appreciate it.
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