Whether you’re struggling to get views on your content, or just want to make the most of your content creation strategy, today’s guide will help you decide how long each of your TikTok videos should be.
Key Points:
How Long Can A TikTok Video Be?
Regular TikTok videos can be up to 60 minutes long, with a minimum of 3 seconds.
However, that doesn’t mean you should maximize your video time. For best results and maximum engagement, aim to capture your viewers’ attention within the first 3 seconds of the video.
If you’re unsuccessful, chances are no one will stick around to continue watching and you’ll end up with a low retention rate which could negatively impact your TikTok profile and result in fewer videos from your account being recommended to users.
How Long Can A TikTok Live Be?
TikTok Live streams don’t have a minimum or maximum time limit. You can essentially stream for as long as you want.
In fact, the longest TikTok live stream created a Guinness World Record and lasted a total of 624 hours 37 minutes and 55 seconds! It was hosted by Zhejiang Luyuan Electric Vehicle Co in China, and lasted from August 16th to September 11th 2022.
If you haven’t started using TikTok Live, you’ll first need to unlock the feature. To do so you’ll need to be at least 18 years of age or older and have at least 1,000 TikTok followers.
How Long Can A TikTok Story Be?
TikTok Stories are perfect for quick updates or behind the scenes snippets. Stories can be up to 15 seconds long, and there’s no minimum length requirement.
How Long Can A TikTok Carousel Be?
Unlike the other formats mentioned in this article, TikTok Carousels aren’t video posts but rather a series of photo slides, similar to Instagram Carousels.
TikTok Carousels can have anywhere between 1-35 images, and you can integrate music and other effects to increase interest.
How Long Can TikTok Ads Be?
If you want to craft the most effective TikTok Ad, aim to keep it within 5 - 60 seconds long.
While that’s the minimum/maximum range, it’s always best to avoid rambling on if you can make your point quicker. Some suggest that a length of 21-34 seconds is ideal for in-app advertising.
How Long Can A TikTok Song Be?
TikTok songs can be anywhere between 15-60 seconds long, but aiming on the longer end might be ideal since the song is more likely to be adaptable for a wider range of content types.
How Long Should A TikTok Video Be?
Just because you can create long TikTok videos, doesn’t mean you necessarily should. In fact, most TikTok users prefer content that’s less than 2 minutes long. Anything that goes beyond that could risk a lower retention rate and the overall performance of your TikTok profile.
In general there are two high-performing video lengths on the TikTok App:
- Super short videos less than 15 seconds long
- Videos around 2 minutes long that tell a story
Depending on your profile niche, stick with one of these and see what performs best.
You can use your TikTok analytics to analyze video performance over time based on video lengths, and decide on which length works best for you.
Video Length & The TikTok Algorithm
We know that viewers prefer shorter videos, but what about the TikTok algorithm itself?
The truth is that the algorithm relies on user behavior, so if viewers are sticking around longer on certain videos and engaging with them, then those are the videos that the algorithm will recommend more.
Keep an eye on Completion Rate and Total Watch Time in your analytics - these metrics will give you an idea about whether or not your videos are capturing attention, or if people are swiping away too early.
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Completion Rate measures the percentage of viewers who watch your video in its entirety.
- Total Watch Time measures how much time users spent watching your content.
Do Longer Videos Get More Views On TikTok?
Funnily enough, some profiles do well with longer videos - but it really boils down to your follower count.
Profiles with a higher follower count can often get away with creating longer videos, even reaching the 60 minute maximum length. That’s because they’ve built up a loyal following and a reputation for providing high-value content over time, so their viewers are more likely to stick around for the full duration of their videos.
On the other hand, if you’re a smaller account or just starting out it’s best to stick with videos that are short and to the point - at least at first.
The Average Length Of A TikTok Video
According to TikTok, the highest performing videos ranged in length from 21-34 seconds.
If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to your own videos, stick to a length within this range and adjust accordingly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get 10 minute videos on TikTok?
The maximum video length is 60 minutes, so you shouldn’t have to do anything special to be able to upload a 10 minute long video to TikTok.
Is a 2 minute video too long for TikTok?
That depends on your audience. Recent studies have shown that videos that are either 15 seconds long or shorter, or 2 minutes long perform the best. However, it’s always a good idea to review your TikTok analytics and see what video lengths are working for your specific niche.
How do I post a 3 minute video on TikTok?
You don’t need to do anything special - the maximum video length on TikTok is 60 minutes long.
How do I upload a full video on TikTok?
Just upload it as usual - there’s nothing special you need to do, as long as your video is within 60 minutes. Even one second longer and you won’t be able to upload it successfully.
Can I post a 15 minute video on TikTok?
Yup - you can upload videos that are up to 60 minutes long on TikTok.
How do I extend a TikTok video?
In the TikTok app, tap the Add Post button at the bottom, choose the maximum length for your video and tap the Record button.
How to make a 10-minute video on TikTok?
If you want to make a video directly within the app, tap Add Post at the bottom and choose 10 minutes as your video length, then start recording.
Why won't TikTok let me film more than 15 seconds?
Your camera settings might be stuck - first open your camera and swipe over to Clips. From here, make sure your video length is set to a higher limit. By default it might be on 15 seconds.
How long until TikTok tells you to take a break?
That depends on your TikTok screen time settings!
If you’re between 13-17 years of age, after 1 hour the app will remind you to take a break by default.
If you’re 18 years or older, you can adjust the setting by going to your profile and tapping the menu on the top left. From here, select Settings and Privacy > Screen Time > Daily Screen Time and adjust your daily limit.
How long do TikTok shadow bans last?
Usually 24 hours - but that depends on the severity of your violation. Some can last around 72 hours, while others could be indefinite.
How long does it take for a TikTok to go viral?
A video can go viral within hours or days after being posted. On average, TikTok videos achieve peak viewer count around 7 days after being posted. So if your video hasn’t gone viral after one week, you can safely assume that it wasn’t a huge hit.
How long do TikTok videos stay up?
Regular TikTok videos stay up indefinitely, until you manually remove them, but TikTok will stop recommending videos after 90 days from the original posting date, in order to keep recommendations fresh.
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