How Long Can TikTok Videos Be? 2025 Limits and Guidelines
TikTok usage continues to grow in 2025, with our short video study showing a 129% increase in accounts. If you’re one of these people who have joined the platform this year, you may be wondering how long TikTok videos can be. To succeed in 2025, you need to understand the maximum limit, the ideal length, and how to use every second effectively.
At Metricool, we see firsthand how content performance shifts with platform updates. TikTok’s journey from a short-form, 15-second loop platform to one that now allows videos up to 15 minutes is a massive change. This expansion offers huge new possibilities, but also new challenges. Knowing how long a TikTok video can be in the current environment is essential for effective content planning.
We’ve created this guide to break down the current video length limits, explain why the platform made these changes, and provide actionable advice on choosing the perfect duration for your next post. This deep dive into video length will help you craft a successful content strategy for the year ahead.
The Hard Limits: How Long Can TikTok Videos Be in 2025?
Let’s start with the facts. The absolute maximum time for a standard TikTok video has been extended significantly to accommodate a wider variety of content formats.
The Current Maximum TikTok Video Length
In 2025, the maximum length for a standard, non-Live video uploaded to TikTok is 1 hour. If you record your video in the app, the maximum length is 10 minutes. TikTok also states that if you choose a sound before you record or upload your video, it will be restricted to the same length as the sound.
This significant increase from the original 60 seconds is a clear signal that TikTok is actively competing with long-form platforms like YouTube. This 60-minute cap gives creators the freedom to produce detailed tutorials, full-length short films, comprehensive product reviews, and deeper educational content.
Recommended TikTok Video Lengths for Different Content Types
While 60 minutes is the maximum, the platform still supports and even encourages shorter formats. Here are the core lengths you’ll encounter when posting:
- The Original Short Form (Up to 60 seconds): This is the classic, fast-paced TikTok content that prioritises viral audio and quick, attention-grabbing visuals. It’s still highly effective for trends and immediate engagement.
- Mid-Form Content (Up to 5 minutes): This was the first major expansion and remains a popular sweet spot. It allows for storytelling, short tutorials, and mini-vlogs that require slightly more detail than a 60-second clip.
- Extended Content (Up to 10 minutes): Introduced to facilitate richer explanations, this length is ideal for deeper educational segments, recipe breakdowns, and more complex narratives.
- The Maximum (Up to 60 minutes): This length is for truly comprehensive content that you might have previously only posted on other platforms.
The Strategic Question: Can vs Should
Knowing that your video can be up to 60 minutes is only half the battle. The crucial, strategic decision is determining how long your TikTok videos should be for your specific audience and goals. Having 60 minutes doesn’t mean you have to use all of them.
Audience Retention is King
Conquering TikTok’s For You Page (FYP) algorithm is all about audience retention and completion rate.
- Retention: How long your audience watches your video.
- Completion Rate: The percentage of viewers who watch your video all the way to the end.
A 100% completion rate on a 15-second video is easier to achieve and, therefore, often performs better than a 20% completion rate on a 60-minute video. If your video is too long for the content, your retention will drop fast, and the algorithm will quickly stop pushing it out. When planning your content, always ask: “Can I deliver the same value in less time?” If the answer is yes, shorten it.
Other Factors to Consider for TikTok’s Algorithm
Here are some of the other factors TikTok’s algorithm considers:
- Sequential Viewing: TikTok is interested in seeing if a user watches the entire clip, and then whether they engage with your profile to watch a second or third video. Longer videos are a play for audience loyalty and deep profile engagement. They are designed to convert a passive viewer into a committed follower.
- The Hook’s Renewed Importance: The hook in the first 3-5 seconds is the most critical part of your video. You are fighting against the natural human inclination to scroll past long content. Your opening seconds must promise significant value to justify a time investment, especially a longer one. Without an outstanding hook, your video will fail regardless of how valuable the main body of content is.
How to Find the Right Video Lengths for Your Content
Finding the appropriate length for your videos may seem complicated, but it’s actually fairly simple. It comes down to trial and error; finding out what works and what doesn’t. Thankfully, in 2025, this doesn’t need to be guesswork. Analyze your TikTok content performance with Metricool to create repeatable formulas for success.
Why Did TikTok Extend the Video Length?
The shift to support longer content was a bold, strategic move by the platform. It wasn’t a random change; it was a response to creator behaviour and market demands.
Retention of Top Creators
Many successful TikTok creators found themselves restricted by the short length. When they needed to create more detailed guides or in-depth stories, they had to migrate their audience to YouTube or Instagram Reels, or resort to confusing “part 1, part 2” serial content. By extending the maximum length, TikTok keeps high-value, long-form creators on its platform, encouraging them to create comprehensive content exclusively for the FYP.
Monetisation and Advertisers
Longer videos mean more opportunities for ad placement. While short-form videos offer quick, unskippable exposure, longer formats allow TikTok to experiment with mid-roll ads, offering advertisers a premium placement that can justify higher campaign spend. This is a critical move in making the platform a more sustainable and profitable place for both TikTok and its users.
Educational and ‘How-To’ Content
The rise of TikTok as a search engine, particularly among younger demographics, demonstrated a need for more robust, informational content. Recipes, complex tutorials, in-depth reviews, and educational lectures simply cannot be contained in a 60-second window. The increased video length legitimises the platform as a place for learning, moving it beyond pure entertainment.
Technical Considerations
There are a few technical hurdles to be aware of when uploading longer content.
File Size and Format
While the length has been extended, you still need to be mindful of technical limits:
- File Size: TikTok accepts files up to 30GB. For 60-minute videos, especially those shot in high resolution (4K), you must ensure your file size is compliant. Compression is your friend here.
- Format: The platform accepts standard formats like MP4 and MOV.
- Resolution: Stick to the optimal 9:16 aspect ratio (1080×1920 pixels) for vertical viewing. While longer videos may tempt you to use horizontal formats, vertical content still performs best on the FYP.
The Role of Editing Software
Creating a truly engaging 60-minute video is an editing challenge. Unlike short clips that can be edited in the TikTok app, longer content requires professional software to maintain flow, add complex graphics, and ensure seamless transitions. Your editing workflow must become more streamlined and professional to justify the extended running time.
Summary: Your 2025 Video Length Strategy
For anyone serious about using TikTok for content creation in 2025, use Metricool to analyse your current videos. Look at your Audience Retention graph. If your retention consistently drops off at an early point, then your videos are too long, no matter what the maximum limit is. Plan your content length based on your audience’s proven attention span, not on the maximum allowed time. By being intentional with every second, you ensure your content succeeds.
