MotionShineShort answer: If you want new people to see it, keep a Reel or a Short at 3 minutes or less. Instagram's help page says Reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences, and YouTube Shorts stop at 3 minutes. TikTok allows much longer uploads. Inside that limit, make the clip as short as the point needs: none of the three help pages names a best length, so that part is your call, and your own watch time numbers are the best guide.
To cut a longer recording down, the free video trimmer works in your browser with no upload and no watermark.
Reel, Short and TikTok length limits
Every number here is from the platform's own help page, read on 7 November 2026. Where a page does not say something, the cell says "not stated". None of the pages showed a publish date.
| Instagram Reels | YouTube Shorts | TikTok | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longest you can make | 20 minutes | 3 minutes | 10 minutes recorded in the app, 60 minutes uploaded |
| Longest shown to new viewers | 3 minutes | Not stated | Not stated |
| Shortest | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Best length | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Shape | Not stated on this page | Square or vertical | Not stated on this page |
| Source | Record a reel on Instagram | Understand three-minute YouTube Shorts | TikTok camera tools |
The "best length" row is empty on purpose. Guides that quote a perfect length, such as "15 seconds" or "45 to 60 seconds", are quoting their own studies or opinions, not the platforms.
Instagram Reels: 20 minutes, but 3 for reach
Instagram's help page says: "You can record and edit videos up to 20 minutes with Instagram Reels." The clips you record can add up to 20 minutes, and a progress bar shows how much you have used.
The line that matters more sits under it: "Reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences." Instagram's creator FAQ says the same thing in its own words: it recommends videos to people who don't follow you when they are 3 minutes or less. So a 6 minute Reel can still reach your followers, but it will not be pushed to strangers.
The same help page also says Reels is not available to everyone yet, and some accounts can see reels but not record them. If your app shows a different limit, your account may be on a different rollout.
YouTube Shorts: up to 3 minutes
YouTube Help says: "You can now create YouTube Shorts up to three minutes in length." The rules on that page:
- A video with a square or vertical shape that is up to 3 minutes long counts as a Short, for videos uploaded after 15 October 2024 on standard channels.
- You can upload a 3 minute Short through the YouTube app and YouTube Studio.
- Most songs can be used for up to 90 seconds in a 3 minute Short. Some are limited to 60 or 30 seconds.
- A Short longer than 1 minute with an active Content ID claim is blocked worldwide on YouTube. Shorts under 1 minute keep the old rules.
A second YouTube page, "Get started creating YouTube Shorts", says the maximum resolution for a Short is 1080p. For every YouTube size and shape, see YouTube video size, resolution and aspect ratio.
The music and Content ID lines are the reason a 2 minute Short can go wrong where a 50 second one would not. If you use a song you did not make, check how long it plays.
TikTok: 10 minutes recorded, 60 uploaded
TikTok's camera tools help page gives two numbers:
- Videos you record in TikTok can be up to 10 minutes long.
- Videos you upload in TikTok can be up to 60 minutes long.
It adds one rule people miss: if you pick a sound before you record or upload, the video length is set by the sound's length. TikTok's page does not say which lengths get shown to more people.
So how long should your Reel or Short be?
This part is general advice, not a rule from any platform.
- Start from the ceiling that matters. For reach on Instagram and for a Short on YouTube, that is 3 minutes. Treat it as a limit, not a target.
- Cut to the point. Write the one thing the viewer should take away. Anything that does not help that goes.
- Open with the result. Show the finished thing or the answer in the first seconds, then how you got there.
- Check your own numbers. After a few posts, look at where people stop watching in each app's insights. Your audience beats any guide.
- Split long ideas. A 6 minute tutorial often works better as a 3 minute part one and a part two, or as a regular YouTube video with a Short that points to it.
Rough fits by kind of clip
Again general advice, not platform data:
| Kind of clip | Where to start |
|---|---|
| One quick tip or a before and after | As long as the tip itself, nothing more |
| A short how-to with a few steps | Each step once, no recap at the end |
| A product or app demo | One feature per clip, under the 3 minute line |
| A full tutorial | A regular YouTube video, with a Short as the trailer |
How to cut a video to the right length
- Open the free video trimmer and drop in your clip. It takes .mov, .mp4, .m4v, .webm and .mkv files, and nothing is uploaded.
- Drag the two handles to the part you want to keep, or type exact times such as 1:23.50. The page shows how long the finished clip will be.
- To remove a mistake in the middle, choose Cut them out and mark that part.
- Pick Fast cut to keep the quality as it is, or Exact cut when the first frame must be exactly right.
- Save as MP4 and download.
If your recording is wide and the Reel needs to be vertical, the crop video and video resizer tools change the shape in your browser too. To add captions, try the auto caption generator.
Where MotionShine fits
MotionShine is a free Mac screen recorder, made by the author of this blog. If your Reels and Shorts are screen recordings, it can record an area set to 9:16, or let you pick the shape after recording (wide, square, vertical and others), and zooms stay on what they point at when the shape changes. Free exports go up to 720p at 30 fps with no watermark and no time limit. Pro unlocks 1080p, 1440p, 4K and 60 fps, so a 1080p Short needs Pro. If you only need to shorten a clip you already have, the trimmer above is enough.
FAQ
How long can an Instagram Reel be?
Up to 20 minutes, according to Instagram's help page read on 7 November 2026. Reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences, so keep a Reel at 3 minutes or less if you want people who don't follow you to see it.
How long can a YouTube Short be?
Up to 3 minutes, for square or vertical videos uploaded after 15 October 2024. YouTube Help also says the maximum resolution for a Short is 1080p.
How long can a TikTok be?
TikTok's help page says up to 10 minutes when you record in the app and up to 60 minutes when you upload. If you choose a sound first, the sound's length sets the video's length.
What is the best length for a Reel?
None of the three platforms' help pages gives one. Stay at 3 minutes or less for reach on Instagram, then keep it as short as the point allows and check where viewers drop off in your insights.
Is a 60 second Reel too long?
Not by Instagram's rules: it is well under the 3 minute line for new audiences. Whether it is too long depends on whether every second earns its place.
Why did my 2 minute Short get blocked?
YouTube Help says a Short over 1 minute with an active Content ID claim is blocked worldwide. If it uses a song you do not own, trim it under a minute or remove the claimed music.
