Meta ad specs and safe zone
Updated 2026-08-15 · Risk-term list version 2026-08-15c
Meta ad specs, in one line: 9:16 at 1440×2560 as the main cut, with a 1:1 delivered as backup. The spec page states no maximum length; 30 seconds or less is campaign practice, not a rule. Safe zone — Keep text, logo and key elements out of roughly the top 14%, the bottom 35% and 6% on each side.
5 of the 5 fields below come from the official page (opened and linked on 2026-08-15); the rest are marked 🟡 experience-based. We do not invent citations.
Specs are only the entry ticket. What gets an asset rejected is the claims, and each platform words those rules differently — the last section covers this one.
Meta ad specs, field by field — and where each number came from
The third column is the provenance of that row. “From official page” means the number is copied from one of the pages under Sources; “🟡 experience-based” means the official page does not state it and this comes from campaign experience — do not cite it as platform policy. Checked 2026-08-15.
| Field | Value | Provenance |
|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio and resolution | Facebook Reels recommends 9:16 at 1440×2560 | from official page |
| Length | The spec page says "No maximum limit." (campaign practice still suggests 30 seconds or less) | from official page |
| File size and format | Up to 4GB; MP4 / MOV / GIF; H.264, square pixels, fixed frame rate, progressive scan, AAC at 128kbps or higher | from official page |
| Safe area (safe zone) | Keep text, logo and key elements out of roughly the top 14%, the bottom 35%, and about 6% on each side | from official page |
| Copy length | Primary text 40 characters, headline 55 characters | from official page |
What this means in practice on Meta (Reels and Feed): Advantage+ crops automatically, so keep key elements centred; also deliver a version that reads with the sound off
How this platform reads claims
Meta words this differently from TikTok, and both lines matter. (1) The health and wellness standard bars "statements of inferiority about physical appearance" and a "close up on specific body area by pinching fat", and requires 18+ targeting for weight-loss and cosmetic ads; general before-and-after transformation is allowed for 18+. (2) The personal-attributes standard says ads "must not contain content that asserts or implies personal attributes... physical or mental health (including medical conditions)" — which is why a second-person body question ("Struggling with belly fat?") is far riskier than a first-person account ("I sat in this all day").
For the actual phrasings — which ones are high risk in this category and what to say instead — see the flagged-term list, or paste your copy into the free checker.
One shoot, two aspect ratios
Cross-platform is the structural difference from the platforms’ own tools: TikTok’s does not leave TikTok, Meta’s does not leave Meta. But the same SKU goes to TikTok Shop, Meta, Shorts, Temu and Amazon. Four of those take 9:16; Amazon Sponsored Brands video is documented as "16:9 only" with no vertical option — so it is one shoot and two aspect ratios, not one cut everywhere.
| Platform | Aspect | Max length | Safe area | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok / TikTok Shop | 9:16 | 60s | Leave roughly 130px clear at the top and 480px at the bottom; the interaction rail on the right takes about 140px | Land the core message in the first 3 seconds; captions are on by default; AI-generated content must be disclosed by you, and the platform also labels it automatically |
| Meta (Reels and Feed) | 9:16 as the main cut, with a 1:1 delivered as backup | 30s | Keep text, logo and key elements out of roughly the top 14%, the bottom 35% and 6% on each side | Advantage+ crops automatically, so keep key elements centred; also deliver a version that reads with the sound off |
| Temu on-platform | 1:1 and 3:4 | 30s | About 8% margin on all four sides | The product must appear within the first 2 seconds and fill at least 40% of the frame; do not burn price tags into the footage, so the cut survives a price change |
| Amazon Sponsored Brands | 16:9 — the spec page says "only"; there is no vertical option | 45s | Keep text and key elements out of the bottom-right corner; no black, colour or blurred bars | 6–45 seconds, and the spec page strongly recommends 20 or under; the video language must match the marketplace (an English marketplace needs English captions or an English voiceover) |
| YouTube Shorts | 9:16 | 60s | Keep the bottom 15% clear of the title bar | Watch-through carries most of the weight; hold a still final frame for about a second so the loop feels intentional |
The practical version: frame with horizontal headroom, then export two — a 9:16 master (key elements inside the middle 50% of the height, plus a 1:1) and a 16:9 for Amazon. Do not fake the 16:9 with bars: Amazon’s spec page explicitly says to avoid black, colour or blurred bars.
Other platforms
FAQ
When do the Meta (Reels and Feed) numbers go stale?
The platforms’ own pages change. This one stamps the date we opened them (2026-08-15), and lists 4 linked sources below — the ones that self-date their “last updated” let you check the drift yourself. Go by the platform’s current rules before you spend, especially for safe areas, which move with UI redesigns.
Which Meta (Reels and Feed) fields are not officially sourced?
None. All 5 fields on this page come from the official pages linked below. That is unusual across the five placements — on most of them the composition safe area is the row the spec page leaves out.
Does composing to the Meta (Reels and Feed) safe area waste frame?
On this placement the safe area is: Keep text, logo and key elements out of roughly the top 14%, the bottom 35% and 6% on each side. It costs you some edge and buys one cut that covers most of the five placements. For a seller with many SKUs and a weekly creative refresh, reshooting costs far more than the edge.
Anything else to know before running on Meta (Reels and Feed)?
Advantage+ crops automatically, so keep key elements centred; also deliver a version that reads with the sound off. That is not a spec — it is the part a platform will not block at upload. A wrong spec costs you time; this kind of mistake costs you the flight.
Do AI-generated assets need a label?
On TikTok, yes — tick the disclosure in Ads Manager or add a clear disclaimer, caption or watermark yourself; undisclosed AI content that is detected gets rejected or restricted. For other placements, go by their current rules; we do not rule on their behalf. Worth saying: we do not make videos. This note is for when you use someone else’s generator.
Sources
- Meta ads guide · Facebook Reels video ad specs （checked 2026-08-15）
- Meta · aspect ratio best practice by placement （checked 2026-08-15）
- Meta advertising standards · health and wellness (weight loss and body image) （checked 2026-08-15）
- Meta advertising standards · privacy violations and personal attributes （checked 2026-08-15）