How Long Can a Facebook Reel Be? Max Length, Ideal Duration, and Pro Tips

How Long Can a Facebook Reel Be? Max Length, Ideal Duration, and Pro Tips

Use this guide to quickly confirm the current Facebook Reels time limit and learn what duration tends to perform best. You’ll also find practical steps to verify your account’s cap, cross‑posting caveats, and export specs that protect quality and readability. Apply the pacing and editing tips below to boost completion rate, retention, and rewatches.

The short answer

• Facebook Reels can be up to 90 seconds long.
• Availability can vary by region, account type, and app version.
• Always check the in‑app duration indicator before you hit publish; Meta occasionally tests different caps with select users.

Pro tip: If you suddenly see only 30s/60s options, update the app and recheck. If the cap doesn’t change, plan your cut for that limit or publish as a standard video instead.

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Ideal length vs. maximum length

The maximum is 90 seconds, but the sweet spot for many high‑performing Reels is 15–45 seconds. Why?

• Completion rate: Shorter Reels are more likely to be finished, which is a strong positive signal.
• Average watch time: Packing value into fewer seconds lifts watch time per second and total retention.
• Hook velocity: If you nail the first 2–3 seconds, viewers tend to stay; if not, they swipe fast—shorter edits reduce the “boring middle.”

Rule of thumb:

• If the idea is simple (a meme, a teaser, a single tip), aim 15–30 seconds.
• If it requires context (quick demos, comparisons), 30–60 seconds.
• If it needs a narrative (before/after, mini tutorial), push 60–90 seconds—but trim aggressively.

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Facebook Reels vs. Instagram Reels (and cross‑posting)

Both platforms commonly cap Reels at 90 seconds. However, upgrades and tests roll out unevenly. If you create for cross‑posting:

• Edit to the stricter cap (90s) so your clip doesn’t get auto‑trimmed on either platform.
• If your cut exceeds the cap:
• It won’t post as a Reel on the platform with the lower limit.
• You may be prompted to post as a standard video or shorten it.
• Cross‑posted uploads may auto‑trim to fit, which can break punchlines or CTAs—avoid this by editing a platform‑safe master.

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Specs that prevent cropping and quality loss

Produce to native vertical video specs and keep your text inside the safe frame.

Tip: Place on‑screen text inside roughly the center 80–85% area (about 108 px side margins and 192–250 px top/bottom on 1080×1920) so it doesn’t collide with usernames, buttons, or the scrub bar.

Export preset (FFmpeg example):

ffmpeg -i input.mov -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,\
pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2,format=yuv420p,fps=30" \
-c:v libx264 -profile:v high -level 4.2 -pix_fmt yuv420p -b:v 10M -maxrate 12M -bufsize 20M \
-c:a aac -b:a 192k -movflags +faststart output_reel.mp4

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How to verify your current limit

1. Open the Facebook app and tap Create > Reel.
2. Add a clip or record directly; look for the duration indicator on the timeline or camera (it often shows the cap).
3. If you only see shorter caps (e.g., 30s or 60s), update the app, force close, and recheck.
4. If your story requires more than your current cap:

• Publish as a standard video (vertical 9:16 still performs well), or
• Split into a multi‑part Reel series (label clearly: “Part 1/2”).

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Length‑by‑goal strategy

• 15–30 seconds
• Teasers, memes, “hook + payoff” jokes
• Single quick tip, micro‑testimonial
• 30–60 seconds
• Product highlights, feature rundowns, UGC compilations
• Quick recipes, fashion fits, before/after reveals
• 60–90 seconds
• Mini tutorials, narrative transformations, short listicles (3–5 steps)
• Founder stories, case study snapshots

Match depth to intent: the more complex the idea, the more time you can justify—if you keep it moving.

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Editing and pacing to fit time

• Hook in 2–3 seconds: a bold claim, visual surprise, or the “after” first.
• Cut filler: remove umms, dead space, and long transitions.
• Use jump cuts and b‑roll: maintain visual variety every 1–2 seconds.
• Add on‑screen captions: keep font big and lines short (2–3 lines).
• Align cuts to beats: use music markers to reinforce momentum.
• Front‑load value: deliver key info early to boost completion rate.
• Button it up: end with a loopable last frame or quick recap to encourage rewatches.

Snippet template for a strong cold open:

[0:00] The result/after shot (1 sec)
[0:01] “Here’s how I did it in 3 steps…” (caption)
[0:02–0:10] Step 1 (fast demo + label)
[0:10–0:20] Step 2 (b‑roll cover)
[0:20–0:28] Step 3 (before/after split)
[0:28–0:32] Recap + CTA (“Save for later”)

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Avoid common pitfalls

• Reposting TikTok‑watermarked clips (algorithmic downrank risk; also looks recycled).
• Cluttered text outside the safe area; tiny fonts that compress poorly.
• Long intros (“Hi guys, welcome back…”); start with value.
• Silent dead space or unbalanced audio levels.
• Ignoring analytics: low retention, no rewatches, and soft endings that kill completion rate.

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Measurement and iteration

Track these to find your sweet spot:

• Reach and plays: top‑of‑funnel distribution.
• 3‑second views: early-hook strength.
• Average watch time and completion rate: pacing and clarity.
• Rewatches and saves: depth of value and future utility.
• Click‑through on CTAs (if applicable): conversion alignment.

A/B test the same concept at different lengths:

• Version A: 30 seconds with condensed steps.
• Version B: 60 seconds with more context and b‑roll.
• Keep the hook identical; change only pacing and depth. Compare completion rate and total watch time to decide your default format.

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FAQs

• Are longer (3+ minute) Reels a thing?
• Meta occasionally tests new limits with select users. If you don’t see it in your app, plan for 90 seconds.
• What if my video is longer than the cap?
• It won’t post as a Reel on platforms capped at 90s. Choose a standard vertical video upload or split into a series (label parts clearly).
• Do I need captions if I have on‑screen text?
• Yes. Use both. System captions help accessibility and search; on‑screen callouts guide attention and improve retention.
• Should I shoot 4K?
• You can, but export to 1080×1920 for upload. Higher‑resolution masters give you flexibility for reframing and future reuse.

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Summary

Bottom line: The practical, reliable planning number is 90 seconds. But the question isn’t just “how long can a fb reel be”—it’s “how short can this idea be while staying complete and compelling?” Edit ruthlessly, respect the safe frame, and let your analytics tell you where your audience’s attention peaks.