TikTok ad specs, and the ones that matter
TikTok publishes its own ad specs, and they differ by how you buy. This page covers standard auction in-feed video ads, which is what most brands run. The table comes first, then the part a table can't tell you.
Auction in-feed video specs
| Spec | TikTok's figure |
|---|---|
| Recommended shape | Vertical 9:16, at least 540 x 960 pixels |
| Square | 1:1, at least 640 x 640 pixels |
| Horizontal | 16:9, at least 960 x 540 pixels |
| File types | MP4, MOV, MPEG, 3GP or AVI |
| Maximum file size | 500 MB |
| Minimum bitrate | 516 kbps |
| Account name | Up to 20 characters in Latin script (10 in Chinese, Japanese or Korean) |
Figures from TikTok's Ads help centre article on auction in-feed ads, checked by search on 3 November 2026. They apply to non-Spark auction in-feed ads. Reservation buys and TopView use different specs, including a higher bitrate, so check the article for your buying type. We left out recommended length and ad text limits because TikTok's own pages gave conflicting figures when we checked.
Which of these actually affect performance
Shape: a lot
TikTok accepts square and horizontal video, but the feed is a tall phone screen. A horizontal ad leaves bands of empty space and looks like it was made for somewhere else. Cut for 9:16 from the start rather than squeezing a landscape video in.
Safe zones: a lot
TikTok's buttons, the account name and the ad text sit on top of your video. Anything under them is hidden. TikTok provides safe-zone templates in its help centre, and it warns that elements outside the safe zone may be covered or cropped. Keep captions, prices and logos in the clear middle area.
Length: it depends on the idea
The maximum you are allowed is not the length you should aim for. What matters is how long people keep watching, which you can see in your hold rate. Cut the ad to the point where the idea is complete and no longer.
Resolution, file size and bitrate: barely
Meet the minimums and move on. A sharper file will not rescue a weak hook. These specs mostly matter because a file that falls short gets rejected at upload.
Captions and sound: more than you'd think
Audio can carry a TikTok ad, but plenty of people still watch on mute, so burn in captions as well. Note that TikTok shows the ad text in its own fixed style, so the words that need to look on-brand belong in the video.
Common reasons a TikTok ad gets rejected at upload
- The file is over 500 MB, often a long, high-bitrate export straight from editing software.
- The resolution is under the minimum for its shape.
- The file is in a format TikTok doesn't list.
- The ad breaks an advertising policy. Policy reviews are separate from specs, so check TikTok's advertising policies for your product category.
Questions, answered.
What size should a TikTok video ad be?
Vertical 9:16. TikTok's minimum for that shape is 540 x 960 pixels, but most brands export at a higher resolution.
What is the file size limit for TikTok ads?
500 MB for auction in-feed video, per TikTok's help centre when we checked on 3 November 2026.
Do Spark Ads follow the same specs?
Not exactly. Spark Ads boost a post that is already live, so the post has to meet TikTok's normal posting rules. TikTok's help centre covers Spark Ads separately.
Do your ads meet these specs?
Every ad we make exports in 9:16, 4:5 and 1:1 with captions inside the safe zone. For TikTok, use the 9:16 file.