TikTok’s success started with its 15-second short-form videos. With more than 1.5 billion monthly users as of April 2024 and competition from YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels heating up, TikTok is looking to keep social media users engaged by allowing long-form content—and generating more advertising revenue in the process.
Here are TikTok’s current video length maximums, and information about how to choose the right TikTok length for your content.
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How long can a TikTok be?
As of June 2024, a TikTok video can be between three seconds and 10 minutes long. This range depends, in part, on how you create your content and what version of the app you have. If you record videos in an earlier version of the app, the limit is three minutes, but you can upload videos recorded outside the app up to 10 minutes long. Newer versions of the app (which may not be available to everyone) allow you to record 10-minute videos within TikTok.
These numbers aren’t set in stone. In March 2024, the company announced trials of 20-minute, 30-minute, and 60-minute videos for select TikTok users, suggesting these options could be widely available in the near future.
In addition to videos, TikTok has a livestreaming option available for accounts with more than 1,000 followers. As of June 2024, TikTok livestreams have no time limit.
What TikTok video lengths perform the best?
The optimal length for a TikTok video varies depending on the content, and there’s no magic number. In 2021, TikTok said that its highest-performing videos were between 21 and 34 seconds, according to Wired.
But recently, TikTok’s recommendations for content creators have changed, favoring videos that are longer than those that succeeded during the app’s first wave of popularity in the US. In June 2024, TikTok said that users spend half their time watching videos longer than one minute. New initiatives and creator programs now promote these longer videos to boost engagement and monetization opportunities.
Some data suggests that longer videos perform well; one study on user behavior showed that videos gain more views as they get longer. Still, for videos longer than 10 minutes, TikTok recommends splitting them up into shorter, one-minute-or-longer video clips.
How to choose an ideal length for your TikTok videos
Selecting the perfect length for your TikTok videos can feel more art than science. Here are some key factors to consider:
Aim for a minute or longer to maximize views
Given TikTok’s push for longer content and its statement that 50% of users’ time is spent on videos a minute or longer, user behavior seems to be shifting away from the 21- to 34-second sweet spot. Aim for videos a minute or longer, as views tend to increase with video length.
Consider your subject matter
Different topics require different approaches. Some topics lend themselves to a 20-second soundbite, while others need a five-minute deep-dive.
Consider this TikTok video from Pot Gang, which has more than a million views. In 21 seconds, it gives a quick, splashy overview of the brand’s product, highlighting a few problems with the modern gardening industry and showing how the brand’s products solve those problems. If the video were longer, viewers might lose interest and swipe away.
Now, look at this TikTok video from Allbirds, also with more than a million views. With a runtime of more than five minutes, it provides footage of an up-close-and-personal farm visit, where participants dye shoes, tour the farm, and discuss the brand’s mission. If the brand condensed this narrative into a short clip, it would struggle to convey the relationships built between participants.
Remember the hook
Video length isn’t the only thing to consider when trying to go viral on TikTok. Start with a strong hook that quickly conveys your key message to your target audience and hints at the content. TikTok statistics reveal that 63% of top-performing videos showcase their message or product within the first three seconds.
How long can a TikTok be FAQ
What is the maximum length of a TikTok video?
As of June 2024, TikTok’s maximum video length is 10 minutes long, though the platform is currently experimenting with new video lengths of 20, 30, and 60 minutes for select users.
How do you get the 10-minute videos on TikTok?
o post a 10-minute video on TikTok, you may need to film the video outside of the TikTok app and then upload it. TikTok doesn’t currently let all users record 10-minute videos in the app. For many users, the in-app time limit is three minutes from the time you start recording. Check your capabilities and stay up to date on the latest app version.
Do long TikTok videos do well?
Yes, research shows that longer videos generally get more views on TikTok than short videos, and TikTok has stated that users spend half their time watching videos that are a minute or longer.
