YouTube Long-form video Size and Specs 2026
Every upload spec at a glance, with sources.
YouTube Long-form video 2026: aspect ratio 16:9, up to 12 hours, files up to 256 GB, caption up to 5,000 characters, up to 60 hashtags.
All specs
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
|---|---|
| Maximum length | 12 hours |
| Maximum file size | 256 GB |
| File types | MOV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG4, MP4, MPG, AVI, WMV, MPEGPS, FLV, 3GPP, WebM, DNxHR, ProRes, CineForm, HEVC (H.265) |
| Caption limit | 5,000 characters |
| Title limit | 100 characters |
| Hashtag limit | 60 |
Notes (from the sources, in English): Max 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less (256 GB converted at 1024 MB per GB). Default limit is 15 minutes; longer uploads need a verified account. 16:9 is the standard player ratio; encoding guide covers up to 8K and recommends MP4, H.264, AAC-LC, same frame rate as recorded (24/25/30/48/50/60 common, others accepted). caption_char_limit is the description limit. If a video has more than 60 hashtags, all are ignored; up to 3 show by the title.
Work out bitrate and file size with the file size calculator. Check caption length with the character counter.
Changes in 2025 and 2026
- From 2025-03-31 Shorts views count every start or replay with no minimum watch time.
- Official Artist Channels: square or vertical videos up to 3 minutes uploaded on or after 2025-12-08 are classified as Shorts (standard channels since 2024-10-15).
- Custom thumbnail guidance now recommends 3840x2160 (2160x3840 for Shorts) with up to 50 MB on desktop (2 MB on mobile). Change date not stated.
Sources
- Upload videos longer than 15 minutes (YouTube Help) (official)
- YouTube recommended upload encoding settings (YouTube Help) (official)
- Supported YouTube file formats (YouTube Help) (official)
- Edit video settings (YouTube Help) (official)
- Find playlists and videos using hashtags (YouTube Help) (official)
Checked: 2026-10-13. Confidence: official. All platforms in one table: social media video specs 2026
Other YouTube formats
FAQ
What size is a YouTube Long-form video?
The aspect ratio is 16:9.
How long can a YouTube Long-form video be?
Up to 12 hours.
What is the maximum file size for a YouTube Long-form video?
Up to 256 GB.
How long can the caption of a YouTube Long-form video be?
Up to 5,000 characters.
How many hashtags can a YouTube Long-form video have?
Up to 60.