Video Ad Specs for Ecommerce Sellers
Most ecommerce video ads should be MP4 files in vertical 9:16 for TikTok, Reels, Shorts, and Stories, 4:5 for the Instagram and Facebook feed, and 1:1 or 16:9 for listings and product pages. Keep first tests short, put the product and the main message away from the top and bottom edges, and check each platform's current help page before a major campaign, because limits change.
Use the ecommerce video ad generator to create the source MP4, then adapt it for the destination. The numbers below were checked on the platforms' official pages on October 10, 2026.
What aspect ratio should an ecommerce video ad use?
Use the aspect ratio of the placement the ad will mostly run in. Vertical 9:16 fills the screen on TikTok, Reels, Shorts, and Stories; 4:5 portrait takes more of the feed on Instagram and Facebook; 1:1 square is a safe choice for listings and mixed feeds; and 16:9 landscape suits YouTube, marketplace listings, and product pages viewed on desktop.
TalkPix product ads export in all four of those formats from the same product photo, so one idea can be rendered once per placement instead of cropped awkwardly after the fact.
What are the current specs on TikTok, Meta, and Shopify?
The main platforms accept far longer and larger files than a product ad needs, so the limits that matter in practice are aspect ratio, minimum resolution, and keeping text out of areas covered by the interface. The table summarizes the official figures checked on October 10, 2026; each row links to its source below.
| Destination | Aspect ratio | Resolution | Length | File size | File types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok in-feed ads (non-Spark) | 9:16 recommended; 16:9 and 1:1 accepted | At least 540x960 for 9:16 | Up to 10 minutes | Up to 500 MB | .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .3gp, .avi |
| Instagram Reels ads | 9:16 | 1440x2560 recommended | 0 seconds to 15 minutes | Up to 4 GB | MP4, MOV |
| Facebook Feed video ads | 4:5 recommended | 1440x1800 recommended | 1 second to 241 minutes | Up to 4 GB | MP4, MOV, GIF |
| Shopify product media | Not listed | Up to 4K (4096x2160) | Up to 10 minutes | Up to 1 GB | .mp4, .mov, .webm |
Sources: TikTok video ads specifications, Meta ads guide for Instagram Reels, Meta ads guide for Facebook Feed, and Shopify product media types.
A 720p MP4 meets TikTok's listed minimum for vertical video but sits below the resolution Meta's ads guide recommends for Reels and Feed, so check sharpness on a phone before you scale spend on Meta.
Where are the safe zones in a vertical video ad?
Safe zones are the parts of a vertical frame that stay clear of the app's own interface, such as the profile icon, captions, and the call-to-action button. Keep the product, any on-screen text, and your logo in the middle of the frame, and avoid placing important details right at the top, along the bottom, or against the side edges.
Meta's Reels guidance suggests leaving at least 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom, and 6% on each side free from text, logos, and other key elements (source). TikTok's interface covers similar areas; the TikTok Shop video ad specs post covers that placement in detail.
Which platform-specific requirements should you check?
Check the destination's own guide before the final export, because upload limits, audio behavior, length guidance, and storefront display differ. Marketplaces such as Amazon and Etsy have their own listing-video rules and review processes, and those are set in seller help pages that can change without notice.
- Shopify product video requirements: supported formats, size and length maximums, theme support, and upload steps.
- Etsy listing video requirements: video slots, file limits, silent playback, and Etsy's conflicting length guidance.
- TikTok Shop video ad specs: 9:16 sizing, safe zones, sound, duration, and ecommerce landing-page checks.
For Amazon, the Amazon product video generator page covers the listing angle; confirm current limits in Seller Central.
What are practical starter specs for a first product ad?
A practical starter spec is a short MP4 with one buyer, one benefit, and one call to action, rendered vertical for social tests and in a second format for the destination you care most about. Keep the first version short enough to compare against other hooks, and add captions, because many people watch with the sound off.
- Format: MP4.
- Orientation: vertical for TikTok, Reels, Shorts, and most paid social tests.
- Length: 6 to 15 seconds for first hook tests.
- Message: one buyer, one benefit, one CTA — the script templates for product videos all follow this shape.
- Captions: add in your platform or editing tool.
- Thumbnail: use a frame where the product is visible.
TalkPix renders 720p HD MP4s without a TalkPix watermark, with an optional CTA overlay such as Shop Now or Learn More, billed at 1 credit per second at 720p.
How should product page, paid social, and retargeting videos differ?
They differ in pace and purpose. Product page videos can be slightly slower because the viewer is already interested and wants an explanation. Paid social needs a faster first line that states the problem, result, proof, or gift angle. Retargeting videos should answer the objection that stopped the purchase, such as price, quality, shipping, or fit.
The product page video examples post shows how stores handle length and placement. For paid social, start with a faster first line. For trust objections in retargeting, a review read works well — the testimonial video generator turns a written customer review into that clip.
Create ecommerce product video ads
Upload one product photo — get a UGC-style talking video ad, no filming needed.
Generate product adWhy should you keep a master version?
Keeping one clean master MP4 for each idea, without burned-in platform text, lets you create platform-specific edits later without starting a new production project. When a new channel or format comes along, you adapt the master instead of rebuilding the ad, and your file library stays organized by idea rather than by platform.
