TikTok Ad Specs 2026 [Sizes, Formats & Safe Zones]

TikTok isn't just another social platform anymore. With over 1.6 billion monthly active users globally, it's become a critical channel for performance marketers launching high-volume creative testing campaigns.

But what separates successful TikTok advertisers from those burning budget? Technical precision. Your ad creative can be brilliant, but if it doesn't meet TikTok's exact specifications, it won't run. Or worse, it'll run poorly cropped, distorted, or rejected entirely.

This guide breaks down every major TikTok ad format with current 2026 specs. Video dimensions, file sizes, text limits, interactive formats. This covers them all. By the end, you'll know exactly how to prepare pixel-perfect TikTok ads that pass review, look native, and drive results.

The short version: TikTok ads run best at 9:16 vertical, 1080 × 1920px, H.264 MP4, under 500MB, with video length up to 10 minutes (though 15 to 30 seconds wins on completion). Keep critical text out of the top 10%, right 10%, and bottom 20% of the frame. Everything past that comes down to which format you're running, so here's the full table before we go format by format.

If you're managing hundreds or thousands of TikTok ad variations monthly (the reality for most performance teams), staying on top of these specs while maintaining quality becomes a massive operational challenge. Tools like AdManage can automate spec compliance across bulk TikTok launches, but even then, understanding what you're working with matters.

TikTok Ad Specs at a Glance (Master Reference Table)

Here's every core format's specs in one table. Scan it, bookmark it, then jump to the format you're running for the full detail and best practices.

Figures reflect TikTok's published requirements for each format. Interactive and reservation formats (TopView, Brand Takeover, Branded Effects, Hashtag Challenge) are coordinated with TikTok reps, so confirm current limits with your rep before launch.

Why Do TikTok Ad Specs Matter for Performance?

TikTok is video-first, mobile-fullscreen, sound-on. That combination creates unique constraints.

An ad that's sized wrong appears cropped or letterboxed. An ad that's too long gets skipped. An ad that's too quiet gets ignored. TikTok also updates capabilities frequently. They now support videos up to 10 minutes and new shopping formats.

Using current specs ensures three things:

• Your creative looks professional and native (not like an afterthought port from Instagram)

• You avoid rejection (TikTok's ad review is strict about format violations)

• You improve performance (properly sized, properly timed ads see better engagement)

Users can immediately tell when an ad wasn't made for TikTok. Black bars around a horizontal video, text cut off by UI elements, sound that doesn't match the visual pacing. These small errors compound into poor performance.

And if you're running creative tests at scale (shipping 500+ variations monthly across markets), spec mistakes multiply fast. One misconfigured export setting can ruin an entire batch.

Pro tip: TikTok's requirements differ significantly from Meta's. A video optimized for Instagram Stories won't automatically work well on TikTok. Different aspect ratios, different safe zones, different length sweet spots. If you're cross-posting without adjustments, you're leaving performance on the table. (If you also run Meta, our Instagram ad dimensions reference covers those side by side, and Facebook ads vs TikTok ads unpacks where the two platforms actually diverge.)

What Are the Different TikTok Ad Formats? (Complete Overview)

TikTok offers multiple ad formats for different objectives. Most performance marketers focus on In-Feed ads (they scale), but understanding the full toolkit helps. Here's the full list at a glance before we get into each one:

Now the detail on each:

What Are the Core Video Ad Formats on TikTok?

In-Feed Video Ads appear in users' For You feed as they scroll. They look like regular TikToks with a small "Sponsored" label. Users can like, comment, share, and click through. This is your bread-and-butter performance format.

Spark Ads are a special type of In-Feed ad that uses existing organic TikTok posts (yours or a creator's with permission). They preserve all engagement from the original post. Views, likes, comments. Research shows Spark Ads get 30% higher completion rates and 142% higher engagement than standard ads. We break down the mechanics in our guide to what Spark Ads are on TikTok.

TopView Ads display immediately when users open TikTok. Full screen, no distractions, for a few seconds before transitioning to the feed. High-impact awareness play.

Brand Takeover Ads are 3-5 second full-screen ads (video or static) that appear on app open. Only one advertiser per category per day gets this placement (making it expensive but exclusive).

What Are TikTok's Interactive & Engagement Ad Formats?

Branded Hashtag Challenge turns users into content creators with a sponsored hashtag campaign. It includes a promoted hashtag, landing page with instructions, and featured videos. Standard campaigns run 6 days. Great for viral engagement.

Branded Effects are custom AR filters, stickers, and effects users can add to their own videos. Think face filters or 3D objects. Similar to Snapchat lenses.

Playable Ads are interactive HTML5 mini-games that let users try an app before installing. Mainly for gaming and app advertisers.

What E-Commerce Ad Formats Does TikTok Offer?

Image Carousel Ads showcase multiple swipeable images in a single ad (2-35 images supported). Useful for product catalogs or multi-feature showcases.

Video Shopping Ads combine in-feed video with product cards, enabling direct purchase within TikTok (in regions with TikTok Shop). Replaced the older Collection Ads format in 2023.

Now let's break down specs for each format in detail.

TikTok In-Feed Video Ad Specs: Complete Requirements & Best Practices

In-Feed ads are where most performance budgets go. They scale well, support direct response objectives, and blend naturally into the feed.

What Are the Technical Specifications for In-Feed Video Ads?

Here's the full spec sheet for a standard In-Feed video ad:

Important note about captions: In standard In-Feed ads, hashtags and @ mentions are plain text only, not clickable. You can type them, but they won't link. (Spark Ads are the exception. They preserve clickable hashtags from the original post.)

How Do TikTok Spark Ads Work?

Spark Ads use existing TikTok posts as ad creative. The magic? They keep all the social proof. The engagement stats, comments, everything.

Spark Ad specs: Since you're using an already-posted TikTok, there are no additional restrictions beyond TikTok's organic video limits. You can even use videos longer than 60 seconds or non-9:16 ratios (though vertical still performs best).

The caption from the original post becomes the ad caption (up to 100 characters), and @ mentions and hashtags remain clickable since they're part of the organic post. You can't edit anything through Ads Manager. The content is locked to the original.

When to use Spark: User-generated content campaigns, influencer partnerships, or promoting your own high-performing organic posts. Research shows the 30% higher completion rate and 142% engagement boost makes Spark Ads worth testing for any campaign.

What Makes In-Feed Video Ads Perform Best?

The first 2-3 seconds determine everything. Users scroll fast. If you don't hook them immediately, they're gone.

Start strong:

• Use movement, bright colors, or bold text in the opening frame

• Lead with the value prop, not slow brand intro

• Consider starting mid-action (not from zero)

Always shoot vertical full-screen. No black bars, no padding. TikTok is a fullscreen experience. Honor that.

Use high resolution (720p minimum, 1080p preferred). Studies show higher resolution videos perform better on the platform.

Keep it short. Even though TikTok allows 10-minute videos now, 15 seconds is often ideal for completion rates. If you need 30-45 seconds to tell your story, that's fine. Just front-load the value.

Include clear CTAs both in the video (text overlay or voiceover) and via TikTok's CTA button options. Make it obvious what action you want.

Respect safe zones. TikTok's UI covers parts of your video with buttons and text. Don't put critical info in the bottom 20% or right 10% of the frame (more on safe zones later).

Audio is non-negotiable. TikTok defaults to sound-on. Ads without audio feel incomplete and get skipped. Use trending music, voiceover, or both.

How to Scale In-Feed Ads Efficiently with Bulk Tools

If you're launching one or two In-Feed ads, manual setup works fine. But what about launching 200 variations testing different hooks, CTAs, and audience angles?

This is where operational complexity explodes:

• Ensuring every video meets 9:16 specs

• Managing naming conventions for 200 files

• Setting UTM parameters consistently

• Previewing each ad before launch

• Fixing spec errors when they slip through

AdManage handles bulk ad operations at scale. Upload your creative library, set naming rules and UTM templates, and launch hundreds of TikTok ad variations simultaneously. All while enforcing spec compliance. The platform auto-groups creatives by aspect ratio, generates bulk preview links so stakeholders can approve before launch, and preserves social proof via Post ID when scaling winners.

For teams running creative-first testing strategies (the only way to find breakout ads), operational bottlenecks kill velocity. You can have 50 new concepts ready to test, but if launching them takes two days of manual work, you're throttling discovery. AdManage compresses that timeline to minutes, which is the whole point of scaling TikTok ads without adding headcount.

TikTok TopView Ads: Full-Screen Video on App Open

TopView gives you the most prominent placement in TikTok: full-screen video the moment someone opens the app. No UI distractions for the first ~3 seconds, then it transitions into the feed with standard interactions.

This format is reservation-based (you coordinate with TikTok reps) because only one advertiser gets TopView per time slot. Perfect for big launches, announcements, or awareness plays.

What Are the TopView Ad Specifications?

TopView (sometimes searched as "top feed") uses standard vertical video specs, with tighter safe-zone rules because the UI fades in over your creative:

How to Create Effective TopView Ads

Those first 3 seconds are everything. No caption, no buttons, just your video filling the screen. Make it visually arresting.

Many brands treat TopView like a mini Super Bowl ad. High production value, fast pacing, immediate branding. Think of it as a billboard people see for 2-3 seconds.

Critical safe zone rule: Don't put text or logos in the top 120px or bottom 120px of a 1080×1920 video. Those areas get covered by TikTok's UI once it fades in. Centered content works best.

Audio should be polished but not jarring. Avoid sudden loud noises or alarms at the start. TikTok explicitly warns against sounds that cause reflexive skips. Catchy music or a bold statement works better than startling sound effects.

Front-load your message. While you have up to 60 seconds, most users know it's an ad after 3-5 seconds and can scroll away. Put your core value prop upfront.

TopView is a reach play, not frequency. You get one shot per user, so make it count with broad appeal and simple messaging they can grasp instantly.

TikTok Brand Takeover Specs: 3-5 Second Impact Ads

Brand Takeovers also appear on app open, but they're even shorter. 3 to 5 seconds of full-screen content (video or static image).

Users see at most one Brand Takeover per day, and TikTok limits it to one advertiser per category per day. This makes it expensive but exclusive. Ideal for massive awareness pushes.

What Are the Brand Takeover Ad Requirements?

The 50KB image limit is tiny. You need aggressive compression. Keep designs simple: bold product shot, clean logo, punchy tagline. Complex imagery won't survive the compression.

When to use Brand Takeover: Big announcements, product launches, events. You need a simple message that works in 3 seconds. Think "New iPhone Available Now" with a product shot, not a detailed explainer.

CTA strategy: The whole screen taps through, so some brands add visual hints like "Tap Here" or an arrow. But avoid fake UI elements (fake play buttons, etc.). TikTok forbids designs that could confuse users.

Brand Takeovers often pair well with Hashtag Challenges: use the takeover to drive attention, then funnel users into participating in your challenge.

TikTok Branded Hashtag Challenge: How to Drive User-Generated Content

The Branded Hashtag Challenge isn't a single ad. It's a 6-day campaign package where TikTok promotes your branded hashtag on the Discover page.

Users tap the hashtag to see a landing page with your challenge description, instructions, sample videos, and (often) a kickoff video from your brand or an influencer. Then they create their own TikToks using the hashtag.

This format drives massive UGC (user-generated content) and engagement. Famous example: Guess's #InMyDenim challenge, one of TikTok's early brand successes.

What Are the Hashtag Challenge Requirements?

Promotional Video (your kickoff example):

• Follow standard TikTok video specs: Vertical 9:16, up to 60 seconds

• Sweet spot: 21-34 seconds for challenges

• Resolution: 540 × 960px minimum, 720p+ recommended

• File formats: MP4/MOV, ≤500MB

Hashtag & Description:

• Keep the hashtag short, catchy, unique

• Description text (explaining the challenge) is usually ~100 characters for the tagline

• Make instructions clear and simple. Users need to understand in seconds

Music:Many challenges revolve around a specific song or sound. If you have a custom jingle, ensure you have music rights. TikTok can help clear tracks for big campaigns, or you can use sounds from their library.

Banner Assets:TikTok's team handles most of the UI design, but they'll request a banner image for the Discover tab (typically vertical or square, high-res). Provide branding assets and they'll format them.

What Makes Hashtag Challenges Successful?

The challenge needs to be fun, easy, and shareable. Asking users to do something complex kills participation. Dances, simple actions, creative transitions. These scale virally.

Offering incentives helps (prizes, features on your page, etc.). And partnering with influencers to seed initial content gives users examples to follow.

From an operational standpoint, this isn't a format you launch solo. TikTok manages much of it. Your job is creating compelling concept and kickoff creative. But when it works, you get thousands of organic videos and millions of impressions featuring your brand.

TikTok Branded Effects: Custom AR Filters & Stickers

Branded Effects are custom AR filters, lenses, or stickers that users can apply to their own TikToks. Think face filters that add animated elements, or 3D objects users can place in their videos.

Similar to Snapchat Lenses or Instagram AR filters, but within TikTok's effects ecosystem.

What Are the Branded Effects Specifications?

Developing a Branded Effect usually requires working with TikTok's effects team or certified partners. You provide creative direction and branding assets; they build the AR experience.

Key image assets:

• Effect Icon: Max 150 × 130px for the icon in the effects tray (usually a small logo)

• Promotion Banner: Up to 300 × 130px for text/tagline that appears when the effect is selected

• Effect Name: Up to 30 characters (TikTok recommends ≤18 for clarity)

• File Format: .jpg or .png, under 1MB total

The actual AR effect (3D models, animations, code) has separate technical requirements handled by the development team. Your job is providing clear brand assets and creative direction.

Practical considerations:Effects can't overly obstruct faces (if it's a face filter) or violate TikTok's content policies. Keep the experience fun and shareable. If users feel silly or look bad using it, they won't.

When you launch a Branded Effect, TikTok typically features it in the trending effects section for a set period. Success metrics: how many users apply it and how many views those videos generate.

TikTok Carousel Ads: Multi-Image Specifications (2-35 Images)

While TikTok is primarily video, Carousel Ads let you showcase 2-35 swipeable images in a single ad.

Perfect for e-commerce catalogs, product lineups, before-and-after sequences, or multi-step tutorials. Users swipe through the images (with background music), then hit your CTA.

What Are the Complete Carousel Ad Specs?

Important text limits: TikTok carousel caption fields can be very tight. Some placements limit "Ad Caption" to 20 characters and "Ad Title" to 40 characters. This varies by placement, but assume you have very limited text space. Put key info in the images themselves via text overlays.

Also: emojis not supported in carousel text.

How to Create High-Performing Carousel Ads

Treat the carousel as a cohesive story or sequence. The first image hooks them to swipe. Maybe tease something ("Swipe to see the reveal" or "Which color is your favorite?").

Subsequent images should flow logically. For product showcases: different angles, colors, or use cases. For tutorials: step-by-step progression.

Use consistent visual style across all images (same color palette, same text style). Inconsistent design makes it feel disjointed.

Since you have only one caption and one CTA, consider adding text overlays to individual images to communicate specific points. Example: Travel agency showing 5 destinations with text on each image ("Paris • Bali • Tokyo • Rome • NYC"), overall caption "Where will you go next?", CTA "Book Now."

Music matters here too. TikTok requires music for carousels. It makes the swipe experience more engaging. Choose a track that matches the vibe and doesn't distract.

Also, compress images well. With potentially 35 images loading, you don't want users stuck waiting for blurry placeholders. Aim for ~100KB per image.

TikTok Playable Ads: Interactive HTML5 Requirements

Playable Ads are HTML5 interactive experiences that let users try a game or app without installing. Primarily for mobile gaming and app advertisers.

Instead of watching a video, the user plays a mini-level or demo. Great for pre-qualifying installs. If someone enjoys the playable, they're far more likely to download.

What Are the Playable Ad Technical Requirements?

The 5MB limit is strict. Game developers typically use lightweight engines like PixiJS, vector graphics, and heavily compressed assets.

Design philosophy: Show the core fun of your game in seconds. If it's a puzzle game, give them one simple puzzle. If it's a runner, let them jump obstacles for 10 seconds. Don't try to explain everything. Just make it fun.

After the quick demo, prompt "Play More" or "Download Full Game" via a CTA button (using TikTok's provided JavaScript function to trigger the app store).

When playables work well: Gaming (obviously), but also apps with interactive elements. For example, a hair salon app could let users swipe to change hairstyles on a model, then CTA to download for real editing.

TikTok Video Shopping Ads: E-Commerce Format Specs

TikTok's push into e-commerce led to Video Shopping Ads (VSA). In-feed video ads with integrated product cards that enable purchase.

In regions with TikTok Shop (US, UK, parts of Southeast Asia), users can complete purchases without leaving TikTok. Otherwise, product cards link to your website.

What Are the Video Shopping Ad Requirements?

Video creative: Same as standard In-Feed ads

• Vertical 9:16, up to 60 seconds (shorter recommended)

• Resolution: 540×960 minimum, 720×1280+ preferred

• File size: ≤500MB

• Formats: .mp4, .mov, etc.

Product catalog integration:You upload a product feed via TikTok Ads Manager. TikTok generates product cards from this feed, showing product images, names, prices.

Product images: Ideally 1:1 or 3:4 aspect ratio, 720px+ resolution. Keep product names short (best display at ~34 characters or less).

You can feature 1-4 products in the carousel attached to your video. Users tap to see details or purchase.

How to Optimize Video Shopping Ads for Conversions

Show the product clearly in the video. Users need to see what they're buying. Demonstrate use cases, benefits, value props.

Mention offers or discounts via text overlay or voiceover. "20% off this week" drives urgency.

Keep it short. Shopping intent doesn't last long. Get to the point fast.

Use social proof. If possible, include review snippets or "5-star rated" callouts in the video to build trust.

Ensure your product feed is accurate. Nothing kills a sale faster than wrong pricing or out-of-stock items showing. Double-check your catalog data.

Industry research shows TikTok's "Anchor CTA" for shopping ads historically drives strong conversions. It displays product name/price in a bar that users can tap.

Also consider testing interactive add-ons like voting stickers or gift code stickers TikTok offers for shopping campaigns.

Replaced formats: TikTok's older "Collection Ads" and "Dynamic Showcase Ads" have been merged into Video Shopping Ads as of 2023. If you see those terms in old documentation, they're legacy. VSA is the current standard.

TikTok Ad Text Limits & Safe Zones: Critical Layout Guidelines

Across all TikTok ad formats, certain text and layout rules apply. Getting these wrong leads to rejection or poor performance.

What Are TikTok's Text Specifications for Ads?

Ad Caption (Description):

• 100 characters maximum

• Only ~40-50 characters show before "See more" button

• Put key info in the first sentence

• Emojis allowed (count toward limit)

• In standard ads: hashtags and @ mentions are plain text (not clickable)

• Exception: Spark Ads preserve clickable hashtags/mentions from organic posts

Display Name (Brand Name):

• 2-20 characters for Latin languages

• Up to 10 characters for Chinese/Japanese/Korean

• No emojis or special symbols like { }

• Choose clear branding. This appears above your caption

Profile Image:

• 98 × 98px, square, under 50KB

• .jpg, .jpeg, or .png

• Use simple logos or icons (displays very small)

What Are TikTok's Safe Zone Requirements?

TikTok's UI elements (captions, buttons, profile icons) cover parts of your video. To avoid critical content being obscured, design within safe zones.

General safe zone rules for 9:16 video:

• Leave ~10% margin at top (top 120px of 1080×1920)

• Leave ~10% margin on right side (where profile/buttons sit)

• Leave ~20% margin at bottom (bottom 378px where caption and CTA appear)

In practical terms: Don't put logos in the top-right corner (conflicts with profile icon). Don't put website URLs at the bottom (covered by caption bar). Keep text and branding in the center-left zone for maximum visibility.

This is especially critical for TopView and Brand Takeovers. TikTok will reject creatives with text in the wrong areas.

Pro tip: Use AdManage's free TikTok Ad Preview tool to drop in your creative and see exactly how it looks with TikTok's UI overlays. Catches safe zone issues before you launch.

What Are TikTok's Ad Policy Requirements?

TikTok enforces strict content policies:

• No misleading claims or typos (considered "spammy")

• Proper grammar and spelling required

• No QR codes or watermarks from other platforms

• No fake UI elements (fake play buttons, fake notifications)

• Comply with community standards (no inappropriate content)

Following these text and layout guidelines saves headaches in ad review and ensures your creative displays properly.

How to Manage TikTok Ad Specs at Scale with Automation

You now understand TikTok's specs in detail. But knowing specs and consistently applying them across 500 ad variations are different challenges.

The operational reality for performance teams:

Manual Workflow Problems:

• Video export settings misconfigured (half your ads get rejected for wrong aspect ratio)

• Naming inconsistencies (can't track which variant is which in reporting, which is why a solid ad creative naming convention matters)

• UTM parameters manually entered (30% have typos, breaking attribution)

• Spec checking happens after upload (wasting time re-exporting and re-uploading)

• Approval workflows involve emailing Google Drive links (stakeholders can't see how ads actually look in TikTok UI)

These problems multiply with volume. Launching 10 ads manually? Fine. Launching 200 across 5 markets with different UTMs and naming conventions? Operational nightmare.

How AdManage Automates Spec Compliance at Scale

AdManage is built for teams running creative-first testing at scale. Shipping hundreds to thousands of TikTok ad variations monthly.

Automatic spec enforcement:

• Platform validates aspect ratios, resolutions, and file sizes on upload

• Flags spec violations before launch (not after)

• Auto-groups creatives by aspect ratio for proper placement

Bulk operations:

• Upload entire creative libraries at once

• Set naming convention templates that apply to all ads automatically

• Configure UTM parameters once, apply everywhere

• Launch 500+ variations simultaneously (instead of one-by-one)

Preview and approval:

• Generate bulk preview links showing exactly how ads look in TikTok's UI

• Stakeholders approve in-context before launch

• Catches safe zone issues and text cutoffs before spending budget

Quality control at scale:

• Launch as paused for final review

• Preserve Post IDs when scaling winners (keeping social proof)

• Ensure every ad follows brand standards

Time savings: AdManage claims launching 1,000 ads manually takes ~166.7 hours. With bulk automation, that compresses to minutes. That's the difference between testing 50 concepts per month vs. 500.

For teams where creative testing velocity determines success (where finding one breakout ad in 100 tests justifies the other 99), operational tooling isn't optional. It's the bottleneck removal that lets you ship volume without sacrificing quality.

Try AdManage with fixed-fee pricing (no ad-spend tax): £499/month in-house, £999/month agency. A 30-day trial is available at admanage.ai/pricing.

TikTok Ad Best Practices: Quick Reference Guide

Let's consolidate the key takeaways:

✓ Always shoot vertical 9:16 full-screen for native feelUse 1080p resolution minimum. High quality matters on TikTok.

✓ Hook viewers in the first 2-3 secondsMovement, bright colors, bold statements. Give them a reason not to scroll.

✓ Keep videos short (15-30 seconds ideal)Even though 60+ seconds is allowed, shorter gets higher completion rates.

✓ Use sound strategicallyTikTok is sound-on. Music or voiceover should enhance, not distract.

✓ Respect safe zonesDon't put critical text or logos where TikTok's UI will cover them.

✓ Test multiple variationsDifferent hooks, lengths, CTAs. TikTok rewards testing at volume.

✓ Use unique formats when appropriateSpark Ads for authenticity, Hashtag Challenges for engagement, Shopping Ads for commerce.

✓ Use tooling for scaleManual workflows don't scale past ~50 ads/month. AdManage or similar tooling becomes necessary for volume testing.

How Often Do TikTok Ad Specs Change?

TikTok updates capabilities frequently. Recent changes include:

• Max video length extended to 10 minutes

• Carousel image limits increased to 35

• Video Shopping Ads replacing Collection Ads

Always refer to TikTok's official documentation or trusted sources for the latest. This guide reflects 2026 specs, but expect evolution.

When launching new campaigns, double-check current requirements. And use preview tools like AdManage's free TikTok ad preview to validate before spending budget.

Frequently Asked Questions About TikTok Ad Specs

What's the best video length for TikTok ads?

15-30 seconds is the sweet spot for most In-Feed ads. TikTok's own guidance suggests 21-34 seconds as the best range, and top-performing ads typically fall in the 15-30 second range.

While TikTok technically allows up to 10 minutes now, shorter videos see higher completion rates. Users scroll fast. Get your message across quickly.

How long can a TikTok ad be?

Up to 10 minutes for In-Feed video ads. That's the technical maximum after TikTok extended the limit from the old 60-second cap. Reservation formats run shorter: TopView caps at 60 seconds, and Brand Takeover is 3 to 5 seconds.

Just because you can run 10 minutes doesn't mean you should. Most performance ads land between 15 and 30 seconds, and TikTok's own creative guidance points to 21 to 34 seconds for challenge-style content. Longer only earns its length when the story genuinely needs it.

Can I use horizontal videos on TikTok?

Technically yes, but you shouldn't. TikTok accepts 16:9 horizontal videos, but they appear with black bars (letterboxed) and significantly underperform.

Always shoot 9:16 vertical for maximum screen real estate and native appearance. This is non-negotiable for TopView (vertical only) and strongly recommended for all other formats.

What resolution should I use for TikTok ads?

Minimum: 540 × 960px for vertical video.Recommended: 720 × 1280px or 1080 × 1920px.

Higher resolution videos perform better on TikTok. Don't use low-res footage. It looks amateur and hurts engagement. Always export at 720p minimum, 1080p preferred.

Do hashtags work in TikTok ad captions?

Not in standard In-Feed ads. In regular ads, hashtags are plain text, not clickable. Same with @ mentions.

Exception: Spark Ads. Since Spark Ads use existing organic posts, hashtags and @ mentions from the original post remain clickable.

You can type hashtags in captions for branding (like "Join our #SummerSale"), but they won't link or track as they would in organic posts.

What's the maximum file size for TikTok video ads?

500 MB for video ads across all formats. This is generous. Most 60-second HD videos are well under 500MB.

TikTok recommends compressing files when possible (without quality loss) for faster upload and processing. Use modern codecs like H.264 with balanced quality/size settings.

How do Spark Ads differ from regular In-Feed ads?

Spark Ads use existing organic TikTok posts as ad creative, preserving all the social proof (likes, comments, shares) and displaying the original creator's account.

Regular In-Feed ads are uploaded directly as ad creative with your brand account displayed.

Performance advantage: Research shows Spark Ads demonstrate 30% higher completion rates and 142% higher engagement because they feel more authentic.

Spec difference: Spark Ads have no additional restrictions beyond TikTok's organic video limits. You can even use videos longer than 60 seconds.

Can I edit the caption of a Spark Ad?

No. Spark Ads use the exact caption from the original post, and you cannot edit it through Ads Manager. The content is locked to what the organic version shows.

This means you need to ensure the original post has the right messaging before turning it into a Spark Ad. Plan ahead with creators or optimize your own posts before promoting them.

What are safe zones and why do they matter?

Safe zones are areas of your video where you should avoid placing critical text or logos because TikTok's UI elements (caption, buttons, profile icon) will cover them.

For 9:16 vertical video, keep important content out of:

• Top ~10% (where profile and notifications can appear)

• Right ~10% (where like/share buttons sit)

• Bottom ~20% (where caption and CTA display)

This is especially critical for TopView and Brand Takeovers, where TikTok will reject creatives with text in unsafe areas.

How many images can I include in a TikTok Carousel Ad?

Between 2 and 35 images. TikTok suggests 2-10 for the best engagement, but the technical limit is 35 (matching organic Photo Mode posts).

Each image should be under 500KB (preferably ~100KB) for fast loading. Use vertical (9:16) or square (1:1) images for best feed appearance.

What tools help with TikTok ad spec compliance at scale?

If you're launching 50+ ad variations regularly, manual spec checking doesn't scale, no matter how comfortable you are inside TikTok Ads Manager. AdManage automates:

• Spec validation on upload (aspect ratio, resolution, file size)

• Bulk preview generation showing exact TikTok UI appearance

• Naming convention and UTM enforcement

• Bulk launching across hundreds of variations

AdManage's free TikTok Ad Preview tool lets you check any creative against TikTok's UI before launch. Catches safe zone and text cutoff issues early.

For teams running creative-first testing strategies (hundreds of variations monthly), operational tooling becomes necessary to maintain quality at volume.

Are TikTok ad specs different for TikTok Shop?

Not for the video creative itself. Video Shopping Ads use standard In-Feed video specs (9:16 vertical, up to 60 seconds, ≤500MB, etc.).

The difference is in the product catalog integration. You need to provide product images (ideally 1:1 or 3:4, 720px+), accurate product names (short, clear), and current pricing.

The shopping experience happens through product cards TikTok generates from your feed, not through different video specs.

How often do TikTok ad specs change?

TikTok updates capabilities multiple times per year. Recent changes include longer video limits (up to 10 minutes), increased carousel image counts (35), and new shopping formats.

Always check TikTok's official documentation when launching new campaigns. This guide reflects 2026 specs, but expect evolution.

Using tools that auto-validate specs like AdManage helps ensure compliance even as platform requirements change.

Conclusion: Technical Precision Enables Creative Freedom

Nailing TikTok ad specs isn't just about avoiding rejection. It's about creating the foundation for creative excellence.

When you know exactly what TikTok requires (9:16 vertical, 15-30 seconds, safe zones, text limits), you can focus creative energy on what actually moves performance: hooks, messaging, value props, storytelling.

The technical side becomes automatic. Specs are table stakes. The art is making ads that stop the scroll, communicate value instantly, and feel native to TikTok's culture.

For performance teams running creative testing at scale, operational precision matters just as much as creative quality. Testing 500 concepts monthly only works if you can launch, track, and iterate on those 500 without drowning in manual work.

That's where AdManage fits: handling the operational complexity (spec validation, bulk launching, naming conventions, UTM management, Post ID preservation) so you can focus on the creative work that finds breakout ads.

Start your free trial (30 days) and see how bulk ad operations should work. Fixed pricing (no ad-spend tax). £499 in-house, £999 agency.