Free Tool
Optimal Ad Length Calculator
Select your platform and campaign objective to get the recommended video ad duration, maximum length, and platform-specific best practices.
Ad length is not a creative preference, it is a platform constraint wired into the algorithm. TikTok weights 9 to 15 seconds for awareness and 21 to 34 seconds for conversion. Reels tops out at 30 seconds before completion rate nosedives. YouTube has a hard 6-second bumper spec and a 5-second skip threshold that reshapes every creative choice made before it. A 60-second TikTok cut will consistently under-deliver the 15-second version of the same idea on both hook rate and effective CPM.
Performance marketers use this calculator at the brief stage to set the correct duration target before a single frame is shot. Pick the platform, pick the objective, awareness, consideration, conversion, or engagement - and the tool returns the recommended range, the hard maximum, and the platform-specific timing rules (pre-skip branding, CTA placement, caption requirements).
Getting length wrong wastes budget in two ways: the creative under-delivers so CPM rises, and the asset has to be re-cut, which burns another round of edit time. Calibrating length before production is the cheapest optimization in paid media.
Quick Reference, All Platforms
| Platform | Objective | Recommended | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | Brand Awareness | 9-15 seconds | 60 seconds |
| Conversion / Sales | 21-34 seconds | 60 seconds | |
| Engagement | 15-30 seconds | 60 seconds | |
| Instagram Reels | Brand Awareness | 15-30 seconds | 90 seconds |
| Conversion / Sales | 15-30 seconds | 90 seconds | |
| Instagram Stories | Brand Awareness | 5-15 seconds | 15 seconds per card |
| Conversion / Sales | 5-15 seconds | 15 seconds per card | |
| Facebook Feed | Brand Awareness | 15-30 seconds | 240 minutes (but keep it short) |
| Conversion / Sales | 15-30 seconds | 240 minutes | |
| YouTube Pre-roll | Brand Awareness | 6 seconds (bumper) | 6 seconds (non-skippable) |
| Consideration | 15-30 seconds (skippable) | No limit (skippable) | |
| Conversion / Sales | 15-30 seconds (skippable) | No limit | |
| Brand Awareness | 15-30 seconds | 10 minutes | |
| Lead Generation | 15-30 seconds | 10 minutes |
How It Works
Pick platform
Select your target platform from the dropdown.
Choose objective
Select your campaign objective (awareness, conversion, etc.).
Get recommendation
See the recommended ad length, maximum duration, and platform-specific tips.
Why It Matters
Free vs Pro
These tools are free forever. When you need full creative intelligence, upgrade to Pro.
| Feature | Free Tools | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Ad spec checking | ||
| Image compression & resize | ||
| Video frame extraction | ||
| RoastIQ creative scoring (5 KPIs) | 3/month | Unlimited |
| Benchmark comparisons | ||
| Visual attention heatmaps | ||
| BuyerLens synthetic panel | ||
| Compare workflow | ||
| Export & share reports | ||
| Priority processing |
Go beyond the basics
Score your ad across 5 performance KPIs
RoastIQ analyzes your creative in under 90 seconds. You get a composite score, five KPI breakdowns (Beat the Skip, Get Noticed, Brand Impact, Sell Proposition, Build Brand), benchmarked against real ads in your category.
Beat the Skip
78
Get Noticed
65
Brand Impact
72
Sell Proposition
58
Build Brand
69
90s
Average analysis time
5
KPIs scored per ad
Free
3 analyses per month
12
Markets benchmarked
Frequently Asked Questions
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