How Long Is a Reel? Current Limits, Optimal Lengths, and Editing Tips (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube)

How Long Is a Reel? Current Limits, Optimal Lengths, and Editing Tips (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube)

If you’re asking “how long is a reel,” you’re really asking about a family of short-form, vertical videos across platforms. While each network has its own cap, the right length for performance is usually shorter than the maximum. Here’s the fast answer and the deeper playbook.

Quick answer at a glance

As of late 2024/early 2025, these are the typical limits most creators see. Individual accounts may have access to extended tests.

Intent-wise, “reels” prioritize fast hooks, clear delivery, and strong retention—think mobile-first stories that loop cleanly and finish with a specific call to action.

Instagram Reels in 2025

• Official baseline: Most accounts still cap at 90 seconds.
• Variations by account:
• 3-minute Reels: Rolled out to some creators via limited tests.
• 10-minute Reels: Small, experimental cohorts (not broadly available).
• If your video exceeds your cap:
• The app prompts trimming before posting as a Reel.
• There is no separate “long feed video” option—Instagram consolidated feed video into Reels. Longer formats require Lives or directing viewers to other platforms.
• Music/licensing:
• Some tracks restrict how long music can run; even if your account has 90s or 3m, you may only be able to use a shorter music clip.

Best-practice ranges (IG):

• Education/how-to: 20–60 seconds
• Product demos: 15–45 seconds
• Storytime/creator-led: 30–90 seconds if you can sustain retention
• Teasers for long-form: 10–30 seconds with a tight CTA

Facebook Reels vs. Instagram Reels

• Cap differences:
• Facebook Reels: Typically 90 seconds; tests up to 3 minutes exist.
• Instagram Reels: Typically 90 seconds; tests at 3–10 minutes for limited accounts.
• Cross-posting constraints:
• Cross-post from IG to FB will adhere to the tighter limit. If your IG Reel is 100 seconds and FB cap is 90 for your Page, cross-posting may fail or require trimming.
• Music rights can differ between IG and FB; a track usable on IG may be blocked or shortened on FB.
• Recommended durations for reach:
• Broad reach: 12–35 seconds.
• Deeper engagement/education: 30–75 seconds if drop-off remains low in the first 3–5 seconds.

YouTube Shorts and Other Reel-like Formats

• Shorts max duration: Up to 60 seconds.
• Music/licensing caveats:
• Many tracks allow up to 60 seconds, but some restrict to 15–30 seconds. YouTube will show the allowed duration during selection.
• When to choose Shorts over Reels:
• You plan to funnel viewers into long-form videos and playlists via channel-level navigation and end screens (Shorts-to-Long strategy).
• Your niche benefits from YouTube search and evergreen discovery (how-tos, reviews, tutorials).
• You want granular audience analytics and monetization pathways tied to the broader channel.

Other formats:

• TikTok: Allows long uploads, but for “reel-like” discovery, 9–45 seconds often perform best.
• Snapchat Spotlight: Cater to 10–30 second micro-stories.

What’s the Best Length for Performance?

There’s no single magic number. Performance hinges on:

• Hook strength (first 1–2 seconds): Does the first frame and line create an open loop?
• Retention curve: Keep early dips shallow; aim to hold 60–80% through the first 3–5 seconds.
• Completion rate: Finishing a 20-second clip may outrank partial views of a 70-second one.
• Total watch time: Slightly longer videos can win if they maintain retention and generate more total watch time per impression.
• Loopability: Seamless loops can juice watch time without feeling repetitive.

General guidance:

• Start short: Ship 15–30s tests, then scale length only if retention supports it.
• Edit for density, not just brevity: Faster pacing, tighter lines, and visual variety beat arbitrary cuts.
• Platform nuance: Shorts discovery often favors snappy 10–35s; IG/FB can carry 30–60s if strong storytelling is present.

Time-Based Structures You Can Copy

Use these scaffolds to draft tighter reels. Timings are guidelines—adjust to your beat.

15 seconds (ultra-skim)

0.0–1.2s  Hook: Contrarian claim or shocking visual
1.2–10s   Delivery: 1–2 crisp points, each with a quick visual beat
10–13s    Proof: Before/after, micro demo, or social proof overlay
13–15s    CTA: “Follow for X,” “Comment ‘guide’,” or “Watch the full breakdown on YT”

30 seconds (snackable)

0.0–1.5s   Hook: Big promise + specific who/what
1.5–10s    Step 1 with cutaway
10–18s     Step 2 + micro-proof (screenshot, metric, testimonial)
18–25s     Step 3 / objection buster
25–30s     CTA: Save/share; tease next episode

60 seconds (explainer)

0.0–2s     Pattern interrupt + outcome (“In 60s, fix ___”)
2–10s      Context (why this matters) with a stat overlay
10–40s     3 steps (10s each), vary shots every 2–3s
40–55s     Proof: demo, chart, or mini-case
55–60s     CTA + loop back to opening frame

90 seconds (story-driven)

0.0–3s     Hook via consequence (“I wasted $2,000 doing this wrong…”)
3–20s      Setup: Problem and stakes
20–70s     Journey: 3 beats (mistake → insight → fix), B-roll + captions
70–85s     Outcome: metric/result
85–90s     CTA: Next episode, DM keyword, link in bio

Editing to Fit the Limit Without Losing Clarity

• Script tight, then shoot long: Overshoot takes and trim in post.
• Jump cuts: Cut every 1–3 seconds to remove umms and dead air.
• Captions/subtitles: Burn-in big, high-contrast captions; highlight keywords with color.
• Speed ramps: Use subtle ramps to keep momentum in transitions; avoid overuse.
• Cut on action: Hide edits behind movement for smoother pacing.
• B-roll layering: Add relevant visuals every 2–4 seconds to reset attention.
• Audio polish: Compress, EQ, and normalize to -14 to -12 LUFS for clarity on mobile speakers.
• Visual hierarchy: Big face, big text, big action—avoid cluttered overlays.
• Trim points ruthlessly:
• Kill preambles; start at the moment of value.
• Replace long explanations with on-screen bullets or graphics.
• Clean loops:
• End on a frame that matches the opening visual or phrase to encourage replays.

Pro tip: If you must shave 5–10 seconds without losing meaning, keep nouns and verbs, cut modifiers and filler. Replace “We’re going to be talking about…” with the action itself.

Workflow and Tools

• Pre-production:
• Timeboxed scripts: Write to 80% of target length (e.g., 48s script for a 60s cap).
• Shotlists: Plan A-roll, B-roll, and text beats to hit every 2–4 seconds.
• On-screen timers: Add a tiny rehearsal timer overlay or use your camera’s recording time to pace delivery.
• Draft testing:
• Export two cuts (e.g., 28s vs 36s). Post on low-stakes slots to sample retention curves.
• A/B hooks: Same body, different first 2 seconds.
• Templates:
• Use editing presets for 9:16, safe zones, fonts, and caption styles.
• Keep a sound-design rack: noise reduction, EQ, compressor.
• Tools:
• Mobile: CapCut, VN, InShot.
• Desktop: Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro.
• Script/voice: Descript for text-based editing and filler removal.
• Captions: Auto-captions in CapCut or Premiere; verify and brand.
• Analytics to watch:
• 3-second hold rate, average view duration (AVD), completion rate, rewatch/loop rate.
• Drop-off timestamps to find slow frames or weak transitions.
• Tracking feature updates:
• Follow Instagram Creators, Meta Newsroom, YouTube Creators on social.
• Check in-app upload screens; caps often display there first.
• Document your account’s current cap in a team SOP and revisit monthly.

FAQs and Edge Cases

• Can I post longer than the Reel cap?
• Instagram: No. You must trim. Longer standard feed videos have been folded into Reels, and uploads over your cap won’t post as Reels.
• Facebook: Over-cap videos may be rejected as Reels; you can upload as a normal video, but distribution differs from Reels.
• YouTube: Over 60 seconds becomes a regular video, not a Short, affecting placement and performance.
• Do loops count?
• Yes, players loop by default. Loops can increase total watch time, but low satisfaction can hurt long-term distribution. Design seamless loops that feel intentional.
• Multi-part series?
• Great for retention across sessions. Use consistent titles (Part 1/2/3), pin a comment with links, and add an end-frame breadcrumb to the next part.
• Regional rollout differences?
• Feature tests and caps can vary by country and account type. Always verify your current limit in-app before finalizing edits.
• Music length limits?
• Some licensed tracks allow only partial usage (e.g., 15–30 seconds). The platform will indicate this; plan your cut to avoid abrupt audio stops.
• Best aspect ratio?
• 9:16 vertical (1080×1920). Safe zones differ slightly per app; keep essential text in the central 80% height and within 5–6% margins.
• Upload specs to avoid re-encoding stutters?
• H.264 or HEVC, 15–30 Mbps for 1080×1920, AAC audio at 44.1 or 48 kHz. Avoid variable frame rates from screen recordings; conform to 30 or 60 fps.

Practical Trimming Tips (Quick Reference)

• Cut off greetings and context; start with value.
• Replace long B-roll montages with 0.5–1s flashes.
• Swap spoken disclaimers for an on-screen line.
• Tighten pauses to 2–4 frames between lines.
• Use hard cuts over dissolves for pace in short-form.

Bottom Line

A reel’s maximum length varies by platform, but the best-performing cuts are usually shorter than the cap and engineered for retention. Lead with a strong hook, edit for density, and only extend runtime when your analytics prove viewers will stick around.

• How long is a reel? For most creators today: 90 seconds on Instagram and Facebook, 60 seconds on YouTube Shorts.
• What performs best? Usually 15–45 seconds—if you can keep attention high and loop cleanly.
• Your move: Script to the outcome, hook fast, cut mercilessly, and expand length only when your retention curve proves you’ve earned it.