Twitter Video Length Limit: A Guide

X (formerly Twitter) started out as a text-based platform but has since branched out into the world of video. This is great for microbloggers looking to branch into video production and creators hoping to cross-post content and build a following on X. That said, before uploading videos, it's good to know the platform’s limitations and rules around video uploads.

In this article, we’ll discuss Twitter video length limits and explain how to get around them. We’ll also cover some best practices for creating engaging X (Twitter) video content.

How Long Can X (Twitter) Videos Be?

Limitations vary depending on whether or not you’re a subscriber — here’s the difference between free and paid accounts:

• Regular users — The X (Twitter) max video length for the average user is 140 seconds. Additionally, the file size can’t exceed 512 MB.‍
• Premium subscribers — X Premium users can post videos up to approximately four hours long with a size limit of 8 GB.

How To Post Long Videos on X (Twitter) 

If you need to upload a longer video to X (Twitter), here are a few methods to try: 

• Trim your footage — Use Captions to condense your content, or try our long-to-short video converter to instantly turn long-form videos into quick clips.
• Create a thread — If you need to post a video longer or larger than the X (Twitter) max video size, consider breaking it down into smaller scenes or episodes. You can then post them sequentially in an X (Twitter) thread.
• Upgrade to a premium account — X Premium is a paid subscription service with three available options: Basic, Premium, and Premium+. Each tier allows you to post long videos.

X (Twitter) Video Ad Guidelines

X (Twitter) sets different video requirements for ads than user content. Keep the following in mind when developing ad concepts and preparing to upload videos. Also, consider Captions’ AI video ad maker for quickly creating videos that match all of X’s (Twitter’s) technical specs for ads, from thumbnail to codec.

Ad Length

X (Twitter) limits video ads to 140 seconds but recommends they run 15 seconds or less. The platform allows some brands to upload videos up to 10 minutes long — contact your X Account Manager to find out if you qualify. 

Supported File Formats

As with video content elsewhere on the site, X (Twitter) accepts ad files in MP4 or MOV format. Files should be no larger than 1 GB.

Recommended Codecs

A codec is a type of software that compresses and decompresses video files, making video storage and playback more efficient. The best codec options make files smaller without losing too much video quality. X (Twitter) recommends the following codecs:

• Video codecs — H264, Baseline, Main, or High Profile with a 4:2:0 color space.
• Audio codec — AAC LC

Suggested Bitrate

Bitrate is a way to measure video quality. The higher the bitrate, the better the resolution and audio. However, this also leads to larger file sizes, which can slow playback and use more storage.

The X (Twitter) recommendations for bitrate settings are:

• Full HD (1080p) videos — 6,000k–10,000k
• HD (720p) videos — 5,000k–8,000k

Preferred Frame Rate

Frame rate refers to how many individual frames appear per second in a video. More frames typically result in better quality, but they also make files larger. 

X (Twitter) prefers ads to be 29.97fps or 30fps, but the platform allows up to 60fps.

Ideal Thumbnail Format

X (Twitter) supports PNG and JPG thumbnails up to 5MB. To prevent cropping or distortion, ensure the thumbnail dimensions match the video’s.

Subtitles

X (Twitter) strongly recommends closed captioning or text overlays for video ads. Many people scroll their social media feeds with the sound off, and subtitles are also helpful for people who are hard of hearing or speak a different language. Including captions in each ad allows you to engage with this part of your audience.

No need to spend time typing this text out manually — generate subtitles using Captions’ AI tools.

X (Twitter) Video Dimensions Guide

X (Twitter) accepts videos in several aspect ratios (the ratio of a video’s width to height). The best aspect ratio to use depends on several factors, including the format of your original video footage and the way you expect your audience to view it. Here are X’s (Twitter’s) recommendations: 

• Landscape video (16:9) dimensions — Landscape works best for videos shot horizontally. The recommended resolution for horizontal videos is 1280 x 720 pixels.
• Portrait video (9:16) dimensions — Vertical videos with a recommended resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels work well when viewed on mobile devices.‍
• Square video (1:1) dimensions — Versatile square videos are a nice compromise between horizontal and vertical, working well whether the viewer looks at them on a computer or a portable device. The drawback with square videos is that they’ll leave a lot of screen real estate unused, no matter the device. X (Twitter) recommended square videos have a 720 x 720 pixels resolution.

4 Best Practices for Improve Your X (Twitter) Videos

Increase your X (Twitter) content’s reach and effectiveness by following these four simple tips.

1. Capture Attention Quickly

Catch your viewers’ eye by opening your video with a striking image, a thought-provoking question, or even a statistic. This tactic encourages audiences to stop scrolling and watch your post. Engage their attention early — and then keep it with quality content relevant to your initial hook.

2. Enhance Visual Impact

Pay attention to lighting, transitions between clips, and visual effects. Care and consistency with small details like these will set your videos apart from hastily made content from other creators, reinforcing the idea that you respect your audience enough to give them your very best. These elements also give your video a professional appearance that reinforces your message’s authority.

3. Adjust Aspect Ratios

X (Twitter) allows you to post videos using several aspect ratios: horizontal (16:9), vertical (9:16), and square (1:1). Which one you choose to use is up to you, and the decision often comes down to personal preference. Vertical videos look best on mobile devices, while horizontal videos are a natural fit on wider computer screens. Square videos are a nice compromise between the two.

4. Add Captions for Better Engagement and Accessibility

Including captions in each video allows you to engage with your entire audience. Subtitles help people understand your content better, including those who are hard of hearing, speak a different language, or use X (Twitter) without sound.

Add these captions effortlessly with Captions’ Auto Subtitle Generator, which uses AI to transcribe the audio. Our platform even automatically translates captions to other languages to prepare your videos for a global market.

Increasing viewer engagement in this way increases the likelihood that the X algorithm will show your video to even more people.

Improve Your X (Twitter) Content With Captions 

Engage your X (Twitter) audience by developing interesting concepts, writing entertaining scripts, and turning raw footage into polished posts. AI speeds up each of these processes — access the best AI tools in one interface through Captions. 

Upload your unedited footage to Captions’ AI Video Editor, and let AI automatically cut your work into a polished finished video with transitions, sound effects, and text overlays. Once you’re happy with your post, adjust it to fit X (Twitter)’s specifications using our Video Resizer.

Redefine your X (Twitter) presence with Captions.

FAQ

How Long Can A Video Be on X (Twitter)?

For most creators, videos must be at or below 140 seconds and 512 MB. Premium subscribers can post videos up to four hours long and 8 GB.

How Can I Use Captions to Make X (Twitter) Content?

Captions is loaded with helpful AI tools that are ideal for making videos or video ads for X (Twitter). Here are just a few ways our platform improves the content creation process: 

• Generate content from scratch — Use the Twitter Video Maker to create footage with the power of AI. We’ll turn a concept into a full script, then have AI avatars narrate and star in each post. With Captions, there’s no need to be camera ready. Just describe your idea and let AI do the rest.
• Polish existing footage — If you’ve already filmed your social media videos, add the finishing touches with AI. Select one of many premade editing styles, and watch as AI applies scene transitions, background music, and B-roll that suits your chosen aesthetic. ‍
• Trim, splice, and cut with ease — Quickly remove all the bloopers and dead space from your takes. With Captions, you no longer have to worry about getting perfect footage before you start editing.