Meta ads sizes and formats: image, video and safe zones
In short
As of October 15, 2026, Meta's Ads Guide recommends 4:5 at 1440 × 1800 pixels for images in Facebook Feed and Instagram Feed, and 9:16 at 1440 × 2560 pixels for Stories and Reels (Meta Ads Guide). Keep the edges of 9:16 ads free of text and logos, because the interface covers them (Meta Business Help). For text, Meta's general recommendation is 125 characters of primary text, 40 for the headline and 25 for the description (Meta Business Help).
All figures on this page were checked against Meta's pages on October 15, 2026. Meta changes specs from time to time, so check the linked page before a large production.
Aspect ratios by placement
Meta's overview of supported aspect ratios recommends (Meta Business Help):
- Facebook Feed: 4:5 for images and videos. 1.91:1, 16:9 and 1:1 also work.
- Instagram Feed: 4:5 for images, 9:16 for videos.
- Stories and Reels on Facebook and Instagram: 9:16 for images and videos.
- Facebook Marketplace: 1:1.
- Facebook right column: 1.91:1.
On the computer version of Facebook Feed, videos are shown at 1:1, which can add black bars on the sides of a 4:5 video (Meta Business Help). For in-stream video, horizontal 16:9 is recommended, because it matches the videos the ads appear in (Meta Business Help).
Image sizes
From Meta's Ads Guide, for single image ads:
- Facebook Feed: JPG or PNG, 4:5, 1440 × 1800 pixels. At least 600 pixels wide, at most 30 MB (Meta Ads Guide).
- Instagram Feed: JPG or PNG, 4:5, 1440 × 1800 pixels. At least 500 pixels wide, at most 30 MB (Meta Ads Guide).
- Instagram Stories: JPG or PNG, 9:16, 1440 × 2560 pixels (Meta Ads Guide).
- Instagram Reels: JPG or PNG, 9:16, 1440 × 2560 pixels, at least 500 pixels wide (Meta Ads Guide).
Is 1080 × 1350 still right? It is a 4:5 image above the minimum width, so it fits the ratio Meta recommends for feeds. The resolution Meta currently names is higher, at 1440 × 1800.
Video specs
- File and encoding: MP4, MOV or GIF; H.264 compression, square pixels, fixed frame rate, progressive scan and stereo AAC audio at 128 kbps or more (Meta Ads Guide).
- Facebook Feed: 4:5 at 1440 × 1800 pixels, 1 second to 241 minutes, up to 4 GB (Meta Ads Guide).
- Instagram Reels: MP4 or MOV, 9:16 at 1440 × 2560 pixels, 0 seconds to 15 minutes, up to 4 GB (Meta Ads Guide).
If an upload fails, Meta lists the usual checks: the 4 GB limit applies to all videos, the maximum length depends on the placement, and videos should be at least 600 pixels wide so they don't look pixelated (Meta Business Help).
Safe zones
The safe zone is the area of the ad where text and logos are neither cropped nor covered by the interface, such as the profile icon or the call-to-action button. For 9:16 ads in Stories, Reels and Feed, keep the top, bottom and sides free of key elements; for 1:1 or 4:5 ads in Instagram Feed, the bottom and the sides. With a disclaimer in a Reels ad, keep the bottom 40% free. In Ads Manager, the Safe zone guardrail shows the area as a yellow overlay (Meta Business Help).
For Instagram Reels and Stories, the Ads Guide gives numbers: leave roughly 14% at the top, 35% at the bottom and 6% on each side free of text, logos and other key elements (Meta Ads Guide).
Text length
Text that is too long gets cut off. Meta's general recommendation for most placements is 125 characters of primary text, 40 characters for the headline and 25 for the description; on some placements and devices it gets cut even earlier (Meta Business Help). The Ads Guide lists its own values per placement, for example 50 to 150 characters of primary text and 27 for the headline in Facebook Feed (Meta Ads Guide), and 44 characters of primary text for Instagram Reels (Meta Ads Guide). In short: lead with the message, so the first line works even when the rest is cut.
How aurexus helps
The aurexus Ad Designer creates creatives in four formats: 1:1 (1080 × 1080), 4:5 (1080 × 1350), 9:16 (1080 × 1920) and 16:9 (1920 × 1080). From a template, the same motif comes out in the other formats too, so a campaign keeps one look across feed, Stories and Reels. Safe zones for Stories and Reels are stored as fixed values in the code; a text layer that reaches into a zone is moved or flagged before you see the result.
The Creative Center is part of the paid plans Pro and Agency. More on the creatives page. How creative tools fit among other AI tools for Meta ads is covered in the guide on AI for Meta ads.
Frequently asked questions
What image size do Meta ads need?
For Facebook Feed and Instagram Feed, Meta's Ads Guide recommends 4:5 at 1440 × 1800 pixels; for Stories and Reels, 9:16 at 1440 × 2560 pixels. Images can be JPG or PNG up to 30 MB (Meta Ads Guide). Status: October 15, 2026.
Is 1080 x 1350 right for Meta ads?
As an aspect ratio, yes: 1080 × 1350 is 4:5, the ratio Meta recommends for Facebook Feed and Instagram Feed images, and it is above the minimum width. The resolution the Ads Guide currently recommends is 1440 × 1800 (Meta Ads Guide).
What are the video specs for Meta ads?
MP4, MOV or GIF with H.264 compression, up to 4 GB. In Facebook Feed, 4:5 at 1440 × 1800 pixels and 1 second to 241 minutes (Meta Ads Guide); in Instagram Reels, MP4 or MOV, 9:16 at 1440 × 2560 pixels and up to 15 minutes (Meta Ads Guide).
What are safe zones in Meta ads?
The parts of the ad where text and logos aren't cropped or covered by the profile icon or call-to-action. In 9:16 ads, keep the edges free (Meta Business Help); for Reels and Stories, the Ads Guide names roughly 14% at the top, 35% at the bottom and 6% on each side (Meta Ads Guide).
What is the headline character limit?
Meta recommends 40 characters for the headline in most placements and notes that it can be cut earlier on some devices (Meta Business Help). For Facebook Feed, the Ads Guide lists 27 characters. Both are recommendations for avoiding cut-off text.