Formats
How Long Should a Video Ad Be? 15 vs 30 vs 60 Seconds
How long should a video ad be? It is one of the first questions owners ask, and the honest answer is: as long as it takes to say one thing well, and not a second more. For most social ads that means somewhere between 15 and 60 seconds.
Below, we break down what each length is good for, how it plays on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube Shorts, and which of our videos matches each length. You will leave knowing exactly which length to ask for.
How long should a video ad be? Match length to the job
Length is a tool, not a rule. Each one does a different job.
- 15 seconds: one offer, one action. Perfect for a sale, a new item or a reminder. People see it, get it and move on, ideally to your website.
- 30 seconds: room for a quick problem and solution, or a short recommendation. Good when people need a reason to trust you.
- 45 to 60 seconds: room for a real story with characters, a turn and a payoff. Good for building a brand people remember.
A simple test: write down the one thing you want viewers to remember. If it fits on a sticky note, go short. If it needs a little "once upon a time," go longer.
Video ad length by platform
Every app lets you post a range of lengths, and the limits change often, so check each platform's help pages before you upload. Here is what holds steady across all of them: viewers scroll fast, often with the sound off, and decide in the first second or two whether to keep watching.
Instagram and Facebook (Reels, Stories, feed)
Short, vertical video fits best in Reels and Stories. A 15-second ad is easy to watch all the way through. A 30-second ad works when the opening is strong enough to earn the extra time. Save 60 seconds for videos people choose to watch, like a brand story pinned to your profile.
TikTok
TikTok recommends vertical 9:16 for in-feed ads, at a minimum of 540x960, per its video ad specifications. Its creative tips have suggested landing between about 21 and 34 seconds. That puts a 30-second spokesperson-style ad right in the sweet spot, and 15-second promos work too when the hook is strong.
YouTube Shorts
Google's help page for Shorts ads covers vertical 9:16 video. It notes that only the first 60 seconds play in the Shorts feed, and it suggests 10 to 30 seconds for ads that ask people to act. A 15- or 30-second ad is the safe bet. If you run a 60-second story there, make sure the call to action lands before the minute is up.
Need help with sizes and safe zones too? See our social video ad specs cheat sheet.
When a 15-second video ad wins
A 15-second video ad is the easiest one to finish watching. That makes it ideal when you have something simple and timely to say.
- A weekend special or holiday hours
- A new product, service or menu item
- A grand opening or an anniversary deal
- A reminder to people who already know you
Our Quick promo ($199) is built for exactly this: 15 seconds, vertical 9:16, bold animated text, voiceover, music and an end card with your offer. It is ready in 3 business days. Need ideas? Try our video ad ideas for small businesses.
When 30 seconds is the sweet spot
Thirty seconds gives you time to open with a hook, name the problem your customer has, show how you fix it and ask them to act. That is a complete sales pitch, just tiny.
This length shines for businesses where trust drives the sale: plumbers, dentists, salons, gyms and anyone who comes into someone's home or asks for an appointment. The Spokesperson ad ($349) runs 15 to 30 seconds with a friendly on-camera presenter or your own photos, an attention-grabbing opening, captions, music and an offer and QR end card. You also get post text with hashtags, and it is ready in 3 business days.
If you want animation instead, the Animated short ($999) runs 30 to 45 seconds of 3D animation, family-film style, with custom characters and voices. You pick from 3 story concepts, and it is ready in 7 business days.
When 60 seconds earns its keep
A 60-second video asks more of the viewer, so it has to give more back. It works when you have a story that makes people feel something: how you started, who you serve, why you care.
Use it where people already lean in: your website, your profile, an email, a pinned post, or as a follow-up ad to people who have seen your shorter videos.
Our Animated story ($1,499) is 60 seconds and includes everything in the short with room for a longer story, like the six films we made for Deckhand Trash Co. It is ready in 7 business days. To plan one, read how to tell your business story in 60 seconds.
Tip: you do not have to pick just one length. Many owners pair a 60-second story for their site with a 15-second promo for ads.
Doing it yourself vs a flat price
Cutting a video to the right length sounds simple until you try it. Trimming 40 seconds down to 15 often means rewriting the script, re-recording the voice and redoing the captions. If you build ads yourself, you are also juggling a video generator app, a voice app, an editing app, a stock music library and a caption app. Published plans for each kind of tool commonly run from about $6 to $40 a month. One example stack of five we priced in October 2026 came to about $116 a month before extra credits. Our guide to what DIY video ad tools really cost adds it all up.
With a flat price, the length is built in from the start, and voiceover, music, captions and one revision are always included.
- 15 seconds: Quick promo video
- 15 to 30 seconds: Spokesperson video ad
- 30 to 45 seconds: 3D animated commercial
- 60 seconds: animated brand story
Still deciding? Our guide to choosing the right video ad helps, and you can compare everything on the video ad pricing page. When you are ready, order your video ad.