Square (1:1)
A 1:1 aspect ratio video format (1080×1080 px) that works across most placements on Meta, LinkedIn and X without cropping.
Square video is the most versatile format for social advertising. It takes up more screen real estate than landscape in a mobile feed and doesn't require letterboxing the way vertical video does on desktop placements.
On Meta, 1:1 works in Facebook Feed, Instagram Feed, Marketplace and Audience Network. It's the safest default if you can only produce one aspect ratio. However, it underperforms 9:16 in Stories, Reels and TikTok because those placements are designed for full-screen vertical content.
Recommended resolution is 1080×1080 pixels. Most platforms accept up to 4K but compress aggressively, so 1080p is the practical sweet spot.
Related terms
Vertical (9:16)
A 9:16 aspect ratio video format (1080×1920 px) for full-screen mobile placements like TikTok, Reels and Stories.
Horizontal (16:9)
A 16:9 aspect ratio video format (1920×1080 px) standard for YouTube pre-roll, desktop placements and traditional video ads.
Story
Stories are full-screen, vertical, ephemeral posts on Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat — typically 15 seconds or fewer — widely used as an ad placement.
Reel
Reels are short-form, looping vertical videos on Instagram and Facebook, up to 90 seconds, designed for entertainment and discovery.