What size should a car video ad be for Instagram, TikTok and Facebook?
Make the vertical 9:16 version first — 1080 × 1920 — because Reels, TikTok, Facebook Reels and YouTube Shorts all take it as is. A 4:5 version fills the Instagram and Facebook feed, and 16:9 is for YouTube and your own website. One car, three exports.
The three sizes
| Ratio | Pixels | Where it plays |
|---|---|---|
| 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 | Instagram Reels and Stories, TikTok, Facebook Reels and Stories, YouTube Shorts |
| 4:5 | 1080 × 1350 | Instagram feed, Facebook feed |
| 16:9 | 1920 × 1080 | YouTube, your dealer website, a TV in the showroom |
Which to make first
9:16. It is the native format of every short-video surface, and it is where car buyers under fifty spend their scrolling time. The same file uploads unchanged to Reels, TikTok, Facebook Reels and Shorts.
Make 4:5 second, for the feed post that sits next to the Reel. Make 16:9 only if you have a place to put it: a YouTube channel, the listing page on your own site, or a screen on the lot.
Keep the important things in the safe zone
Every platform lays its own buttons and captions over the video. On 9:16, the bottom fifth and the right edge are covered. Put the price, the logo and the dealer card in the middle 60 % of the frame, and never in the bottom corner.
Export settings that work everywhere
- MP4, H.264 video, AAC audio.
- 30 frames per second.
- 1080 pixels on the short side.
- Under 100 MB.
VanillaSky currently exports a vertical 9:16 MP4. The other ratios above explain where video can be used; they are not additional export options in the app. You see the storyboard for free, pay $5, and the video is made. Download the file, inspect the complete result and check your destination’s current upload requirements before posting.
Questions
Can one video work everywhere?
The 9:16 one nearly can. Reels, TikTok, Shorts and Facebook Reels play it full screen. The feed crops it to 4:5, which cuts the top and bottom, so keep the price and logo in the middle or export a 4:5 version.
How long should the video be?
Fifteen to twenty-five seconds. Long enough for the car, one number, the price and the dealer; short enough that the price is on screen before people swipe.
Does the file size matter?
Under 100 MB is safe on every platform. An H.264 MP4 at 1080 × 1920 and 20 seconds is usually 10–30 MB.