Complete specs for YouTube Shorts, long-form videos, and thumbnails. Everything you need to upload with confidence.
YouTube Shorts are vertical, short-form videos designed for mobile viewing. Getting the dimensions and format right is essential for a clean upload without black bars or cropping. Here are the exact specs YouTube requires in 2026.
If you publish both Shorts and standard YouTube videos, you need to know the specs for horizontal content too. Long-form videos use a completely different aspect ratio and support much larger file sizes.
Thumbnails are the single biggest factor in click-through rate for long-form YouTube videos. Even though Shorts thumbnails are mostly auto-generated, knowing the standard thumbnail specs is useful for your entire channel.
To earn revenue from YouTube Shorts, you need to meet the YouTube Partner Program requirements. As of 2026, here is what you need:
Once accepted, Shorts revenue comes from the Shorts ad revenue sharing pool. Creators typically earn between $0.01 and $0.07 per 1,000 views, depending on audience location, niche, and engagement rate.
Want to estimate your potential earnings? Try our YouTube Money Calculator to see what your views could be worth.
Getting the specs right is only half the battle. The YouTube Shorts algorithm decides who sees your content. Here are five proven tips to maximize your reach.
The Shorts feed moves fast. If your opening frame does not grab attention, viewers swipe away before your content even starts. Use bold text, surprising visuals, or a direct question right at the beginning.
Shorts that loop seamlessly get replayed, which signals high engagement to the algorithm. End your video in a way that flows naturally back to the start, and keep the pacing tight so viewers watch it multiple times.
Aim for at least 3 to 5 Shorts per week. Check your YouTube Analytics to find when your audience is most active, and schedule your uploads during those windows for maximum initial traction.
YouTube now surfaces Shorts based on trending sounds and topics. Adding a relevant trending audio clip or hashtag like #Shorts can push your video into the discovery feed alongside popular content.
Even though Shorts are short, YouTube still indexes titles and descriptions for search. Include your target keyword naturally in the title, and write a brief description with 2 to 3 relevant hashtags.
Repurposing Shorts across platforms? Each one has slightly different specs. Check the guides below to make sure your videos look perfect everywhere.
GhostShorts handles the dimensions, captions, and formatting so every Short is ready to upload.
Start Creating FreeYouTube Shorts should be 1080 x 1920 pixels with a 9:16 vertical aspect ratio. This is the standard portrait format used across most short-form video platforms.
YouTube Shorts can be up to 3 minutes long as of 2026. Previously the limit was 60 seconds, but YouTube extended it to give creators more flexibility.
MP4 is the most reliable format for YouTube Shorts. YouTube also accepts MOV and WebM files. Use the H.264 codec for the best compatibility and quality.
The maximum file size for a YouTube Short is 256 MB. If your file exceeds this limit, try reducing the bitrate or trimming the video length.
YouTube now allows custom thumbnails for Shorts on desktop. On mobile, Shorts thumbnails are auto-generated from a frame in your video. For the best results, choose a visually striking frame when uploading from the YouTube Studio.
YouTube Shorts support 30 fps and 60 fps. 30 fps works well for most content, while 60 fps is better for fast-paced footage like gaming, sports, or action clips where smooth motion matters.