The best sizes for Snapchat and TikTok ads
- Aug 16
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago

Introduction
In the world of digital advertising, the success of advertising depends largely on design, and one of the most important elements of design is choosing... The right size. An ad that is attractively designed but sized incorrectly may appear distorted, or part of the text or image may be cut off, or may not even display optimally on users’ devices. Platforms such as Snapchat Tik Tok They give utmost importance to filling the entire screen, because they are vertical video-based platforms, where the content is short in duration and fast-paced, and the user quickly navigates between ads.
In this article, we will take you on a comprehensive tour to understand:
Best sizes for Snapchat ads.
The best sizes for TikTok ads.
Differences between the two platforms in terms of display and use.
Practical tips for designing an effective ad that is compatible with the standards of each platform.
Common mistakes to avoid when preparing measurements.
First: Why is size so important in advertisements?
Before we get into the dimensions and numbers, it's important to understand Why sizes play an essential role In digital advertising:
User experience: An advertisement with the wrong size may appear with black bars on the sides or top, making the experience weak and unprofessional.
Click through rate (CTR): A clear, full-screen ad increases the likelihood of engagement compared to an unformatted ad.
Credibility Professional advertisements raise the brand's image, while truncated or distorted advertisements weaken it.
Campaign performance Platforms such as Snapchat and TikTok prefer content that conforms to their standards and increase its visibility.
Second: The best sizes for Snapchat ads
Snapchat platform is based on Full screen vertical video That is, the ad must fit the phone screen in portrait mode.
Recommended sizes:
Ideal resolution for video or photo: 1080 x 1920 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio).
Maximum file size: For video: 32 MB. For images: 5 MB.
Advertisement time period: 3 seconds to 3 minutes (but 5 to 15 seconds is best).
Design tips for Snapchat ads:
Keep important texts and elements in the middle of the screen to avoid being cut off.
Use bright, eye-catching colors because Snap's audience is younger and reacts to visual vibrancy.
Do not fill the screen with long texts, but rather rely on a short sentence with an expressive image or video.
Add CTA (call to action button) As obvious as: “Swipe up to order” or “See more.”
Third: The best sizes for TikTok ads
TikTok is one of the fastest growing platforms in the world, and its basic idea is based on short and entertaining video clips. Therefore, any advertisement must be compatible with the platform's style.
Recommended sizes:
Ideal resolution for video or photo: 1080 x 1920 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio).
Maximum file size: For video: 500 MB. For images (image ads are rare): 500 KB.
Advertisement time period: From 5 seconds to 60 seconds (optimal 9 – 15 seconds).
Design tips for TikTok ads:
Content should look like Naturally As if it were a normal user's video, so that the audience would not ignore it.
use Popular music Or trend votes to increase the chance of appearing on the home page.
Focus on The first moment (first 3 seconds) to attract attention.
Place brand elements in places that don't overlap with TikTok buttons like the heart or comment button.
Fourth: A comparison between Snapchat and TikTok ads
Item | Basic size | Ideal video length | Nature of content | Basic age group | Interaction | Best use |
Snapchat | 1080×1920 (9:16) | 5 - 15 seconds | More formal and visual | 18 - 24 years | Swipe Up | Quick campaigns or visual products |
Tik Tok | 1080×1920 (9:16) | 9 - 15 seconds | Natural, close to users' videos | 16 – 34 years | Like, comment, share, follow | Build rapport and long-term attraction |
Fifth: Practical strategies for choosing the correct size
Test more than one version: Do not rely on one design, but try a full ad 9:16, then a square version 1:1, to find out which gives better results.
Use free tools: Such as Canva or Adobe Express to generate ready-made sizes for each platform.
Place important texts in the safe area: Leave a margin at the top and bottom of the video because buttons such as reaction or account name may cover them.
Pay attention to your audience's internet speed Choose medium resolution if your audience is from areas that suffer from slow network.
Sixth: Common errors in advertisement sizes
Horizontal design (16:9): It appears in a small and unattractive area on Snapchat or TikTok.
Long texts Short ads need brief phrases that do not exceed 10 words.
Do not test the sound: Many advertisers focus on the image and neglect the sound, even though sound is a key element in TikTok.
Use random sizes: It causes the image to be distorted or cropped in an unprofessional manner.
Seventh: Tools that help you adjust the sizes
Canva: Provides ready-made templates for Snap and Tik Tok ads.
InShot: A mobile application to modify videos to suit the sizes.
CapCut: Official tool from TikTok for easy video editing.
Adobe Premiere Pro: For professionals who need to produce high-quality advertisements.
Eighth: How do you choose between Snapchat and TikTok?
If your audience is from Teenagers and young adults Snapchat is more influential.
If your goal is construction Long term interaction To attract customers in innovative ways, TikTok is the perfect choice.
The best: Integrate the two platforms, reusing the same ad in custom 16:9 sizes for each one.
Conclusion
Sizes in advertising are not just technical details, but rather are the basis for the success of the campaign. Your ad on Snapchat or TikTok needs to accurately fill the entire screen 1080 x 1920 pixels And to provide short, attractive, and properly targeted content.
By understanding the exact parameters of each platform and avoiding common mistakes, you will be able to increase the performance of your campaigns, increase click-through rate (CTR), reduce costs, and achieve better results.
in the end, A successful ad is a combination of the right size, creative idea, and right timing.
.png)



Comments