What size should a car video ad be for Instagram, TikTok and Facebook?
Choose portrait 9:16 for vertical social posts and landscape 16:9 for your listing page, website or YouTube. VanillaSky offers both; the 4:5 feed format in this guide is general format advice, not an export option in the app.
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 exports portrait 9:16 or landscape 16:9 MP4s; 4:5 is not offered in the app. Choose the shape independently of the listing or social style. The preview shows the approximate duration for your style.
Review your car, then pay $5 per background for up to five versions, including the first. Failed attempts do not count. Changing the shape or style on that background uses the included allowance; a different background costs another $5. 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.