TikTok Video Ad Creative Specs Guide

Complete TikTok video ad specifications for In-Feed, Spark Ads, TopView, and Brand Takeover — aspect ratios, safe zones, file limits, and native creative best practices sourced from TikTok Ads Manager documentation.

Why Video Specs Matter

  • Ensure optimal video quality across all placements
  • Maximize engagement with proper aspect ratios
  • Avoid rejection due to technical requirements

Creative Best Practices

  • Design for mobile-first viewing experience
  • Include captions for accessibility and silent viewing
  • Front-load key messages in first 3 seconds

Common Video Issues

  • Low resolution or incorrect aspect ratio
  • Missing captions for sound-off viewing
  • Video length exceeding placement limits

In-Feed Video Ads

Native vertical video in the For You feed — the default format for TikTok performance campaigns. Build 9:16 at 1080×1920; 1:1 and 16:9 are supported but letterbox and underperform.

For You In-Feed (Non-Spark)

In-Feed Video (Auction)

TikTok

Non-Spark in-feed ads appear between organic TikToks in the For You feed. TikTok supports 9:16, 1:1, and 16:9 aspect ratios, but 9:16 full-screen vertical is strongly recommended — 1:1 and 16:9 render with letterboxing and typically underperform native vertical creative. Auction in-feed video can run up to 10 minutes, though 9–15 seconds is the engagement sweet spot for direct-response campaigns.

Video Duration

15 seconds recommended • 5 seconds to 10 minutes allowed

Media Requirements

Captions Highly Recommended
Sound Highly Recommended

File Requirements

Video: 500MB maximum
Supported Formats
MP4
MOV
MPEG
3GP
AVI

Campaign Objectives

Reach
Traffic
Video views
Community interaction
App promotion
Lead generation
Website conversions
Product sales

Technical Requirements

•Minimum resolution by ratio: 9:16 ≥ 540×960, 1:1 ≥ 640×640, 16:9 ≥ 960×540 (TikTok Auction In-Feed spec) — 1080×1920 recommended for 9:16
•Video codec: H.264 or H.265
•Audio codec: AAC
•Minimum bitrate: 516 kbps (2,500+ kbps recommended for quality)
•Ad description: 1–100 characters, no emojis, @ symbols, or hashtags in ad text
•Profile image: 98×98px square, max 50 KB, JPG/PNG

Best Practices

•Build 9:16 first at 1080×1920 — export square or horizontal only as deliberate placement variants
•Front-load the hook in the first 1–2 seconds; TikTok attention decay is faster than Meta Feed
•Design sound-on but legible without audio — captions are not optional for accessibility
•Keep hooks, logos, and CTAs inside TikTok safe zones (download templates from Ads Manager)
•Use native, UGC-style creative — polished TV spots consistently underperform on TikTok
•Target 9–15 second cuts for prospecting; use longer only when the story requires it
iPhone 14 Pro
Dimensions
9:16Best
1080×1920
1:1
1080×1080
16:9
1920×1080
Minimum:540×960px
Best Quality:1080×1920px

Spark Ads

Boost organic posts with preserved engagement and creator identity. Spark Ads inherit post specs and typically outperform standard uploads when the organic post already has hook traction.

Spark Ads (Organic Post Boost)

Spark Ads (Pull)

TikTok

Spark Ads run an existing organic TikTok post as a paid ad, preserving likes, comments, shares, and the original creator handle. The creative inherits the organic post entirely — TikTok imposes no ad-level restrictions on aspect ratio, resolution, file type, duration, bitrate, or file size. Spark Ads typically outperform standard in-feed uploads because they carry authentic social proof. Creator posts require an authorization code from TikTok's Spark Ads workflow.

Video Duration

No fixed limit — inherits the source post

Media Requirements

Captions Required
Sound Highly Recommended

File Requirements

Inherited from the organic post. TikTok sets no ad-level limit on file type, file size, or resolution for these ads — the creative reuses whatever the boosted post already is.

Campaign Objectives

Reach
Traffic
Video views
Community interaction
App promotion
Lead generation
Website conversions
Product sales

Technical Requirements

•Aspect ratio, resolution, and file type all inherit the organic post — no ad-level restriction (the 10-minute duration limit applies only to non-Spark auction in-feed uploads)
•Captions extracted from organic post (max 4 lines displayed, emojis allowed in organic caption)
•Creator authorization required for third-party posts

Best Practices

•Promote posts that already show strong organic hook rate before spending
•Obtain creator authorization codes before campaign launch — permissions expire
•Preserve original captions and engagement — do not re-edit the organic post for Spark
•Pair Spark creative with broad targeting; let the post find its audience
•Use Spark for UGC and creator content; use non-Spark for purpose-built direct-response variants
iPhone 14 Pro
Dimensions

Aspect ratio, resolution, and file type inherit the organic post — no ad-level requirement.

TopView & Brand Takeover

Reservation premium placements at app open. TopView runs 5–60 seconds; Brand Takeover is 3–5 seconds non-skippable. Both require strict 9:16 vertical and aggressive safe-zone compliance.

TopView

TopView

TikTok

TopView captures the first screen when a user opens TikTok — the highest-attention placement on the platform. Reservation buying typically requires 5–60 second creative. Message must land in the opening seconds because users can skip immediately. 9:16 vertical is mandatory.

Video Duration

15 seconds recommended • 5 seconds to 1 minutes allowed

Media Requirements

Captions Highly Recommended
Sound Required

File Requirements

Video: 500MB maximum
Supported Formats
MP4
MOV
MPEG
3GP

Campaign Objectives

Reach
Brand awareness
Video views

Best Practices

•Lead with brand or product recognition in frame 1 — no slow logo builds
•Keep to 15–30 seconds even though 60 seconds is allowed
•Sound-on creative is expected; design audio as part of the hook
•Reserve safe zones aggressively — UI overlays are heavier than standard in-feed
iPhone 14 Pro
Dimensions
9:16Best
1080×1920
Minimum:540×960px
Best Quality:1080×1920px

Brand Takeover

Brand Takeover

TikTok

Brand Takeover delivers a single full-screen 9:16 impression when users open TikTok. Duration is 3–5 seconds — one message, one visual, one action. Best for product launches and tentpole moments where immediate recognition matters more than storytelling depth.

Video Duration

3 seconds recommended • 3 seconds to 5 seconds allowed

Media Requirements

Captions Not Supported
Sound Optional

File Requirements

Video: 500MB maximum
Supported Formats
MP4
MOV
MPEG
3GP
AVI

Campaign Objectives

Reach
Brand awareness

Best Practices

•One visual idea only — no multi-scene narratives in 3–5 seconds
•High contrast text on solid backgrounds; avoid fine detail that disappears on mobile
•Pre-test safe zones with TikTok's downloadable overlay templates
iPhone 14 Pro
Dimensions
9:16Best
1080×1920
Minimum:540×960px
Best Quality:1080×1920px