YouTube Creative Guidelines

Video Requirements

To ensure compatibility and performance, all video content must meet the following criteria:

• Uploaded to YouTube: Submit the full YouTube video URL (shortened URLs are not accepted).

• Embedding Enabled: Videos must allow embedding.

• Visibility: Videos must be set to Public or Unlisted. Private videos are not supported.

• Streaming: True streaming is not allowed; content must be hosted on YouTube.

Recommended Resolution & Aspect Ratios

YouTube supports a range of video resolutions and aspect ratios. For best results:

• 16:9 Aspect Ratio: Minimum recommended resolution is 1280x720 (HD).

• 4:3 Aspect Ratio: Minimum recommended resolution is 640x480.

If you are unable to encode videos using the preferred specifications, you may still submit videos in the following formats: WMV, AVI, MOV, or FLV. In such cases, always upload the highest possible quality. YouTube will re-encode your files, but this may impact video quality and eligibility for high-quality (HQ) encoding.

Ad Formats & Video Lengths

Skippable In-Stream Ads

• Ideal length: 15–30 seconds

• Plays before, during, or after a YouTube video

• Viewers can skip after 5 seconds

• Advertisers are not charged if the viewer skips the ad

Bumper Ads

• Maximum length: 6 seconds

• Plays before, during, or after a YouTube video

• Cannot be skipped by the viewer

Recommended File Formats

YouTube prefers the original high-definition content in 1080p when available. Below are the recommended formats and settings for optimal playback:

Preferred Formats

• MPEG-2 (DVD-compliant program streams, saved with an .mpg extension)

• MPEG-4 (ideal alternative if MPEG-2 is not available)

Encoding Specifications

MPEG-2

• Audio Codec: MPEG Layer II or Dolby AC-3

• Audio Bitrate: 128 kbps or higher

MPEG-4

• Video Codec: H.264

• Audio Codec: AAC

• Audio Bitrate: 128 kbps or higher