All articles
Reference 2 min read

Meta Ad Specs & Sizes 2026: Facebook & Instagram Reference

A

Adspirer Team

Share Y
Meta Ad Specs & Sizes 2026: Facebook & Instagram Reference

META AD SPECS 2026

The current Meta ad specs for Facebook and Instagram — dimensions, aspect ratios, and file limits for every major format — in one reference. Bookmark it. Meta tweaks the edges, but the core specs below are the safe-bet sizes for 2026.

  • Image, video, Stories, Reels, and carousel — all in one table

  • The safe-bet aspect ratios that render everywhere

  • File-size and length limits so nothing gets rejected

Meta ad specs — the dimensions, aspect ratios, and file limits for Facebook and Instagram ads — change at the edges every year, but the core safe-bet sizes are stable. This is the 2026 reference. When in doubt, design to the ratios below and your creative renders cleanly across feed, Stories, and Reels.


The fast answer: design to these ratios

The three ratios that cover almost everything

Build these and you'll render across the placements that matter.

  • 1:1 (1080×1080) — Square — the universal feed image. Safe across Facebook and Instagram feed.

  • 4:5 (1080×1350) — Vertical feed — takes more mobile screen than square and usually wins on feed.

  • 9:16 (1080×1920) — Full-screen vertical — Stories and Reels. The format most spend is shifting to.


Image ad specs

SpecRecommendation
Feed ratio1:1 (1080×1080) or 4:5 (1080×1350)
ResolutionAt least 1080×1080
File typeJPG or PNG
Max file size30 MB
Primary text~125 characters before truncation
Headline~27–40 characters

Video ad specs

SpecRecommendation
Feed ratio4:5 (1080×1350) or 1:1
Stories / Reels ratio9:16 (1080×1920)
File typeMP4 or MOV
Max file sizeUp to 4 GB
Feed lengthKeep it short — most results land in the first few seconds
Reels lengthUp to ~90 seconds; shorter usually performs
CaptionsAdd them — most video is watched on mute

Stories & Reels

SpecRecommendation
Ratio9:16 (1080×1920)
Safe zoneKeep text/logos clear of the top ~14% and bottom ~20% (UI overlays)
FormatVertical video or image
SpecRecommendation
Cards2–10
Card ratio1:1 (1080×1080)
Per-card fileImage 30 MB / Video 4 GB
The one rule that matters most

Design vertical (4:5 or 9:16) and add captions. The single biggest spec mistake in 2026 is shipping square, repurposed-from-desktop creative into a mobile, sound-off, vertical-first feed. The aspect ratio is a bigger lever than any pixel detail in this table.


Launch to spec from an AI agent

Once your creative is built to spec, you can launch and manage the campaign without the dashboard. Adspirer connects ChatGPT or Claude to Meta through MCP — so you brief the campaign in plain English and the agent builds it (paused, for your review). It can also audit live creative for fatigue once it’s running.

Launch a Meta campaign from a creative brief

I have three 9:16 video creatives and two 4:5 images ready. Set up a Meta Advantage+ campaign targeting my standard prospecting audience with a $50/day budget — created paused so I can review before it goes live.


Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Capabilities

What is the best aspect ratio for Meta ads in 2026?
For feed, 4:5 (1080×1350) usually beats square because it takes more mobile screen. For Stories and Reels, 9:16 (1080×1920). Square 1:1 is the safe universal fallback. Designing vertical and adding captions matters more than any other spec.
Are Facebook and Instagram ad specs the same?
Largely yes — Meta runs both on the same Ads Manager and auction, and the core image/video ratios and limits match. The main differences are placement-specific safe zones (Stories and Reels UI overlays) and which formats feel native to each app.
Can an AI agent build Meta ads to spec for me?
It can build and launch the campaign once you have creative ready — Adspirer connects ChatGPT or Claude to Meta and creates campaigns paused for your review, and can audit live creative for fatigue. It does not design the creative itself; that is still your (or your designer's) job.

Ad formats

What size should a Facebook video ad be?
Use MP4 or MOV, at least 1080px on the short side, 4:5 or 1:1 for feed and 9:16 for Stories/Reels. Files can be up to 4 GB. Keep feed videos short — most of the result comes in the first few seconds — and always add captions for sound-off viewing.

Safety & control

What is the safe zone for Stories and Reels?
Keep important text and logos clear of roughly the top 14% and bottom 20% of the 9:16 frame, where Meta overlays profile info, captions, and call-to-action buttons. Anything critical in those bands can get covered.

Creative to spec? Launch it from chat.

Connect Adspirer to ChatGPT or Claude and build Meta campaigns in plain English — created paused for your review. Free tier, no credit card.

Try Adspirer free
Meta Ads Facebook Ads Instagram Ads Reference

More articles to read