mimicVideo file
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Vertical (recommended) | 9:16, 540x960 px or larger[1] |
| Horizontal | 16:9, 960x540 px or larger[1] |
| Square | 1:1, 640x640 px or larger[1] |
| Shoot at | 720p or higher[3] |
| File formats | .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .3gp, .avi[1]reservation ads: .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .3gp; Spark Ads (pull): usually .mp4 or .mov |
| Max file size | 500 MB[1] |
| Bitrate (auction) | 516 kbps or more[1] |
| Bitrate (reservation) | 2,500 kbps or more[2] |
Length
Text and captions
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Ad text | Up to 4 lines; keep within 100 characters (50 in Chinese, Japanese, Korean) to avoid “See more”[2] |
| Spark Ads (pull) caption | Up to 150 characters, or blank[2] |
| Ad text rules | White, fixed font; no clickable links, @ mentions or hashtags[1]non-Spark Ads |
| Display name | One line: 20 characters (10 in Chinese, Japanese, Korean)[1] |
| Profile image | 98x98 px, .jpg/.jpeg/.png, under 50 KB[1]key element in the centre 66x66 px |
| On-screen text pace | 5–10 words per second[3] |
Safe zone
What TikTok Ads doesn't publish
Creators ask about these, but there's no official number. We leave them out rather than guess.
- Exact safe-zone margins in pixels on the help pages (they live in the downloadable templates)
- A maximum resolution or recommended export size beyond the minimums
- A frame-rate requirement for ads
Exporting for TikTok Ads
Export 1080x1920
It's well above the 540x960 minimum for vertical, the format TikTok recommends; shoot at 720p or higher.
Write short ad text
Keep it within 100 characters so “See more” doesn't cut it off, and remember a longer caption shrinks the safe zone.
Check the bitrate for reserved buys
Reservation ads need 2,500 kbps or more, nearly five times the auction floor of 516 kbps.
Cut a 9–15 second version
Reservation ads cap at 60 seconds and TikTok recommends 9–15. Land the hook inside 6 seconds.
Avoid white backgrounds
TikTok's ad text and UI icons are white, so a white or transparent frame hides them.
Mimic exports vertical 9:16 video with captions and titles kept inside the apps' safe zones and off the speaker's face.
Sources
- [1] TikTok Ads Manager Help, TikTok Auction In-Feed Ads. Checked October 2026.
- [2] TikTok Ads Manager Help, TikTok reservation in-feed ad specifications (including Reach & Frequency). Checked October 2026.
- [3] TikTok Ads Manager Help, Creative best practices for performance ads. Checked October 2026.
Platforms change limits without notice. Check the linked page before a big campaign.
Questions
What size should a TikTok ad be?
Vertical 9:16 at 540x960 px or larger is recommended. Horizontal (960x540+) and square (640x640+) are also accepted.
How long can a TikTok ad be?
Auction in-feed ads can run up to 10 minutes. Reservation in-feed ads run 5–60 seconds, with 9–15 recommended. Spark Ads using an organic post have no length restriction.
What is the file size limit for TikTok ads?
500 MB.
How long can TikTok ad text be?
Up to 4 lines. TikTok suggests staying within 100 characters (50 for Chinese, Japanese or Korean) so it isn't covered by “See more”. Spark Ads captions can be up to 150 characters.
How do TikTok ad specs differ from organic posts?
Ads cap files at 500 MB and set bitrate floors (516 kbps auction, 2,500 kbps reservation); organic posts take files up to 4 GB. See our TikTok page for organic specs.
Made for TikTok Ads, edited by Mimic.
Raw clip in. Captions, cuts, hook and product shots out.
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