Claymation Videos · 8 minute read
TikTok Ad Size 2026: The Specs, Straight From TikTok
TikTok ad size made simple: vertical 9:16, at least 540 x 960 pixels. See TikTok's own specs in one linked table, plus its length and sound rules.
Why listen to us? We have been making video ads since 2012. That is 16,000+ videos for 13,500+ businesses, from plumbers to dentists.
TikTok has two help pages about ad videos. They don't agree on how long your ad can be.
They do agree on the shape, though.
The TikTok ad size to aim for is vertical 9:16, at least 540 x 960 pixels, according to TikTok's auction In-Feed ads page (last updated June 2026). TikTok also takes sideways 16:9 at 960 x 540 and square 1:1 at 640 x 640. Vertical is the one TikTok marks as recommended.
That's the whole answer. It fits on a sticky note.
Every spec guide hands you numbers. Not one hands you the video.
The box was never the hard part. Filling it is.
That's the part we do. 30 Second Ad Factory is the done-for-you ad team from 30 Second Productions.
We make a 30-second clay ad about your business, already vertical, with every word on screen. You fill in a 2-minute form, then approve every word and every scene. It's ready about 24 hours after you approve the scenes.
It's $97, often half price in our holiday sales. A 60-second version is $47 more.
Here's a sample we made for a made-up plumber.
Want one about your business? Get your clay ad.
The TikTok ad size table, from TikTok itself
Every number below comes from TikTok's own pages, as of November 2026. These are the specs for a standard In-Feed ad, which TikTok calls Non-Spark. (Spark Ads, built from a video you already posted, are in the FAQ.)
An In-Feed ad is an ad that plays between the videos people scroll past.
| Spec | What TikTok says | Where it says it |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical 9:16 (recommended) | At least 540 x 960 pixels | Auction In-Feed page |
| Horizontal 16:9 | At least 960 x 540 pixels | Auction In-Feed page |
| Square 1:1 | At least 640 x 640 pixels | Auction In-Feed page |
| File size | 500 MB or less | Auction In-Feed page |
| File types | MP4, MOV, MPEG, 3GP, AVI | Auction In-Feed page |
| Bitrate | At least 516 kbps | Auction In-Feed page |
| Profile photo | 98 x 98 pixels, square, under 50 KB, JPG or PNG. Keep the key part inside the middle 66 x 66 | Auction In-Feed page |
| Display name | Up to 20 characters (10 in Chinese, Japanese or Korean) | Auction In-Feed page |
| Length | Up to 10 minutes on one page, 5 to 60 seconds on the other | Auction In-Feed page and Ad Format policy page |
Aspect ratio is the shape of the screen, width to height. So 9:16 is tall and thin, like the phone in your hand.
Bitrate is how much picture data a video uses each second. TikTok's floor is 516 kbps (kilobits per second).
Every pixel number says "at least." Those are floors, not targets.
Nobody ever won a customer by just scraping past the minimum.
Get a claymation ad made for your business → We write your story, make every scene out of clay and add a calm, friendly voice. You approve every word and every scene.
What about 1080 x 1920?
Many guides suggest this size. TikTok's pages only ask for 540 x 960. Vizup and Sovran both suggest it in their 2026 guides.
It's the same tall 9:16 shape, just sharper, and it clears TikTok's 540 x 960 floor with room to spare. So if your app asks, pick 1080 x 1920. That's our pick, not a TikTok rule.
TikTok tells you the smallest it'll take. Nobody fits the smallest pipe that'll do.
Same ad on Facebook? Good news: Reels wants the same tall shape. Our Facebook video ad size guide has Meta's own numbers.
How long can a TikTok ad be?
TikTok gives two answers on two pages. The auction In-Feed page (June 2026) lists Non-Spark video length as up to 10 minutes.
The Ad Format and Functionality policy page (April 2026) says the ad must be "a minimum of 5 seconds, and a maximum of 60 seconds."
We're not going to referee TikTok's help desk.
A 30-second ad sits inside both answers. So does a 60-second one.
Our clay ads come in 30 seconds, or 60 if you pick the longer version.
Does a TikTok ad need sound?
Yes. TikTok's policy page says "The ad must contain audio," and that the sound must not be unclear or muffled.
The same page says the ad must be "legible and of a high resolution," but gives no pixel numbers.
So sound has to be in. Words on screen are your call.
We do both. In our clay ads, a calm, friendly voice reads the script, and every word sits on screen. Volume up or down, it still reads.
Here's the clay ad we made for our own AI SEO service.
Want one with your name in it? Get your clay ad.
Watch the claymation ads we have made → Tap one to watch it with sound.
What is the TikTok safe zone?
The safe zone is the part of the screen that TikTok's buttons and caption don't cover. Your words and logo belong there.
Mind the buttons. Miss the safe zone, and a like button can end up parked on your phone number.
TikTok's auction In-Feed page says the safe zone depends on the video's shape, the caption length and any extra formats. It gives no pixel numbers. Instead, scroll to its Safe zone section and download the overlay files. Lay one over your video before you upload.
Relevant Audience (October 2026) noticed the same gap. So when a blog quotes exact safe-zone pixels, ask where it got them.
Captions have rules too. For a Non-Spark ad, TikTok's page says the caption uses a white fixed font. It can't include clickable links, @ symbols or hashtags.
So the line you most want seen belongs in the video itself, inside the safe zone.
What's the easiest way to get a TikTok-size ad made?
For a busy owner, the easiest way is a done-for-you team that makes it vertical for you, so your only job is approving it. You've got the size. Now you need about 30 seconds of video worth stopping for.
Here are the four usual ways to get one.
| Way to get it | Who makes it 9:16 | Your work | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your phone | You | Plan, film, edit, add words, export | A real-life clip of you or your work |
| AI clay tool, such as Morphic | You, inside the app | Write prompts, fix shots, add words, export | Clips you put together yourself |
| Marketplace gig | The seller | A brief, then a lot of back and forth | In our view, quality is often low and uneven |
| 30 Second Ad Factory clay ad | Our team | A 2-minute form, then approve | A finished 30-second vertical ad, every word on screen, about 24 hours after you approve the scenes |
Morphic's page invites you to "Direct stop-motion clay in your browser." Fair enough. But that makes you the director.
A tool suits you if you enjoy tinkering on a Sunday night. A plumber's Sunday night is usually spoken for.
A marketplace gig takes the editing off your plate. In our view, you then trade it for chasing, and you aren't working with a marketing team.
What does a studio or freelancer charge for clay? Our claymation ad cost guide has the prices.
So how is our clay ad made? With AI tools for the clay pictures, the movement and the voice. It isn't hand-made stop motion.
Our team checks every video before it reaches you. You also get 2 free rounds of changes to the scenes.
Here's the clay ad we made for our own song ad service.
Like the look? Get a clay ad for your business.
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a square or sideways video as a TikTok ad?
Yes. TikTok's auction In-Feed page lists square 1:1 and horizontal 16:9, but marks vertical 9:16 as recommended.
What file types does TikTok take for ads?
TikTok's auction In-Feed page lists MP4, MOV, MPEG, 3GP and AVI for Non-Spark ads, at 500 MB or less. For Spark Ads, the same page lists MP4 or MOV.
What is a Spark Ad?
A Spark Ad is a TikTok ad built from a video already posted on a TikTok account. TikTok's auction page says the caption comes from that post, with up to 4 lines shown. The same page lists Spark video length as "No restrictions."
Does 30 Second Ad Factory run my TikTok ad for me?
No. 30 Second Ad Factory makes the ad, and you own it. You, or whoever handles your ads, puts it live and sets the budget.
The short version
The TikTok ad size in one line: vertical 9:16, at least 540 x 960, under 500 MB. Sound in, words on screen, and keep them clear of the buttons.
What goes in the box is what counts. You could film it, prompt it, or hire a gig and chase it. For a busy owner, our done-for-you team is the best option: you fill in a form, approve every word and scene, and get a finished vertical ad about a day later.
One 30-second clay ad is $97, often half price in our holiday sales. You own it, so use it on TikTok, Facebook, your website, anywhere. Not happy within 30 days? You get a full refund.
No ad can promise calls or sales, ours included. But you'll never have to count pixels again.
Want a clay ad people stop to watch? Get your claymation ad, written and made for you, ready about a day after you approve your scenes. Love it or your money back.
Related Reading
- Facebook Video Ad Size 2026: Pixels and Ratio by Placement: The right Facebook video ad size is two files: 4:5 for Feed, 9:16 for Reels…
- Do I Have to Label AI Ads? TikTok and Facebook Rules (2026): Do I have to label AI ads? TikTok gives you a toggle and Meta says it labels…
- How to Make a TikTok Ad With a Song, Start to Finish: Make a TikTok ad with a song in 8 steps: where legal music comes from, 9:16…
- Can I Use Trending TikTok Sounds in a Business Ad?: Can you use trending TikTok sounds in a business ad? Usually not. See what…
- Claymation Ads →: A 30-second clay video ad about your business, made for you. You approve every scene.
Want a clay ad people stop to watch?
We write your story, make every scene out of clay and add a calm, friendly voice. You approve every word and every scene. Ready about a day after you say yes, with a money-back guarantee.
Get My Claymation Ad →
