Instagram and Facebook Reels ad specs for 2026
Meta's ads guide recommends 9:16 vertical video at 1440 x 2560 pixels, MP4 or MOV, H.264 with stereo AAC audio at 128 kbps or more, up to 4 GB. Keep roughly 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% of each side free of text and logos. Instagram Reels ads can run up to 15 minutes; Facebook Reels lists no maximum.
Updated
Instagram Reels vs Facebook Reels
- Both: 9:16, 1440 x 2560 recommended, H.264, square pixels, fixed frame rate, progressive scan, stereo AAC at 128 kbps or more, 4 GB maximum. Captions and sound are optional, and Meta strongly recommends sound.
- Instagram Reels: MP4 or MOV; 0 seconds to 15 minutes; minimum width 250 px under 30 seconds and 500 px at 30 seconds or longer; primary text about 44 characters.
- Facebook Reels: MP4, MOV or GIF; no maximum duration listed; primary text about 40 characters and headline about 55.
Is 1080 x 1920 good enough?
Yes. Meta recommends 1440 x 2560, but 1080 x 1920 is well above the minimum widths it lists and is what most editors export. SingingAds delivers 1080 x 1920 MP4s with captions burned in. If you shoot your own footage at a higher resolution, export at 1440 x 2560 to follow the recommendation exactly; the difference on a phone screen is small.
The safe zone in pixels
Meta suggests leaving about 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% on each side clear, so the profile icon and call to action do not cover key parts and taller phones do not crop them. On a 1080 x 1920 video that is roughly the top 269 px, the bottom 672 px and 65 px on each side. On 1440 x 2560 it is about 358, 896 and 86 px. The bottom band is a third of the screen, so put captions and the offer card in the middle, not at the foot. See safe zone.
What Instagram Reels ads should not contain
Meta's Instagram Reels guide lists licensed music among the things these ads should not contain and recommends original audio or royalty-free music from the Meta Sound Collection instead. It also lists face or camera effects, GIFs, product tags and Reels published before 15 October 2021. That music rule is the one small brands trip over most: a trending song that works in an organic Reel can block the same Reel from becoming an ad. Music licensing explains the options.
AI labels on Meta ads
Meta's help center says it adds "AI info" to ad images created or materially edited with its own generative AI features, and that ads made with third-party tools do not get that label automatically. For organic posts, Meta requires you to use its AI disclosure tool for photorealistic video or realistic-sounding audio that was digitally created or altered. An AI-sung jingle is realistic-sounding audio, and a realistic look is photorealistic video, so disclose it. Details in AI label rules.
The options
-
Export 9:16 vertical
Reels are full-screen vertical; other shapes get letterboxed or cropped.
- Best for
- Every Reels ad.
- Price
- No cost
-
Use H.264 with AAC stereo at 128 kbps or more
These are the video settings Meta recommends for clean playback.
- Best for
- Files from desktop editors with many codec options.
- Price
- No cost
-
Lay a safe zone overlay on your edit
The bottom 35% is covered by text and buttons; overlays show it before you export.
- Best for
- Ads with captions, prices or logos.
- Price
- No cost
-
Write primary text under about 40 characters
Facebook Reels suggests 40 and Instagram 44; longer text gets truncated over the video.
- Best for
- Both placements.
- Price
- No cost
-
Swap licensed music for original audio
Meta's guide says Instagram Reels ads should not contain licensed music.
- Best for
- Brands boosting organic Reels that used a trending track.
- Price
- No cost with the Sound Collection; an original jingle varies
-
Remove GIFs and product tags before boosting
Both are on Meta's list of things Instagram Reels ads should not contain.
- Best for
- Turning an existing Reel into an ad.
- Price
- No cost
-
Burn in captions
Captions are optional but recommended, and many people watch on mute.
- Best for
- Song or voiceover ads.
- Price
- No cost in most editors
-
Stay under 4 GB
That is Meta's maximum file size for both placements.
- Best for
- Long or high-bitrate files.
- Price
- No cost
-
Disclose AI-generated audio on organic posts
Meta requires its AI disclosure tool for realistic-sounding audio that was digitally created.
- Best for
- Posting an AI-sung jingle as an organic Reel first.
- Price
- No cost
-
Make a 15 and a 30 second cut
Both are well inside the limits and let you test pace on the same audience.
- Best for
- New ads without performance history.
- Price
- No cost if your tool exports both
What it can't do
- Specs are Meta's awareness video placement pages as read on 17 Oct 2026; other objectives can add options.
- Pixel values for safe zones are calculated from Meta's percentages, which Meta calls rough guidance.
What it costs
From $15 for one ad, or $59 for about 6 thirty-second video ads. Credits never expire. A jingle take costs 4 credits; a typical 30-second video ad about 26. There is no free tier and no free sample.
One-time packs
One ad
$15 once
Five ads
$59 once
Questions
- What size is an Instagram Reels ad?
9:16 vertical; Meta recommends 1440 x 2560 pixels. 1080 x 1920 is widely used and above Meta's listed minimum width.
- How long can a Reels ad be?
Instagram Reels ads run from 0 seconds to 15 minutes; the Facebook Reels page lists no maximum duration.
- Why was my Reel not eligible to become an ad?
Common reasons on Meta's list are licensed music, face or camera effects, GIFs, product tags, or a Reel published before 15 October 2021.
- Where should I put text in a Reels ad?
Inside the middle area: keep about 14% at the top, 35% at the bottom and 6% at each side clear.
- Does Meta label AI-made ads?
It adds "AI info" to ads made or materially edited with its own generative AI tools. Its help page says ads made with third-party AI tools do not get that label automatically.
Sources
- Meta, Video ad specs on Instagram Reels (Meta ads guide), read 17 Oct 2026
- Meta, Video ad specs on Facebook Reels (Meta ads guide), read 17 Oct 2026
- Meta, How AI-generated images in ads are identified and labeled on Meta, read 17 Oct 2026
- Meta, Community Standards: Misinformation (AI disclosure), read 17 Oct 2026