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TikTok Video Specs Cheat Sheet 2026 (Reels, Shorts, WhatsApp Status)

October 20, 2026 · 4 min read · By the DollarWise team
TikTok Video Specs Cheat Sheet 2026 (Reels, Shorts, WhatsApp Status)
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Posting the same video everywhere and wondering why it looks cropped on one app and blurry on another? Every platform has its own preferred resolution, aspect ratio, length limit, and file size cap, and those limits change every year. This 2026 cheat sheet puts TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and WhatsApp Status specs side by side: resolution, aspect ratio, maximum length, maximum file size, and the codec and bitrate that keep your video sharp. Export once with these settings and your videos will look right on all four platforms with no re-editing required.

What’s inside this pack

The cheat sheet breaks down each platform in plain language. You get the exact export settings to punch into CapCut, Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, or any editor: resolution, aspect ratio, frame rate, codec, and a recommended bitrate ceiling. It also flags the traps that catch creators out: Reels cropping your captions, WhatsApp crushing anything over 16 MB into mush, and Shorts’ three-minute ceiling. There is a universal export preset for when you do not want to render four separate versions, plus safe-zone margins so your text, captions, and faces never end up hidden behind app buttons and like icons.

The 2026 video specs table (free sample)

Below is the quick-glance comparison table plus the six takeaways that matter most. The free download goes deeper with a full per-platform breakdown, the universal export preset, and the exact safe-zone margins that keep your captions visible on every app.

Spec TikTok Instagram Reels YouTube Shorts WhatsApp Status
Resolution 1080 x 1920 1080 x 1920 1080 x 1920 1080 x 1920
Aspect ratio 9:16 9:16 9:16 9:16
Max length 10 min 3 min 3 min 90 sec
Max file size 287 MB (iOS) / 72 MB (Android) 4 GB 256 GB 16 MB
Codec H.264 H.264 H.264 H.264
Bitrate ~10 Mbps ~10-12 Mbps ~10-12 Mbps ~5 Mbps

Six key takeaways:

  1. 9:16 vertical at 1080 x 1920 is the one format every platform accepts without complaint.
  2. H.264 video in an MP4 container plays everywhere with zero conversion.
  3. Keep your bitrate around 10 Mbps. Higher bitrates just get recompressed by the platform anyway.
  4. WhatsApp is the strictest of the four: 90 seconds maximum and the file must stay under 16 MB.
  5. Keep important text inside the center 1080 x 1420 zone so app buttons never cover it.
  6. Export at 30 fps unless you shot slow motion. 60 fps doubles the file size for barely visible gain.

How to use this pack

  1. Pick the platform you care about most and note its resolution and length limit.
  2. In your editor, set the project to 1080 x 1920, 9:16, 30 fps before you start cutting.
  3. Keep titles and captions inside the center safe zone while editing.
  4. Export as H.264 MP4 at around 10 Mbps, or 5 Mbps for WhatsApp.
  5. Test one upload on each platform before posting a full batch.
  6. Save the download as your export reference so every future video matches.

One consistent export preset beats four custom ones for most creators. Dial in 1080 x 1920 H.264 once, and you can post the same file to TikTok, Reels, Shorts, and Status without touching the timeline again.

Frequently asked questions

What resolution should I export vertical videos in?

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Export at 1080 x 1920 pixels with a 9:16 aspect ratio. It is the native resolution of TikTok, Reels, Shorts, and WhatsApp Status, so your video fills the screen on all four with no black bars or cropping.

Why does WhatsApp ruin my video quality?

WhatsApp recompresses any video over its 16 MB limit aggressively. Export at 720p with a bitrate around 5 Mbps before sending, and the file stays under the cap, which skips the worst of WhatsApp’s own compression.

How long can a YouTube Short be in 2026?

Up to 3 minutes. YouTube raised the Shorts limit from 60 seconds in late 2024, and Instagram Reels followed with its own 3-minute limit in early 2025. TikTok still leads on length at 10 minutes.

Download the full pack

#video#tiktok#specs
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Written by the DollarWise team

We turn confusing money topics into plain-English guides for beginners. Every article is written to be actionable on day one — no jargon, no hype, no sales pitch.

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