> Quick answer: Facebook vertical ads run at 9:16, 1440 x 2560 pixels, JPG or PNG under 30MB. Safe zones differ by placement. Keep all key visuals and text inside those margins or Meta's UI will cover them.
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What are vertical ad dimensions for Facebook?
Per Meta's Ads Guide, the foundation of every vertical Facebook ad is the same core spec.
9:16 aspect ratio is the standard
9:16 fills a phone screen completely. It is the native format for Stories and Reels. Any other ratio forces black bars or awkward cropping.
Recommended resolution: 1440 x 2560 pixels
Higher resolution means sharper visuals on high-DPI screens. The minimum accepted width is 600 pixels for Facebook Reels and 500 pixels for Instagram Reels. Always target 1440 x 2560 to future-proof your creative.
File format: JPG or PNG, max 30MB
Meta accepts JPG and PNG only for image ads. Keep files under 30MB. Large files slow load times and can trigger upload errors.
Mobile-first design philosophy
Vertical ads are built for thumbs, not cursors. Design at full resolution from the start. What looks clean on desktop often fails on a 6-inch screen.
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Where do Facebook vertical ads appear?
Vertical format runs across four major placements. Each has its own safe zone rules.
Facebook Stories (full-screen placements)
Stories run fullscreen between organic friend content. Per Meta's documentation, they display for at least 5 seconds or until the user swipes.
Facebook Reels (short-form video placement)
Reels ads appear between organic short-form clips. The bottom safe zone is larger here because the UI includes more interactive elements.
Instagram Reels (cross-platform)
Meta's Ads Guide covers Instagram Reels under the same vertical spec. One creative can serve both Facebook and Instagram Reels placements from a single upload.
Instagram Stories (cross-platform)
Instagram Stories share the 9:16 spec and similar safe zone rules to Facebook Stories. A single well-built vertical creative covers both channels.
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Safe zone guidelines for vertical ads
This is where most advertisers make costly mistakes. Get the safe zones wrong and Meta's UI hides your logo or CTA.
Top margin: 14% or ~250 pixels (for Stories)
Per Meta's Ads Guide, Facebook Stories require 14% of the top, roughly 250 pixels, to stay free of text, logos, and key visuals. Profile icons and story controls live in this space.
Bottom margin: 20-35% (varies by placement)
Facebook Stories. leave 20% (~340 pixels) free at the bottom. Facebook Reels and Instagram Reels. leave 35% free. The extra space accounts for like buttons, comments, and profile info overlaid by the Reels UI.
Side margins: 6% on each side (for Reels)
Reels adds 6% side margins on top of the top and bottom rules. Keep your most important visual elements centered.
Keep logos, CTAs, and key visuals inside safe zone
Anything outside the safe zone risks disappearing behind Meta's UI. Check every creative before it goes live.
Avoid overlays that Meta UI elements cover
Text placed below the safe zone will compete with or be hidden by CTA buttons and profile icons. Build this into your design from the first frame.
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Text placement and copy limits
Meta enforces character limits per placement. Know them before you write.
Facebook Stories: 125 character primary text, 40 character headline
You have room for a short, punchy sentence or two. Make every word earn its place.
Facebook Reels: 40 character primary text, 55 character headline
Meta's Ads Guide recommends minimal or no text on Reels images. The visual does the heavy lifting. Reserve copy for the headline field.
Keep text large and legible on small screens
Small text disappears on a 6-inch screen. Use bold, large fonts. If you squint to read it, it fails.
High contrast for readability
Dark text on light backgrounds. Light text on dark backgrounds. Never place text directly over a busy image area without a contrast overlay behind it.
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Design best practices for vertical Facebook ads
Design for sound-off viewing with strong visuals
Meta's official guidance assumes no audio. Motion, color, and composition carry the message. Do not rely on a voiceover to explain the offer.
Use bold colors and high-contrast imagery
Vertical ads compete with organic content for attention. Flat or muted visuals get scrolled past. Go bold.
Avoid small details or fine text
Fine print, thin lines, and intricate patterns disappear at mobile scale. Simplify everything.
Test how ads appear across mobile devices
Preview on multiple screen sizes before publishing. A creative that looks perfect at 1440 x 2560 can still break on older devices.
Use Revise tools to optimize sizing and layout
Coinis Revise lets you move text, change copy, and swap colors directly on your ad image. No exporting to another tool needed.
Generate multiple vertical variations to test
Run at least two creatives per campaign. Different hooks, different colors, different layouts. More variants means more signal.
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How to quickly resize and test vertical ad variations
Use Revise Smart Resize for instant format adaptation
Smart Resize converts a single image to multiple aspect ratios in one click. Turn a square ad into a 9:16 vertical without manually cropping.
Generate multiple aspect ratios from a single image
One source creative. Multiple placements. Smart Resize handles the math so you do not start from scratch for each format.
A/B test vertical vs. other formats side by side
Keep one variable different between versions. Test 9:16 against 4:5 to see which placement drives better results for your offer.
Use Variate for quick creative iterations
Variate generates multiple creative versions from your base image. Test hooks, colors, and layouts without rebuilding each one from scratch.
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Or skip the steps.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct size for a Facebook vertical ad?
The recommended size is 1440 x 2560 pixels at a 9:16 aspect ratio. The minimum accepted width is 600 pixels for Facebook Reels and 500 pixels for Instagram Reels. Always aim for 1440 x 2560 for the sharpest result.
What are the safe zone rules for Facebook Stories vs. Reels?
Facebook Stories: keep 14% (~250px) free at the top and 20% (~340px) free at the bottom. Facebook Reels and Instagram Reels: keep 14% free at the top, 35% free at the bottom, and 6% free on each side. All logos, CTAs, and key visuals must stay inside these margins.
Can I use the same vertical creative for Facebook and Instagram?
Yes. Facebook Stories, Instagram Stories, Facebook Reels, and Instagram Reels all share the same 9:16 spec at 1440 x 2560 pixels. One well-built vertical creative can serve all four placements, though safe zone margins vary slightly between Stories and Reels.
How much text can I include in a Facebook Stories ad?
Per Meta's Ads Guide, Facebook Stories allow up to 125 characters of primary text and a 40-character headline. Facebook Reels are more restricted: 40 characters of primary text and a 55-character headline, with Meta recommending minimal or no text on the image itself.