TikTok's help center lists these requirements for in-feed ad videos: vertical 9:16 at 540 x 960 pixels or more (recommended), horizontal 16:9 at 960 x 540 or more, square 1:1 at 640 x 640 or more; MP4, MOV, MPEG, 3GP or AVI; up to 500 MB; a bitrate of at least 516 kbps; and up to 10 minutes long. The trap for AI video: a clip generated at 480p in 9:16 is 480 pixels wide, under the 540-pixel minimum. Generate vertical ads at 720p or higher.
TL;DR
| Spec | TikTok in-feed ads |
|---|---|
| Vertical (recommended) | 9:16, 540 x 960 or more |
| Horizontal | 16:9, 960 x 540 or more |
| Square | 1:1, 640 x 640 or more |
| Formats | .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .3gp, .avi |
| File size | 500 MB or less |
| Bitrate | 516 kbps or more |
| Duration | up to 10 minutes |
From TikTok Ads Manager help, "TikTok Auction In-Feed Ads", checked 2026-09-29.
Which AI video settings pass
| Model on 8frame | Vertical 9:16? | Setting that clears 540 x 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Veo 3.1, Veo 3.1 Fast | Yes | Always (1080p) |
| Veo 3.1 Lite | Yes | Always (720p) |
| Hailuo H3 | Yes | Always (2K) |
| Wan 3.0 | Yes | 720p or 1080p, not 480p |
| Seedance 2.5, 2.0 | Yes | 720p, not 480p |
| Happy Horse | Yes | 720p or 1080p |
| Grok Imagine | Yes | 720p, not 480p |
The rule that matters: 480p vertical is too narrow. It is fine for drafts and blocking, and it is where the cheapest prices sit, but the ad you upload needs 720p or more. For Wan 3.0 that is the difference between 24 and 48 credits for 5 seconds; for Seedance 2.5, between 70 and 157.
Resolution per model is covered in AI video resolution by model.
Length
TikTok allows ads up to 10 minutes, but a single AI generation is much shorter: 8 seconds on Veo 3.1, up to 15 on Kling v3 and Hailuo H3, up to 30 on Wan 3.0 and Seedance 2.5. A 15 to 30 second ad is several clips joined. On 8frame, Merge Videos joins them for 10 credits. Per-model lengths are in clip length limits by model.
A draft-then-finish routine for TikTok ads
- Draft every shot at the cheapest setting, 480p where the model offers it. You are testing hooks and motion.
- Keep the winners, regenerate them at 720p or higher, in 9:16.
- Join the shots and export an MP4 well under 500 MB.
- Check the first two seconds on a phone. That is the part viewers see before deciding whether to keep watching.
For choosing models for the ad itself, see best AI video for TikTok.
FAQ
What size should a TikTok ad video be? 9:16 vertical at 540 x 960 pixels or more is TikTok's recommendation; 16:9 at 960 x 540 and 1:1 at 640 x 640 are also accepted.
What is the maximum file size for a TikTok ad? 500 MB.
How long can a TikTok ad be? Up to 10 minutes for in-feed ads, per TikTok's help center.
Is 480p good enough for a TikTok ad? Not in vertical: a 480p 9:16 clip is 480 pixels wide, under the 540-pixel minimum. Use 720p or higher.
Sources
- TikTok Ads Manager help, "TikTok Auction In-Feed Ads": aspect ratios and minimum resolutions, file formats, 500 MB, 516 kbps, up to 10 minutes: ads.tiktok.com/help/article/tiktok-auction-in-feed-ads, fetched 2026-09-29
- 8frame resolutions, aspect ratios and prices: the 8frame tool registry, 2026-09-29
Draft at 480p, ship at 720p in 9:16. The 8frame canvas is free and unlimited, and generation is paid from $19/month.