How Long Should a Marketing Video Be? Best Lengths by Platform
Long Enough to be Good, Short Enough to be also Good ⏱️📱
TIME IS MONEY — so how long should your marketing video be to keep people watching? The truth is, the ideal video length depends on what you’re sharing and where. Different platforms have different attention spans, content preferences, and algorithms. Here’s your no-fluff guide to getting it just right:
General Rule of Thumb
Shorter is usually better on social platforms — especially for grabbing attention. But context matters:
Top-of-funnel (awareness): quick and catchy
Middle-funnel (consideration): slightly longer, more detailed
Bottom-funnel (decision): longer, informative, in-depth
Best Video Length by Platform
Feed videos: 30–60 seconds
Reels: 15–30 seconds (short, snackable, high energy)
Stories: Under 15 seconds per slide
Pro Tip: Hook viewers in the first 3 seconds. Movement, text, or a face helps.
Organic posts: 15–60 seconds for best engagement
Ads: 15 seconds is the sweet spot (Facebook prefers brevity)
Long-form content (like interviews or lives): 3+ minutes (yes, longer videos can perform better here when relevant)
YouTube
Standard content: 7–15 minutes (YouTube loves depth and watch time)
Pre-roll ads: 6–15 seconds (non-skippable), 30 seconds or less (skippable)
Shorts: Under 60 seconds
Pro Tip: Structure matters. Start with a teaser, deliver value, then include a clear CTA. Also — THUMBNAILS MATTER!!!
Feed videos: 30–90 seconds
Thought leadership or storytelling content: 2–5 minutes if engaging and targeted
Pro Tip: Focus on professional value, clarity, and subtitled content (many watch with sound off and have no idea how reels work on LinkedIn anyway).
TikTok
Sweet spot: 15–30 seconds for quick hits
Max time: Up to 10 minutes, but only works if you’re truly holding attention or telling an involved story.
Pro Tip: Keep it fast-paced and authentic. TikTok users scroll fast.
Website or Landing Pages
Explainer videos: 60–90 seconds
Brand videos: 1–2 minutes
Testimonial videos: 1–3 minutes depending on story depth
Pro Tip: Place above the fold and get to the point fast.
Final Thoughts
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but there is a right length for each platform and purpose. Tailoring your video length boosts watch time, engagement, and results. Luckily, we at Itchy Palm Pictures know all the ins and outs. One of the many reasons to work with us, because we’re not only the best — but we’re also the only video production company you’ll ever need.
