Ever put loads of effort into a video only for people to scroll right past after a few seconds? Don’t worry, it happens to everyone. Attention spans online are short so knowing the ideal video length can make a big difference.

Here’s a quick guide to what works best on Facebook and Instagram.

Facebook: keep it short, but make it count

Facebook loves videos that are between 15 seconds and 2 minutes long.
That’s the sweet spot for keeping people’s attention and giving the algorithm what it likes.

• Quick clips (15–30 seconds): Perfect for a behind-the-scenes moment, or a quick announcement.
• Story-style videos (1–2 minutes) for telling a short story like a local event or highlights from a day trip.

If your video’s longer than 3 minutes, make sure it’s really worth otherwise, people will drop off before halfway.

Instagram: short, sharp, scroll-stopping

Instagram users scroll fast. You’ve got about 3 seconds to grab attention, so keep things under 90 seconds if you’re posting to the main feed.

• Reels (up to 90 seconds): These are king right now. Fast, fun, and easy to rewatch they get shown to new people more often than normal videos.
• Stories: Each Story is 15 seconds, but you can chain a few together if you’ve got more to say. Great for showing a journey or little behind-the-scenes moments.

Top tips for both:

• Hook them fast: Start strong with a smile, a question, or something eye-catching.
• Add captions: Lots of people watch with sound off!
• Use vertical video: It fills the screen on phones and performs better on both Facebook and Insta.
• End with action: A cheerful “Follow for more” or “Where should we go next?” keeps engagement going.

In short:

• Facebook: 15 seconds to 2 minutes
• Instagram: 15 to 90 seconds
• Focus on quick, clear, and engaging clips