Checklist · official specs
UGC video specs for TikTok, Reels and Shorts ads
Published 2026-11-08
A great UGC video can still fail as an ad if the caption covers the product or the call-to-action button sits on the creator’s face. Specs are the boring part of the brief, which is exactly why they get skipped. We checked the official ad guides from TikTok, Meta and Google in November 2026, so you can tell your creator exactly what to deliver.
The short answer
- Film vertical 9:16. All three platforms recommend vertical video, and TikTok and Meta name 9:16.
- Ask for at least 1080 × 1920. Meta’s Reels guide recommends 1440 × 2560 if the creator can shoot it.
- Keep text, logos and the product away from the edges. Meta’s guide suggests leaving the top 14%, bottom 35% and 6% on each side clear, which is a safe default everywhere.
- Order a clean version. That means no captions and no music, so you can add your own later.
Official specs side by side
| TikTok in-feed | Instagram Reels | YouTube Shorts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 recommended (16:9 and 1:1 allowed) | 9:16 | Vertical recommended |
| Resolution | At least 540 × 960 | 1440 × 2560 recommended | Not specified on the guide we checked |
| Length | Up to 10 minutes (Spark Ads: no limit) | 0 seconds to 15 minutes | Up to 3 minutes, but only the first 60 seconds play in the Shorts feed |
| File | .mp4, .mov and others, up to 500 MB | MP4 or MOV, up to 4 GB | Must be uploaded to YouTube (public or unlisted) |
| Safe zone | Depends on caption length. TikTok offers downloadable templates | Keep top 14%, bottom 35% and 6% each side clear | Not specified on the guide we checked |
Sources: TikTok Auction In-Feed Ads (last updated June 2026), Meta Ads Guide: Instagram Reels, Google Ads: YouTube Shorts ads specs. Checked November 8, 2026. Platforms update these pages often.
The good news is that one well-shot vertical video works on all three. The resolution minimums are low, so the real limit is the creator’s camera and lighting. Most modern smartphones can record at 1080p or higher.
Safe zones: where not to put anything important
On a phone, the platform draws its own layer on top of your ad: the account name, caption, buttons, and the call-to-action. Anything under that layer is hard to see.
Meta’s Reels guide gives the clearest numbers. It says to keep text, logos and other key elements out of at least the top 14%, the bottom 35% and 6% on each side. On a 1080 × 1920 frame, that is roughly the top 270 pixels, the bottom 670 pixels and 65 pixels on each side.
TikTok doesn’t give one percentage, because its safe zone changes with the caption length and ad format. Instead, it offers downloadable template files on the same help page. If you run on TikTok, open the template over your video before you launch.
In practice, tell your creator three things:
- Keep your face and the product in the middle of the frame.
- Don’t hold the product low near the bottom of the screen, where the caption and button will sit.
- If you add on-screen text, place it in the upper middle, not at the very top or bottom.
How long should the video be?
All three platforms allow far longer videos than most UGC ads need, so length is a creative choice, not a technical one. The one hard edge is YouTube Shorts: only the first 60 seconds play in the feed, and Google recommends ads under 60 seconds.
Many Fiverr creators price their packages by length. In the gigs we opened for our usage rights check, several sellers priced packages at 15, 30 and 60 seconds. For a first test, we suggest ordering:
- One main cut of 20 to 40 seconds that tells the full story.
- Two or three alternative hooks, the first few seconds filmed differently, so you can swap openings without a reshoot. Our script template has hook ideas.
- A clean version with no captions or music.
Sound, music and captions
- Music: Meta’s Reels guide lists licensed music among things it doesn’t support for these ads. It suggests original audio or royalty-free tracks from Meta’s Sound Collection. The simplest fix is a version with voice only, where you add music inside the ad platform.
- Captions: Meta recommends them. Ask for a captioned version and a clean one, so captions can be placed inside the safe zone for each platform.
- Voice: ask the creator to record in a quiet room, close to the phone. Bad sound is much harder to fix in editing than a bad crop.
Copy-paste spec block for your brief
Add this to your UGC brief. It takes the guesswork out of delivery.
Delivery specs
- Format: vertical 9:16, at least 1080 × 1920 (1440 × 2560 if possible). MP4 or MOV.
- Frame: face and product in the centre. Nothing important in the top 14%, bottom 35% or 6% at each side.
- Length: main cut [20–40] seconds, plus [2–3] alternative hooks.
- Versions: (1) captioned, (2) clean with no captions or music.
- Audio: voice only. No licensed music.
- Raw footage: [included / not included].
- File size: under 500 MB per file, so it uploads to TikTok.
If you are agreeing terms at the same time, our UGC contract template covers usage, ownership and payment. Promoting an app? See UGC for apps for how to get clean screen recordings. Selling on Amazon? Our Amazon UGC guide explains file vs shoppable-video gigs.
Common mistakes
- Accepting a horizontal video. It is usually cropped or shown smaller on short-video placements.
- Product shown at the bottom of the frame. That is exactly where the caption and button sit.
- Music baked into the only version. You can’t remove it later.
- Only one cut. Without alternative hooks, every new test means a new order.
- Huge 4K files. Long 4K clips can pass TikTok’s 500 MB limit. Ask for a compressed export as well.
Common questions
What size should a UGC video be?
Vertical 9:16, at least 1080 × 1920. Meta’s Reels guide recommends 1440 × 2560, while TikTok’s minimum is 540 × 960.
Can one video work on TikTok, Reels and Shorts?
Yes, if it is vertical, under 60 seconds and keeps key content inside the safe zone. Upload the clean version and add captions inside each platform.
What is a safe zone?
It’s the part of the frame that the platform’s buttons and text won’t cover. Meta suggests keeping the top 14%, bottom 35% and 6% on each side clear.
How long should a UGC ad be?
The platforms allow minutes, so there’s no technical rule. For YouTube Shorts, stay under 60 seconds. For a first test, a 20 to 40 second main cut plus a few alternative hooks gives you room to experiment.
Ready to order? See what UGC videos cost, read our hiring guide, or browse the creator shortlist.