# How to cut a 30-second ad into 15 and 6 seconds

> Cut a 30-second video ad into 15 and 6-second versions: keep the hook, one proof and the offer. A beat-by-beat table and where each length runs.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-10
- **Category**: Video editing
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-guides/how-to-cut-a-30-second-ad-into-15-and-6-seconds

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To cut a 30-second ad into 15 and 6 seconds, keep the hook, one proof and the offer, and drop the rest. The 15-second cut keeps a short demo, and the 6-second cut keeps one line, one shot and the call to action.

## Steps

1. Mark the beats in your 30-second master: hook, problem, demo, proof and offer. Write down how long each one runs.
2. For the 15-second cut, drop the problem setup. Shorten the demo and keep one line of proof.
3. For the 6-second cut, keep only the hook, one shot of the product and the offer.
4. Trim pauses and filler words. Do not speed up the voice to make it fit.
5. Move the captions to match the new timing. Check the safe zone again.
6. Export each cut as its own file and name it by length. See [how to make video ad variations](/guides/how-to-make-video-ad-variations).

We make Marxx. In [Marxx's AI video editor](/features/ai-video-editor) the built-in assistant can fit a cut to a target duration, such as 15 seconds. Marxx chat is on Match, $29 a month at launch prices (checked 3 Nov 2026).

## A worked example

Say your master is a 30-second ad for a INR 799 desk lamp. Here is how each beat shrinks, in seconds.

| Beat | 30 s master | 15 s cut | 6 s cut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Problem | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Demo | 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Proof | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Offer and call to action | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Total | 30 | 15 | 6 |

The hook already shows the problem, so the 15-second cut loses the setup. Check each column adds up before you export.

## Where each cut runs

| Placement | Why a short cut fits (checked 3 Nov 2026) |
|---|---|
| Instagram Stories | Videos under 16 seconds play in full. Longer ones may be split into one to three cards |
| Facebook Stories | Videos of 15 seconds or less play in full |
| YouTube Shorts ads | Google lists 6 to 60 seconds for Video reach, and only the first 60 seconds play in the feed |

Sources: Meta's [Instagram Stories](https://en-gb.facebook.com/business/ads-guide/update/video/instagram-story) ad spec and Google's [Shorts ads help](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/16041697).

## Tips

- Keep the hook the same in every cut. Test length, not a new hook.
- End every cut on the offer, so people see the next step.
- Reuse the same end card and captions style across all three.

See also [how to edit the first three seconds](/guides/how-to-edit-a-video-ad-hook) and [video ad script examples](/templates/ad-script-examples). To plan the run, see [how to make Reels ads](/guides/how-to-make-reels-ads).

## FAQ

### Should I cut the voiceover or speed it up?

Cut it. A sped-up voice is harder to follow, so trim pauses and drop a line instead.

### Is a 6-second ad enough to sell?

It can introduce the product and the offer. Use it with a longer cut, not instead of one.

### Do I need new captions for each cut?

Yes. Timing changes, so move or retime the captions in every version.

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