Why Platform-Specific Settings Matter
Each social media platform re-encodes uploaded videos. If you upload a poorly compressed video, the platform's re-encoding will further degrade quality. Uploading a properly formatted video gives the encoder better source material to work with.
Instagram Video Settings
Feed posts:
- Resolution: 1080x1080 (square), 1080x1350 (portrait), 1080x608 (landscape)
- Duration: Up to 60 minutes
- Format: MP4 with H.264 codec
- Frame rate: 30fps
- Recommended bitrate: 3.5 Mbps
Stories/Reels:
- Resolution: 1080x1920 (9:16 aspect ratio)
- Duration: Up to 90 seconds for Reels
- Target file size: Under 30MB
TikTok Video Settings
- Resolution: 1080x1920 (9:16)
- File size limit: 287MB (mobile), 500MB (desktop)
- Duration: Up to 10 minutes
- Format: MP4 or MOV
- Bitrate: 2-5 Mbps for optimal quality
YouTube Video Settings
YouTube is more forgiving with uploads but benefits from high-quality source material:
- Resolution: 1080p minimum, 4K preferred
- Format: MP4 with H.264 or H.265
- Frame rate: Match your source (24, 30, or 60fps)
- Bitrate: 8 Mbps (1080p30), 12 Mbps (1080p60), 35-45 Mbps (4K)
- Audio: AAC at 384kbps stereo
Twitter/X Video Settings
- Resolution: 1280x720 minimum, 1920x1080 recommended
- File size: 512MB maximum
- Duration: 2 minutes 20 seconds
- Format: MP4 with H.264
- Bitrate: 5-8 Mbps
General Compression Tips for Social Media
- Always export at the platform's native resolution
- Use H.264 codec for maximum compatibility
- Include 2-3 seconds of still frame at the start for thumbnail selection
- Compress audio to 128-256kbps AAC
- Remove metadata to slightly reduce file size
- Test with a short clip before uploading long videos