Ideal TikTok Video Length: Ultimate Guide

In case you haven’t noticed, social media moves like the wind, and TikTok is a full-blown tornado, always spinning faster than the rest. Blink and you’ll miss a viral campaign, a challenge, or another algorithm shake-up. 
 

As a content creator looking to grow on TikTok, there’s a lot to keep an eye out for. With so much going on, it’s easy to overlook one of the most important details: video length. From hard limits to sweet spots, understanding how long your content should be (and for what type of post) can make all the difference between a scroll-past and a viral video.

So let’s dive in and unpack some of the most burning questions surrounding TikTok video length – from how long your videos can be, to how long they should be to maximize engagement and lots of helpful tips to guide your TikTok journey to virality. 

How long can a TikTok video be?

TikTok has made its name with short, punchy 15-second videos, but times are changing. With much longer video limits now in place, creators have more time to tell their stories without rushing as much. 
 

This doesn’t mean the content itself has to change, but it does mean that you as a content creator get the chance to rethink how you structure your videos in order to keep your viewers from scrolling away. 

Standard TikTok video length limits

If TikTok video length limits feel like a moving target, don’t worry, you’re not alone. These limits keep changing but as of April 2025, here’s where we stand: 

• For videos recorded directly in TikTok, the video limit is 10 minutes. This means you can film videos up to 10 minutes, giving you ample time to dive into any topic at length, do a product demo or share a vlog-style video.
   
• For videos uploaded into the platform, the video limit is a whopping 60 minutes. Yep, that’s right – a whole hour. Long-form content might not be the norm yet on TikTok, but the platform is setting the stage for creators who want to test its limits (and their viewers’ attention spans)

TikTok Stories: Maximum duration

For those looking to boost their visibility on TikTok, connect with their audience and maybe share some fun behind-the-scenes content, Stories can be a great feature to explore. Much like Instagram Stories, TikTok Stories are short-lived – so they disappear after 24 hours. 
 

In true TikTok fashion, Stories stick to the bite-sized format, meaning that they can only last up to 15 seconds. 

TikTok photo carousels: How long can they last?

Remember those “photo dumps” that keep popping up  on Instagram? Well, TikTok took that and gave it its own twist with photo carousels. TikTok carousels easily stand out because they are the only static format on a platform dominated by video.
 

Despite those odds, carousels are becoming more and more popular, which is why it’s important to know what kind of limits they come with before posting.

Because they’re not a video per se, TikTok photo carousels are not bound by a time limit. Instead, the platform only allows you to add up to 35 photos in one carousel
 

Source: Monzo on TikTok
 

TikTok vs. Instagram Reels vs. YouTube Shorts

Short video dominated the social media world, of that there is no doubt. Chances are, if someone watched Instagram Reels and TikToks, they will also be interested in YouTube Shorts, and vice versa.
 

This is why it’s important to see how TikTok stacks up to other short-form video platforms, and what the video length limitations are for each. 

Here's a quick breakdown:
 

• Instagram Reels: Up to 3 minutes long
• YouTube Shorts: up to 60 seconds

By comparison, TikTok is the most flexible of the bunch, since it allows you to upload videos of up to one hour, and record 10 minutes of footage in one sitting – giving you more room to experiment and express yourself.

What is the best TikTok video length for engagement?

Now that we’ve covered hard limits, let’s talk about making them count. You might have noticed by now that posts perform better than others – and a lot of that has to do with how brief or long your video is. 

The answer to “what is the best TikTok video length for engagement” can be discouragingly vague: it depends. Don’t worry though, it’s not all guesswork. While there’s no magic number that guarantees virality, certain video lengths have a better chance to generate engagement than others. 
 

In fact, TikTok itself recommends that your video should be somewhere in the 21-35 seconds bracket.  Videos in this range are more likely to keep viewers watching until the end, which is something TikTok’s algorithm loves. (and so should you!)

Now, of course, their suggestion should be taken with a grain of salt, and you should always be mindful of what you’re sharing. 
 

For instance, a snappy 20-second comedy sketch might hit the mark, but a deep dive video into any topic might need a minute or more to do it justice. The key is to get and hold your viewers’ attention, while also encouraging them to engage with your post, before scrolling away. 
 

The bottom line? 

• Best video length for quick engagement: 21–35 seconds
• Best for in-depth value: 60+ seconds (provided you can hold your viewers’ attention)
• Avoid: videos that are too short to be meaningful or run too long without delivering any real value

Factors to consider when choosing the right TikTok video length

As you might have noticed already, finding the sweet spot when it comes to TikTok video length can be quite tricky. With all the different factors you need to consider, it’s never just about picking a random duration. 
 

So here’s a quick breakdown of everything you need to keep in mind before deciding how long your TikToks should be:

Audience attention span and engagement

It used to be that TikTok was all about Gen Z, but as of 2025, the largest proportion (30%) of TikTok users belong to the  25-35 age bracket, with Gen Z still following closely behind. So what does this tell us that is relevant to video length? 

This means that the majority of your TikTok audience is made up of young, on-the-go users. Whether they’re Gen Z scrolling through dozens if not hundreds of videos per day, or busy millennials trying to squeeze as many TikTok videos in their coffee break, the average attention span of these users is still pretty short. 
 

Given this, it’s no surprise that short, trend-driven content has a better chance of grabbing attention and driving engagement.
 

Pro tip: It’s good practice to be aware of platform standards and official data, however, more often than not, it’s your own analytics that make all the difference. If you’re noticing that your audience demographics constantly fall outside of the platform’s typical demographics, try experimenting with different lengths to find out which one is the best fit for your audience.
 

Source: TikTok Business Suite

Video goal and purpose

Your TikToks’ video length has to ultimately match the intent of your content. In other words, you need to first figure out what you’re trying to achieve by sharing TikTok content – is it to go viral, educate, or spark meaningful conversations? 
 

If your goal is to stop the scroll, entertain and pave your way to virality, a short and sweet video (15-30s) is the way to go. The longer your video, the bigger the risk for your viewers to lose interest in your content before you even get to your main point. 
 

If you’re trying to educate your audience, show a process or do a deep dive into a specific topic, you will need more time to cover it all, you feel free to push your video length past the 1-minute mark. To maximize watch rate for this type of longer videos, make sure to start with a strong hook, keep your video organized and encourage engagement at different points of the video. 
 

Content complexity 

We’ve touched on this before, but here’s the friendly reminder: the right TikTok video length is the one that does your story justice. If your profile is all about punchy, trend-based content that lands their punch in 30 seconds or less, go ahead and choose that. 
 

If, on the other hand, your content needs more time to shine – through storytelling, tutorials, or deep dives – and that seems to work for your audience, then don’t cut your videos short just to fit a mold. 
 

After all, TikTok didn’t raise the time limit just for the sake of it. The new limits are a response to a growing appetite for longer, more meaningful content. People can watch till the end, if you give them something worth watching.
 

TikTok content types and their ideal lengths

Gone are the days when your TikTok feed was entirely made up of dance challenges and lip-syncs. While many people are still trying to make it fit into a box, the truth is that TikTok has become a versatile platform that’s home to many types of content. 
 

As one would expect, each content type comes with its own recommended length. Here’s a quick rundown: 
 

Funny clips

• Comedy works best when it’s perfectly timed, and on TikTok, that sweet spot is 15-25 seconds max – just enough to set up the joke and deliver the punchline.
• Don’t drag things out, try to cut straight to the funny part, and use transitions mindfully to maximize the comedic effect. 
• After you’ve recorded your video, rewatch it and look out for any extras you can trim.
   

Source: khaby.lame on TikTok

Trending challenges 

• These challenges typically fall in the 15–30 second range, depending on the sound.
• Most trends are based around a specific sound, use that as your length guide.
• Try to stick to the original timing of the challenge to make sure your video is more recognizable and will earn you more visibility on the For You Page.

Source: chiaraking on TikTok

Descriptive / Educational videos

• For tutorials, how-tos or other types of descriptive/ educational videos, it makes sense to go over 60 seconds. 
• Make sure every extra second adds value. Start with a strong hook and stick to a specific pace throughout the video. 
• Use captions, visuals aids and engaging cuts to keep the viewers interested. If you can, break down your videos into a multi-part series. 
   

Source: letskwoowk on TikTok

Best practices for creating high-performing TikTok videos

TikTok can feel like a jungle, and you’ve got to constantly raise the bar on what great content is in order to have a fighting chance. Having a great idea is not enough, the magic is in the delivery, and the closer you are to what the algorithm wants, the better your chances to increase your engagement, grow your community and even ride that sweet viral wave. 

Edit with watch time in mind 

When it comes to TikTok, recording is just the warm-up . Editing is where you really get to flex your creative muscles and shape your footage into content people will want to watch from start to finish, or maybe even on a loop. 
 

Start by cutting out the fluff. Anything that doesn’t add value to your video or moves the story forward has to go. You can use an editor like Flixier to do all your video trimming right in your browser. 
 

Add jump cuts or dynamic transitions to keep the story flowing and maintain interest. Layer in background music or sound effects from Flixier’s built-in media library to set the right tone.
 

And finally, don’t forget on-screen captions, to make sure viewers can follow your story even if they’re watching with the sound off.ideal tiktok length

 

Use AI tools like Flixier to simplify content creation

On TikTok you have to move fast, or you might miss out on important trends and challenges that could bring you incredible visibility and engagement. This is the place where speed matters just as much as creativity. 
 

In other words, time is of the essence – which is why it pays to use AI tools to save you hours of editing and get from idea to live video in record time. Here’s a quick rundown of everything AI you can do in Flixier to help you create high-performing TikToks: 
 

• Cut through hours of brainstorming and simply generate video scripts with a prompt. 
• Give your voice a break and let an AI narrator do all the talking for you via Flixier’s AI voiceover generator.
• Quickly trim, resize and refrain content to repurpose longer videos into TikTok-friendly clips. 
• Say goodbye to manually typed captions and just add AI captions with one click using our editor. 
• Drop your idea into our AI video generator and see what happens. You might find a new, faster way to create TikTok videos with minimal effort and maximum impact. 

Crafting TikTok videos like a pro: Final thoughts

Watching big creators dish out five TikToks a week like it’s nothing can feel a little intimidating – they make it look so easy. But behind every viral post there is a whole lot of planning, editing and at times, difficult decisions.
 

Video length is a crucial (yet often overlooked) piece of that puzzle. Going the wrong way in either direction can make or break your content’s performance.
 

The trick is to keep your ear to the ground, stay tuned into what’s trending and not hesitate to lean on the right tools to help you create consistently great content without burning out.