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Reel, TikTok and Shorts limits for 2026

Every upload limit in one table. Each number links to the platform's own page, so you can check it yourself.

Checked against the sources on 23 October 2026

Changed: Instagram now allows 5 hashtags on a post, not 30. Its Help Center says a post with more than 5 won't go through.[2] Many guides, and Meta's own developer docs, still say 30.[1]
Instagram ReelsTikTokYouTube Shorts
Length 3 s to 15 min[1] Up to 10 min[3]Some accounts can only post 3 or 5 min Up to 3 min[5]Longer, and it's a normal video
File size 300 MB[1] 4 GB[3] Not the limit you'll hitLength is the cap for a Short
Shape 9:16 recommended[1]Other shapes get bars or a crop 9:16 for full screen Square or vertical[5]Wide videos aren't Shorts
Resolution Max 1920 px wide[1] 360 to 4096 px a side[3] 1080×1920 is the usual pick
File type MP4 or MOV, H.264 or HEVC[1] MP4, MOV or WebM[3] MP4 works everywhere
Frame rate 23 to 60 fps[1] 23 to 60 fps[3] Keep the frame rate you filmed at
Caption 2,200 characters[1] 2,200 characters[4]Through the posting API Description 5,000 bytes[6]Emoji count as up to 4
Title None None (the caption is the title) 100 characters, no < or >[6]
Hashtags 5 a post[2] Count toward the 2,200 Over 60 and all are ignored[7]3 show by the title
@mentions 20 a post[1] Count toward the 2,200 No set limit listed

Why a post fails

Too many hashtags

Instagram's limit dropped from 30 to 5. Old caption templates with 10 or 20 hashtags now break. Keep your best 5.

A Short over 3 minutes

It uploads fine, but as a normal video. It never shows in the Shorts feed.

A big export

A 4K export of a long Reel can pass 300 MB. Export at 1080×1920.

Check your post in 10 seconds

Free, in your browser, nothing uploaded.

Check a video Check a caption

Ghostedit runs these checks on every scheduled post, so nothing fails at 9am. Get early access

Questions

How many hashtags can you use on Instagram in 2026?

Five. Instagram's Help Center says "You can use up to 5 tags on a post."[2] Meta's developer docs still list 30,[1] so a scheduler that follows the old docs can let a post through that Instagram then refuses.

How long can a YouTube Short be?

Up to 3 minutes, square or vertical, for videos uploaded after October 15, 2024.[5]

Why are these the API limits and not the app limits?

Schedulers post through each platform's official API, and the API has its own limits. When the app and the API differ, the API is the one that decides whether a scheduled post goes out.

Something here is out of date

Platforms change limits without notice. Email alex@chen.media with the page that changed and we'll fix it the same week.

Sources

  1. Meta for Developers, IG User Media (Reel specs, caption limit): developers.facebook.com
  2. Instagram Help Center, Use hashtags on Instagram: help.instagram.com
  3. TikTok for Developers, Media Transfer Guide (video restrictions): developers.tiktok.com
  4. TikTok for Developers, Direct Post reference (caption): developers.tiktok.com
  5. YouTube Help, Shorts up to 3 minutes: support.google.com
  6. YouTube Data API, Videos (title, description): developers.google.com
  7. YouTube Help, Hashtags: support.google.com