Best Video Formats for Facebook: A Comprehensive Guide
If you’re looking to post videos on Facebook, you need to ensure they are in the correct format. Not all video formats are compatible with Facebook, and choosing the wrong one can result in poor video quality, slow buffering, and other issues that can negatively affect your audience’s viewing experience.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the video formats that are compatible with Facebook, the factors that affect video quality and performance on the platform, and how to optimize your videos for the best possible viewing experience.
The Recommended Video Format for Facebook and What Is the Best One
According to Facebook’s official website, the platform supports a wide range of video formats, including:
- 3g2 (Mobile Video)
- 3gp (Mobile Video)
- 3gpp (Mobile Video)
- asf (Windows Media Video)
- avi (AVI Video)
- dat (MPEG Video)
- divx (DIVX Video)
- dv (DV Video)
- f4v (Flash Video)
- flv (Flash Video)
- gif (Animated GIF)
- m2ts (M2TS Video)
- m4v (MPEG-4 Video)
- mkv (Matroska Format)
- mod (MOD Video)
- mov (QuickTime Movie)
- mp4 (MPEG-4 Video)
- mpe (MPEG Video)
- mpeg (MPEG Video)
- mpeg4 (MPEG-4 Video)
- mpg (MPEG Video)
- mts (AVCHD Video)
- nsv (Nullsoft Video)
- ogm (Ogg Media Format)
- ogv (Ogg Video Format)
- qt (QuickTime Movie)
- tod (TOD Video)
- ts (MPEG Transport Stream)
- vob (DVD Video)
- wmv (Windows Media Video)
While Facebook supports a variety of video formats, the platform recommends using MP4 or MOV for optimal results. So I guess we have the final answer to the best video format for Facebook. Right? But why?
The Benefits of Using MP4 or MOV
MP4 and MOV are both widely used video file formats that offer a number of benefits when it comes to uploading videos on Facebook. Here are a few reasons why you should consider using MP4 or MOV for your Facebook videos:
Compatibility: MP4 and MOV are compatible with a wide range of devices and platforms, making them a versatile choice for video content.
Compression: Both MP4 and MOV use compression to reduce the file size of videos, making them easier to upload and stream on Facebook.
Quality: MP4 and MOV are both capable of producing high-quality video content, which is important when it comes to engaging with your audience on Facebook.
Examples of MP4 or MOV Videos on Facebook
Now that we’ve covered the benefits of using MP4 or MOV for your Facebook videos, let’s take a look at some examples. Here are a few MP4 and MOV videos that have performed well on Facebook:
BuzzFeed Tasty’s “4 Easy 3-Ingredient Dinners”
The Ellen DeGeneres Show’s “Ellen Surprises Military Mom and Daughter”
As you can see, these videos are all high-quality, engaging, and optimized for Facebook’s video format. By using MP4 or MOV for your Facebook videos, you can ensure that your content looks and performs its best on the platform.
The Best Video Settings for Facebook
While choosing the right video format is important, there are other settings that can affect the quality and performance of your videos on Facebook. These include resolution, aspect ratio, frame rate, bitrate, and audio codec.
Recommended Settings for Facebook Videos
Resolution: Facebook supports resolutions up to 1080p. For best results, upload videos in 720p or 1080p.
Aspect ratio: The recommended aspect ratio is 16:9, although Facebook does support other ratios such as 9:16 for vertical videos and 1:1 for square videos.
Frame rate: The ideal frame rate for Facebook videos is 30 frames per second (fps). However, videos with higher frame rates, such as 60 fps, are also supported.
Bitrate: The recommended bitrate for 720p videos is 5 Mbps, while the ideal bitrate for 1080p videos is 8 Mbps.
Audio codec: Facebook supports AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) audio codec for stereo audio.
Well, these are just general suggestions. Owing to Facebook videos having various types, each of them will have its unique best needs for the settings. Let’s keep reading and find them out.
Types of Facebook Videos
Before we dive into the best video settings for different types of Facebook videos, let’s take a quick look at some of the most common video types on the platform:
Live videos: These are real-time videos that allow you to engage with your audience in real time, answering questions and comments as they come in.
Stories: Short, vertical videos that appear at the top of the user’s feed and disappear after 24 hours.
Ads: Promotional videos used to advertise a product, service, or event on Facebook.
360 videos: Videos shot in 360 degrees, allowing the viewer to pan around the environment as the video plays.
VR videos: Virtual Reality videos that allow the viewer to experience an immersive environment.
Best Video Settings for Different Types of Facebook Videos
Depending on the type of Facebook video you’re creating, there may be different formats or settings that work better than others. Here are some guidelines to help you choose the best video format for each type of Facebook video:
Live Videos: For live videos, Facebook recommends using a resolution of 720p or 1080p and a frame rate of 30fps. You can stream live videos in either landscape or portrait mode, but keep in mind that portrait mode videos will appear smaller on desktop screens. Facebook also recommends using an external microphone for better audio quality.
Stories: Since stories are viewed on mobile devices, it’s important to use a vertical format for your video. Facebook recommends using a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and a frame rate of 30fps. Keep your videos short and engaging, as users tend to swipe through stories quickly.
Ads: For Facebook ads, it’s best to use a resolution of 1080p and a frame rate of 30fps. Avoid using text and logos in the corners of the video, as they may be covered by the ad’s headline and description. Facebook recommends keeping your ad videos between 15–30 seconds in length.
360 Videos: For 360 videos, Facebook recommends using a resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels and a frame rate of 30fps. Make sure to use a high-quality 360 camera and test your video on desktop and mobile devices to ensure a seamless viewing experience.
VR Videos: For VR videos, Facebook recommends using a resolution of 2160 x 2160 pixels and a frame rate of 30fps. Make sure to use a high-quality VR camera and test your video on desktop and mobile devices to ensure a seamless viewing experience.
How to Adjust Video Settings for Facebook
If your original video file does not match these requirements, there are many tools and software you can use to adjust your video settings for Facebook.
Here are a few examples:
1. VideoProc Converter: This is an all-in-one video processing software that can help you convert, resize, and adjust video settings for Facebook. You can use VideoProc to convert your video to the H.264 format, adjust the resolution, aspect ratio, frame rate, and bitrate, and optimize the audio codec.
2. HandBrake: This is a free, open-source video transcoder that can help you convert your video to the H.264 format. You can use HandBrake to adjust the resolution, aspect ratio, and frame rate, and optimize the audio codec.
3. Adobe Premiere Pro: This is a professional video editing software that can help you adjust your video settings for Facebook. You can use Premiere Pro to adjust the resolution, aspect ratio, frame rate, and bitrate, and optimize the audio codec.
Bonus Tip: The Best Video Practices for Facebook
As you’re scrolling down your Facebook feed, you probably noticed that videos are everywhere. With more than 2 billion monthly active users, Facebook is an excellent platform to share video content. However, with so much competition, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to make your videos stand out and reach more viewers. Here, we’ll cover some of the best video practices for your Facebook.
1. Adding Captions
Adding captions to your Facebook videos makes them more accessible to a broader audience, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Additionally, captions can also improve engagement and retention rates, as they allow viewers to watch videos in public places or without sound. According to Facebook, captioned videos increase view time by an average of 12%.
2. Thumbnails, Titles, and Descriptions
Thumbnails, titles, and descriptions are critical components of your video’s success on Facebook. A thumbnail is the first thing viewers will see when scrolling through their newsfeed, so it’s essential to make it eye-catching and relevant. Titles should be descriptive and concise, highlighting the main topic of the video. The description should provide additional information about the video’s content, including any call-to-action.
3. Tags
Tags help Facebook’s algorithm to understand the video’s content, making it more discoverable to viewers who are interested in that topic. You can tag people, places, or pages related to your video content. However, it’s essential to add relevant tags and avoid spamming. According to Facebook, videos with relevant tags have a 19% increase in video views.
4. Call-to-Action Buttons
Call-to-action (CTA) buttons are an effective way to turn viewers into customers or subscribers. Facebook offers several CTA button options, such as “Learn More,” “Shop Now,” and “Sign Up.” You can choose the most appropriate CTA button for your video content and provide a clear direction to your viewers.
Conclusion
Now that you know the best video format for Facebook, try uploading a video using these settings and see how it performs. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different aspect ratios, resolutions, and codecs to find what works best for your content.