Social media video length: TikTok, Instagram, X

A video that uploads fine to one app can be rejected, or chopped into pieces, by another. Knowing the limit before you film saves a round of re-editing. If a clip already runs long, X and Instagram reels both let you trim it on the post screen.

Social media video length limits by platform: TikTok, Instagram, X

One platform can have two or three different limits. Instagram treats reels and stories differently, and YouTube separates Shorts from regular uploads. Each table row covers one platform and one post type, with the limit and the condition it depends on.

Pick a platform with the buttons above the table to show only its rows. The Conditions column shows what moves the limit: a paid plan, recording in the app versus uploading, or account verification.

Being allowed isn't the same as being shown: Instagram won't recommend reels over 3 minutes to new audiences. Check the Conditions column before you settle on a length.

X (Twitter) video length limit: 2:20, or 4 hours with Premium

On X, formerly Twitter, the limit depends on whether you subscribe to X Premium. Without it, a video can run up to 140 seconds (2 minutes 20 seconds), and the file can be up to 512 MB. Premium subscribers can upload videos shorter than 4 hours, at either 1080p or 720p, with files up to 16 GB.

A clip only a few seconds over 2:20 can be trimmed on the post screen. Drag either end of the bar under the video, then tap Trim.

Instagram reel length and Instagram story length

Instagram handles video in two ways. A reel has a hard cap on total length. A story accepts a longer video but breaks it into clips.

Instagram reels max length is 20 minutes

You can record and edit reels up to 20 minutes long. That total can be one clip or several clips added together, and the progress bar at the top shows how much time you've used.

Reach is the limit that bites. Instagram says reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences, so if you want people who don't follow you to see it, keep it to 3 minutes (180 seconds) or less. Some accounts can still watch reels but not record them yet.

Instagram story video length: 60 seconds per clip

A story video of 60 seconds or less plays as a single clip. You can still post something longer, but Instagram breaks it into multiple clips.

Before sharing, you can edit those clips with the video trimmer at the bottom of the screen, though the trimmer only works on iOS devices for now. Stories disappear after 24 hours unless you add them to a highlight.

TikTok video length limit: 10 minutes recorded, 60 uploaded

TikTok sets one limit for the in-app camera and another for uploads. Videos you record in TikTok can run up to 10 minutes, while a finished file you upload from your phone or computer can run up to 60 minutes. For anything past 10 minutes, film outside the app and upload the file.

A sound picked first overrides both limits. If you select a sound before you record or upload, the sound's length decides how long the video is. When a clip comes out shorter than expected, check whether you picked the sound first.

YouTube Shorts max length and the YouTube video length limit

A YouTube Short is a square or vertical video of 3 minutes or less. That rule covers videos uploaded on or after October 15, 2024. Videos uploaded before that date keep their old classification.

A vertical video longer than 3 minutes still uploads, but as a regular video rather than a Short. Until you verify your account, regular videos are capped at 15 minutes. Once you do, the limit rises to 12 hours or 256 GB, whichever comes first.

Facebook, Threads and LinkedIn video length limits

Facebook renamed its Videos tab to Reels in June 2025, and every video posted there is now a reel. At the same time it dropped the length and orientation limits for reels, so length won't stop a Facebook upload.

Threads lets you attach videos up to 5 minutes long, according to Meta's launch announcement from July 2023 (updated August 14, 2024). LinkedIn's cap is 15 minutes. It also sets a minimum: 3 seconds from a desktop and 2 seconds from the mobile app.

Trim video or cut clips to fit the limit

A video over the limit has to get shorter before you can post it. Trimming removes footage from the start or end. Cutting takes scenes out of the middle.

If you're only slightly over, trimming is enough. X and Instagram reels both let you trim on the post screen, so a clip that runs a few seconds long takes only a moment to fix.

To take out several scenes, cut the clip in your phone's photo app or a video editor first. You can then upload the same edited file everywhere, and a short trimmed clip can also become an animated GIF for a blog post or chat.

Social media video length in short: X, TikTok and YouTube Shorts

The platform name alone doesn't tell you the limit. Three more things change it:

• the post type
• whether you pay for a plan
• whether you record in the app or upload a file

The tightest caps are X without Premium at 140 seconds and YouTube Shorts at 3 minutes. Before you post, find your platform's row in the table, and trim the video if it runs over. For text limits on the same platforms, see "Social media character limits: X, YouTube and more", and for profile photo sizes, see "Profile picture size by platform: official specs".