# Video editing checklist

> A 20-point video editing checklist for ads: hook, cut, captions, sound, safe zones and file settings. Copy it and tick it before every export.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-06
- **Category**: Checklists
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-templates/video-editing-checklist

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Run this checklist on every video ad before you export. Copy it, tick each line and fix what fails: it covers the hook, the cut, captions, sound, safe zones and the file.

## The checklist

```
VIDEO EDITING CHECKLIST: [ad name], [version]

HOOK
[ ] The first 3 seconds show the product or the problem
[ ] The first frame is not black and not a logo
[ ] One message, said once

CUT
[ ] Silences and filler words are gone
[ ] Every shot has a job
[ ] The offer shows before the end
[ ] One call to action, on screen at the end

CAPTIONS AND TEXT
[ ] Captions match the voice word for word
[ ] Names, prices and brand terms are spelled right
[ ] Text sits inside the safe zone

SOUND
[ ] The voice is clear and louder than the music
[ ] The music dips under speech
[ ] You have the right to use the music in paid ads

FILE
[ ] 9:16 for Reels and Stories
[ ] Size matches the placement
[ ] MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio
[ ] Fixed frame rate, file under 4 GB

FINAL WATCH
[ ] Watched start to end on a phone, sound on
[ ] Watched again with the sound off
[ ] Claims, price and legal lines checked
```

## The numbers behind it

Meta's video ads guide gives these figures for Reels and Stories ads (checked 3 Nov 2026). Read the [full guide](https://en-gb.facebook.com/business/ads-guide/update/video) before you upload.

| Check | Meta's figure |
|---|---|
| Ratio and size | 9:16 at 1440 x 2560 for Reels and Stories |
| Safe zone | Keep about 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% of each side clear of text and logos |
| Audio | Stereo AAC at 128 kbps or more |
| File | MP4 or MOV, up to 4 GB |
| Frame rate | Fixed. Meta gives no number |
| Captions and sound | Optional, but Meta recommends both |

For every placement, see the [video ad specs cheat sheet](/templates/video-ad-specs-cheat-sheet). For Reels only, use the [Reels ad edit checklist](/templates/reels-ad-edit-checklist).

## How to run it

1. Export a draft and watch it on your phone, not on your editing screen.
2. Go top to bottom. Fix problems in this order: hook, cut, text, sound, file.
3. Export the final file. Tick the file section again on the exported file, not on the project.
4. Save the ticked list next to the ad, so the next editor sees what was checked.

## A worked example

Say you ship 20 ads a month. Say 1 ad in 4 has a mistake you only spot after export, and each re-export costs 15 minutes.

- Ads with a late mistake: 20 / 4 = 5.
- Time lost: 5 x 15 = 75 minutes a month.

The checklist moves those fixes before the export. Use your own numbers.

## Speed up the checks

Marxx's [AI video editor](/features/ai-video-editor) has an assistant that removes silences and filler words, adds word-by-word captions and ducks music under speech. It shows safe-zone overlays for Reels, Stories, Shorts and TikTok. We make Marxx.

For the captions line, read [how to add captions to video ads](/guides/how-to-add-captions-to-video-ads). For the hook line, read [how to write ad hooks](/guides/how-to-write-ad-hooks).

## FAQ

### When should I run the checklist?

Run it after captions and sound are done and before you export. Run the file section again on the exported file.

### Do I need a different checklist for each platform?

The hook, cut, text and sound checks stay the same. Only the ratio, size and safe-zone lines change, so check them against the platform's own page.

---
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