Facebook Ad Sizes & Specifications Guide

We detail important Facebook ad sizes and specs to run targeted ads on Meta.

Facebook Ad Sizes and Specifications

The main type of Facebook ads are

  • Carousel ads
  • Right column ads
  • In-stream video ads
  • Marketplace ads
  • Instant article ads
  • Stories ads
  • Collection ads
 Pro Tip
Carousel ads can show up to 10 images or videos, though we recommend using 5-7 slides.

You can also use them to highlight different features of a single product. In this way, advertisers can tell a longer, more context-rich story through multiple creatives.

  • Facebook recommends that you upload between two and 10 videos and/or images.
  • Videos should be up to four gigabytes, whereas, images should be up to 30 megabytes.
  • The resolution of image ads should be at least 1080 * 1080 pixels.
  • Recommended image ratio should range from 1.9:1 to 1:1 and videos should be at least a second long.
  • Videos can be as long as four hours.
  • Recommended characters for the headline should not exceed 40 and those for the primary text should not go beyond 125.
  • Additionally, the maximum character requirement for the description should be 20.

Locations for Facebook Carousel Ads

Carousel ads appear in the following locations.

  • Facebook Audience Network Native, Interstitial, and Banner
  • Facebook Feed (Video and Image)
  • Facebook Marketplace
  • Facebook Instant Articles
  • Facebook Right Column

 Pro Tip
Carousel Ads Image Sizes and Specs

  • Minimum size: 600px by 600px
  • No maximum size restrictions, though recommended image size is 1080px by 1080px
  • Images no more than 20% text
  • Image file types: .png or .jpg
  • Video formats: .MOV or .MP4
  • Maximum video size: 4GB
  • Video thumbnail image should not exceed 20% text

The best performing carousel ads have both text and image. Shorter headlines generally perform better.

Here is an example of a great carousel ad.

Carousel Ads FB

Right Column Ads Sizes and Specifications

As their name suggests, right column ads are shown on the right-hand side of Facebook pages.

There are two things to note when it comes to right column ads.

  • First, they do not appear in the main news feed.
  • Second, Facebook right column ads are designed for desktop users only. This means your target audience will not see this type of Facebook ad if they are using a mobile device.

Right column ads are cheaper. They require a highly engaging visual that will have a high CTR.

If you can clearly convey your USP in a tiny image, these ads are the best bang for your dollar.

Right column facebook ad

 Pro Tip
Right Column Ad Sizes and Specs

  • Images should not exceed 20% text
  • Any more characters in the headline will be truncated
  • Text recommendations for headline: 40 characters
  • Image file types: .png or. jpg
  • Ratio 1:1
  • Resolution at least 1080×1080 pixel

In-Stream Video Ads Sizes and Specifications

One thing that makes Facebook in-stream video ads popular among experienced advertisers is that they show up after at least one minute into the main video.

Needless to say, the success rate of in-stream video ads is normally high. Another thing to note about this Facebook ad type is that it is designed for mobile users only.

Facebook in-stream video ads

 Pro Tip
In-Stream Video Ad Sizes and Specs

  • Video settings: H.264 compression, square pixels, fixed frame rate, progressive scan and stereo AAC audio compression at 128 kbps+
  • Resolution: At least 1080 x 1080 pixels
  • Video thumbnail image should not exceed 20% text
  • Primary text: 125 characters
  • Headline: 40 characters
  • Video captions: Optional, but recommended
  • Video sound: Optional, but strongly recommended
  • Maximum video file size: 4GB
  • Video duration (desktop): 5 seconds to 15 seconds. Video duration limit may vary by objective.
  • Video duration (mobile): 5 seconds to 10 minutes. Video duration limit may vary by objective.
  • Recommended video formats: .MOV or .MP4
  • Recommended aspect ratio: 16:9 (Though, it can be between 9:16 and 16:9, based on the aspect ratio of the main video) or 1:1
  • Advertisers should upload the highest-resolution source video possible

Video ads are great for showing things like customer testimonials. You can also show product videos or transformational videos.

Facebook recommends you create videos shorter than 15 seconds. You should also expend efforts into choosing the right thumbnail. Avoid video ads if you have lower budget or low quality video.

Marketplace Ads Sizes and Specifications

Facebook Marketplace is very similar to Craigslist and eBay in that it is a platform where people can buy and sell various items.

One key reason why most marketers like Facebook Marketplace is that people have a high buying intent. This means the chances of them noticing your ad are higher than when you place the ad elsewhere on Facebook.

marketplace ads

Most people come to the Marketplace to buy items available near them.

 Pro Tip
Marketplace Ads Image Sizes and Specs

  • Maximum character requirement for the headline: 25 (additional characters will appear truncated)
  • Recommended image size: 1200 x 628
  • Minimum image size: 600 x 600
  • Maximum character requirement for text (no link): 125
  • Image ratio: 1.91:1 (link/yes), 9:16 to 16:9 (link/no)
  • Image file types: .png or .jpg
  • Images no more than 20% text
  • Maximum character requirement for link description: 30 characters

Marketplace Ads Video Sizes and Specs

  • Maximum character requirement for the headline: 25 (additional characters will appear truncated)
  • Maximum character requirement for text: 125
  • Recommended aspect ratio: Between 9:16 and 16:9
  • Recommended video formats: .MOV or .MP4
  • Maximum video length: 240 minutes
  • Maximum video file size: 4GB
  • Video thumbnail image no more than 20% text
  • Advertisers should upload the highest-resolution source video possible
  • Maximum character requirement for link description: 30 characters

Instant Articles Ads Sizes and Specifications

Instant Articles ads are designed for media publishers.

They allow publishers to share fast and interactive articles with their readers. All of these are done within the Facebook Messenger and Mobile App.

 Pro Tip
Instant Articles Ads Image Sizes and Specs

  • Maximum character requirement for link description: 30
  • Maximum character requirement for the headline: 25 (extra characters will appear truncated)
  • Recommended image size: 1200 * 628
  • Minimum image size: 600 * 600
  • Image file types: .png or .jpg
  • Images no more than 20% text
  • Image ratio: 1.91:1 (link/yes), 9:16 to 16:9 (link/no)

Instant Articles Ads Video Sizes and Specs

  • Maximum character requirement for link description: 30
  • Recommended aspect ratio: Between 9:16 and 16:9
  • Maximum character requirement for the headline: 25 (extra characters will appear truncated)
  • Maximum video length: 240 minutes
  • Maximum video file size: 4GB
  • Recommended video formats: .MOV or .MP4
  • Video thumbnail image should not exceed 20% text
  • Marketers to upload the highest-resolution source video possible

The instant article ads can include

  • Direct sold ads via the publisher’s inventory
  • House ads are allowed
  • Native formats served directly by publisher’s ad server
  • Branded content
  • Paid partnership
  • 3rd party video ads

Stories Ads Sizes and Specifications

The first thing that comes to your mind when you hear about stories ads is Instagram stories, right? Yes, Instagram has found massive success with its version of Instagram Stories. That being said, the popularity of Facebook Stories also seems to be rising quite steadily. These Facebook ads allow you to create full-screen ads (vertical orientation) that show up between Stories.

Advertisers prefer Facebook Stories Ads because they allow you to mix still images and short videos. This makes it easy to comprehensively advertise your products or services.

The reason for this is that the CTA (call to action) and profile image go there.

 Pro Tip
Stories Ads Image Sizes and Specs

  • Image file types: .png or .jpg
  • Image ratio: 1.91 to 9:16
  • Recommended image size: 1080 * 1920 (text should be within 1080 * 1420)
  • Images should not exceed 20% text

Stories Ads Video Sizes and Specs

  • Video thumbnail image should not exceed 20% text
  • Recommended aspect ratio: 1.91 to 9:16
  • Resolution: At least 1080 x 1080 pixels
  • Video duration: 1 second to 60 minutes
  • Maximum file size: 4 GB
  • Minimum width: 500 pixels
  • Aspect ratio tolerance: 1%
  • Video settings: H.264 compression, square pixels, fixed frame rate, progressive scan and stereo AAC audio compression at over 128 kbps
  • Recommended video formats: .MOV or .MP4
  • Advertisers to upload the highest-resolution source video possible

These ads often act as a break for users viewing their friend’s stories. Unlike the news feed, the ads are in direct focus of the user. You can even use interactive polls in these stories ads.

An example of Instagram stories ad is below

Insta stories ad

Collection Ads Sizes and Specifications

If you run an e-commerce brand, then Facebook Collection ads are highly profitable.

A Facebook user who clicks on a Collection ad will be taken to a full-screen in-app landing page called a Facebook Instant Experience.

This full-screen in-app landing page is dedicated to showing the advertiser’s products and brand. It goes without saying that Facebook users can buy your products directly from these landing pages.

What’s more, Facebook Collection Ads have many different templates to choose from, based on what you want to do with your ad. These templates include:

  • Instant Storytelling
  • Instant Customer Acquisition
  • Instant Lookbook
  • Instant Storefront

 Pro Tip
Collection Ads Image Sizes and Specs

  • Primary text: 125 characters
  • Headline: 40 characters
  • Landing page URL: Required
  • Image type: JPG or PNG
  • Video file type: MP4, MOV or GIF
  • Ratio: 1:1
  • Resolution: At least 1080 x 1080 pixels
  • Instant Experience: Required
  • Image maximum file size: 30 MB

Collection Ads Video Sizes and Specs

  • Maximum video file size: 4GB
  • Recommended video formats: .MOV or .MP4 or GIF
  • Video thumbnail image should not exceed 20% text