# 9:16 vs 4:5 video ads on Meta

> Meta recommends 9:16 for Reels, Stories and Instagram Feed and 4:5 for Facebook Feed. Sizes, safe-zone margins and how to make each, checked 3 Nov 2026.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-05
- **Category**: Creative
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-compare/9-16-vs-4-5-video-ads

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Meta's ad guide recommends 9:16 for Reels, Stories and Instagram Feed, and 4:5 for Facebook Feed (checked 3 Nov 2026). Make 9:16 first, and add a 4:5 cut only if Facebook Feed matters to you.

## Side by side

| Placement | Ratio | Recommended size |
|---|---|---|
| Facebook Feed | 4:5 | 1440 x 1800 |
| Instagram Feed | 9:16 | 1080 x 1920 |
| Instagram Reels | 9:16 | 1440 x 2560 |
| Instagram Stories | 9:16 | 1440 x 2560 |
| Facebook Stories | 9:16 | 1440 x 2560 |

Sizes are from [Meta's video ads guide](https://en-gb.facebook.com/business/ads-guide/update/video). Each page gives its own recommendation, so the Instagram Feed page lists 1080 x 1920 while Reels lists 1440 x 2560. All ask for H.264, MP4 or MOV, and AAC audio at 128 kbps or more.

## Differences that matter

- **Height.** At 1080 wide, 9:16 is 1080 x 1920 and 4:5 is 1080 x 1350. A 4:5 frame is about 70% as tall (1,350 / 1,920).
- **Safe zones.** Meta gives percentages for Reels and Stories: keep roughly 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% of each side free of text and logos.
- **Length.** Reels ads run 0 seconds to 15 minutes. Instagram Stories run 1 second to 60 minutes. Facebook Stories run 1 second to 3 minutes. Facebook Feed runs 1 second to 241 minutes.
- **Frame rate.** Meta asks for a fixed frame rate on every placement and gives no number.

## A worked example

Say your Reel ad is 1080 x 1920.

- Top margin: 14% of 1,920 = about 269 px.
- Bottom margin: 35% of 1,920 = 672 px.
- Side margin: 6% of 1,080 = about 65 px each.

Text and logos fit in a box about 950 px wide and 979 px tall (1,920 − 269 − 672). The Feed pages we read give no such margins for a 4:5 frame at 1080 x 1350. The pixel figures are our arithmetic, not Meta's numbers.

## Make a 4:5 copy

In Premiere Pro (now called Adobe Premiere), Adobe's Auto Reframe makes a new sequence.

1. Select your 9:16 sequence in the Project panel.
2. Choose Sequence > Auto Reframe Sequence.
3. Under Target Aspect Ratio, pick a preset or enter a custom ratio such as 4:5.
4. Pick Motion Tracking: Slower Motion, Default or Faster Motion.
5. Open the new sequence in the Auto Reframe Sequences folder and check your text still fits.

## Where Marxx fits

[Marxx's AI video editor](/features/ai-video-editor) makes 9:16, 1:1, 16:9 and 4:3 projects, with safe-zone overlays for Reels, Stories, Shorts and TikTok. Its list of project sizes does not include the Facebook Feed ratio, so make that copy in another editor. We make Marxx.

## FAQ

### Which ratio performs better on Meta?

Meta's guide lists sizes, not results. Test both with the same edit.

### Does 4:5 work on Reels?

Meta's guide lists Reels as 9:16 at 1440 x 2560, so make Reels in 9:16. See [how to make Reels ads](/guides/how-to-make-reels-ads).

### What is the largest file Meta accepts?

Meta's guide lists 4 GB for each of these placements.

### Where should captions go?

Inside the safe zone. Read [open vs closed captions](/compare/open-captions-vs-closed-captions) and [how to add captions to video ads](/guides/how-to-add-captions-to-video-ads).

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