Videos · Glossary
Snapchat story size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
A Snapchat Story is a 9:16 vertical frame, usually made at 1080 by 1920 pixels. Snap's own ad formats page lists 9:16 at a resolution of 720 by 1280 for Story and single image or video ads, in MP4, MOV, JPG or PNG, with videos from 3 to 180 seconds. Hootsuite lists 1080 by 1920 as the minimum for Snapchat ads.
Snapchat is built around the full screen vertical frame, so the shape is never in doubt. The resolution is where sources differ: Snap's page names 720 by 1280, while size guides recommend the sharper 1080 by 1920.
Nuwan Madhusanka · Co-founder
4 min read · Published
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 | Snapchat ad formats |
| Resolution listed by Snap | 720 x 1280 px | Snapchat ad formats |
| Size to make | 1080 x 1920 px | Sprout Social; Hootsuite gives it as the ad minimum |
| File types | MP4, MOV, JPG or PNG | Snapchat ad formats |
| Video length | 3 to 180 seconds; Sponsored Snaps up to 180, under 10 recommended | Snapchat ad formats |
| Ad file size | 5 MB | Hootsuite |
| Profile picture | 320 x 320 px, 2 MB | Hootsuite; Sprout Social |
Two resolutions, one shape
Snap's ad formats page lists every main format, Single Image or Video, Story ads, Collection ads and Commercials, at 9:16 and 720 by 1280. Sprout Social gives 1080 by 1920 for a primary post image, and Hootsuite lists 1080 by 1920 as the minimum for ads. Both resolutions are 9:16, so the layout is identical; 1080 by 1920 is sharper on modern phones and is what most editors export for vertical video, so it is the safer file to make.
Keeping clear of the edges
The Snapchat viewer draws the account name at the top and, on ads, a call to action or swipe prompt at the bottom. Snap's ad formats page does not give those areas in pixels. Meta's published margins for a 9:16 frame, 14 percent at the top and 35 percent at the bottom, are a cautious guide for any Stories style app: put the message in the middle and keep logos away from the top corners.
Length and pace
Snap allows Story and Commercial videos from 3 to 180 seconds, and recommends keeping Sponsored Snaps under 10 seconds. Commercials have their first 6 seconds non skippable, which means the offer has to land inside that window. Short, fast scenes with burned in captions suit the format, since many people view with the sound off and swipe quickly.
Common mistakes
Uploading a 16:9 video that plays as a strip in the middle of the screen. Placing the call to action at the very bottom where Snap's own button sits. Running a 60 second ad that takes 20 seconds to reach the point. Exporting a large file above the ad limit Hootsuite lists. And reusing a Reel or TikTok with the other app's watermark burned into it.
Making a Snapchat Story
The video builder's vertical format is 1080 by 1920 at 30 frames a second, the Snapchat frame, so it makes this size directly: choose vertical in the generator and export an MP4. For a still Story or a single image ad, the flyer editor's Instagram Story canvas is the same 1080 by 1920 and exports at 2160 by 3840, which can be scaled to 1080 by 1920 with the image resizer. The blank 1080 by 1920 PNG on this page is a ready frame.
Questions people ask
Is a Snapchat Story the same size as an Instagram Story?
Yes, both are 9:16 vertical frames and are usually made at 1080 by 1920. One design can serve both, provided the text sits in the middle of the frame, clear of each app's top bar and bottom controls. Remove any app watermark before posting to the other.
How long can a Snapchat ad video be?
Snap's ad formats page lists 3 to 180 seconds for single video, Story and Collection ads, and Commercials, with the first 6 seconds of a Commercial non skippable. Sponsored Snaps can run up to 180 seconds, though Snap recommends under 10.
What file types does Snapchat accept for ads?
Snap's ad formats page lists MP4, MOV, JPG and PNG for single image or video, Story and Collection ads, and MP4 or MOV with H.264 encoding for Commercials. Use JPG or PNG for still images and MP4 for video, which every phone editor and desktop tool can export at 1080 by 1920.
What size is a Snapchat profile picture?
Sprout Social and Hootsuite list a 320 by 320 pixel profile picture, and Hootsuite gives a 2 MB file limit. The picture is shown small, so a centred face or logo with strong contrast reads best, and matching it to the other social profiles helps people recognise the account.
Should Snapchat ads have captions?
Yes. Short, fast ads are often watched without sound, so captions or large on screen words make the message clear in silence. Keep caption lines short and in the middle of the frame, above the area where Snap places its call to action, and check them on a phone before the ad runs.
Make one with videos
The button opens the generator with this use case already described. Change the wording to match your own.
Create a video with OneCraftRelated questions
- Reddit banner size: community and profile bannersReddit banner size: 1920 x 384 (5:1) for a community banner per Snappa, 1600 x 480 per Reddit's community guide as reported by Moda, under 500 KB, PNG or JPG.
- Pinterest pin size: 1000 x 1500 pixelsPinterest pin size is 1000 x 1500 pixels at 2:3. File types, the 20 MB desktop limit, why taller pins get cut off, and video and carousel pin shapes.
- YouTube thumbnail size: the 16:9 rule and the file limitsYouTube thumbnail size: 16:9, up to 3840 x 2160 recommended, 640 pixels wide minimum, JPG or PNG, 2 MB on mobile and 50 MB on desktop. Shorts thumbnails too.
Step by step in the builder: Export a video for YouTube, Reels and TikTok.
Written and checked by the OneCraft team. Last checked .