How to Compress Video for Facebook in 2026 (Reels, Posts & Stories)
Facebook re-encodes every video you upload. Here's how to compress video for Facebook the right way — so it survives the re-encoding and still looks great.
Uploading a video to Facebook feels simple until you watch your carefully edited clip come out the other side looking soft, washed out, or artifacted. Facebook re-encodes every single video uploaded to its platform — Reels, Posts, and Stories alike. If your source file isn't well-optimized before it goes in, Facebook's encoder compounds the damage.
The good news: compress video for Facebook the right way and your content comes out looking sharp, loads fast, and ranks better in the algorithm. This guide covers Facebook's actual video specs in 2026, the best compression settings for each placement type, and the easiest tools to get it done on Mac.
Facebook Video Specs in 2026
Facebook supports a wide range of video formats, but its re-encoding process has strong preferences. Knowing the specs before you compress means you're working with the platform rather than against it.
Facebook Reels
Reels are Facebook's short-form vertical video format, competing directly with TikTok and Instagram Reels.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 (vertical) |
| Resolution | 1080 × 1920 px (recommended) |
| Maximum length | 90 seconds |
| Minimum length | 3 seconds |
| Recommended formats | MP4, MOV |
| Video codec | H.264 |
| Audio codec | AAC stereo |
| Maximum file size | 4 GB |
| Frame rate | 24–60 fps |
Facebook Video Posts (Feed)
Regular video posts appear in the feed and support a much wider range of aspect ratios and durations.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratios | 16:9 (landscape), 1:1 (square), 4:5 (portrait) |
| Resolution | 1080p recommended (up to 4K accepted) |
| Maximum length | 240 minutes |
| Recommended formats | MP4, MOV |
| Maximum file size | 4 GB |
| Frame rate | 24–60 fps |
Facebook Stories
Stories are vertical, short-form, and disappear after 24 hours — similar to Instagram Stories.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 (vertical) |
| Resolution | 1080 × 1920 px |
| Maximum length | 60 seconds |
| Recommended formats | MP4, MOV |
| Maximum file size | 4 GB |
Recommended Bitrates for Facebook
| Resolution | Recommended Bitrate |
|---|---|
| 720p (1280×720) | 6–8 Mbps |
| 1080p (1920×1080) | 10–15 Mbps |
| 4K (3840×2160) | 35–45 Mbps |
These are input bitrates — what your file should be before you upload. Facebook will re-encode down from these targets. Starting too low means Facebook's encoder has nothing to work with, and the output looks bad. Starting appropriately high gives the encoder room to make smart decisions.
Why Facebook Re-Encoding Matters
This is the key insight most guides miss: Facebook doesn't serve your original video to viewers. It always transcodes your upload through its own encoding pipeline before delivery.
This creates a counterintuitive rule: upload higher quality than you think you need.
When Facebook re-encodes a 1080p video at 12 Mbps, the output looks much better than when it re-encodes a 720p video at 3 Mbps. The encoder works with what it has. If your source is already compressed and degraded, every generation of re-encoding compounds the losses.
So the goal when you compress video for Facebook is not to shrink it as small as possible — it's to hit Facebook's preferred specs as closely as possible while keeping your upload manageable. You're optimizing for the re-encoder's input, not for the final delivery size (Facebook handles that).
This is different from compressing for Discord, where you're literally hitting a hard file size wall. See our guide on compress videos for Discord to understand how that target-based approach differs.
Best Settings to Compress Video for Facebook
Universal Facebook Settings (All Placements)
These settings work well for Reels, Posts, and Stories:
- Format: MP4 (universally supported, smallest for same quality)
- Video codec: H.264 (Facebook's preferred codec — better compatibility than H.265)
- Audio codec: AAC stereo, 192 kbps
- Frame rate: Match your source (24fps for cinematic, 30fps for general, 60fps for gaming/sports)
- Color space: Rec. 709 (sRGB for SDR content)
- Scan type: Progressive
Settings for Facebook Reels
Reels are watched on mobile, full-screen, and in quick succession. Quality perception is high because the video takes up the entire screen.
- Resolution: 1080 × 1920 px (9:16)
- Bitrate: 10–12 Mbps for 1080p
- Frame rate: 30 fps (or 24fps for a more cinematic look)
- Maximum length: Keep under 60 seconds for highest completion rate, up to 90s allowed
- Audio: Include — Reels with music or voiceover perform better in the algorithm
Settings for Facebook Feed Video Posts
Feed videos are watched in scroll context — smaller on screen initially, expanded on tap. 1:1 square often performs better than 16:9 because it takes up more vertical real estate in the feed.
- Resolution: 1080 × 1080 px (1:1) or 1080 × 1350 px (4:5) for feed
- Bitrate: 8–10 Mbps
- Frame rate: 30 fps
- Thumbnail: Export a separate thumbnail image (Facebook lets you choose the thumbnail before posting)
Settings for Facebook Stories
Stories are short, vertical, and auto-play. They're often viewed without sound, so captions help.
- Resolution: 1080 × 1920 px
- Bitrate: 8–10 Mbps (shorter duration, so file size stays manageable)
- Leave safe zones: Keep important content away from the top 14% and bottom 20% of the frame (overlaid by UI elements)
Tool 1: Compresto (Mac — Fastest Option)
For Mac users, Compresto is the quickest way to compress video for Facebook without a steep learning curve. It uses Apple Silicon hardware acceleration (on M1/M2/M3/M4 Macs), which makes H.264 encoding extremely fast — often 5–10x faster than software encoding.
How to compress for Facebook with Compresto:
- Download Compresto and open it
- Drag your video file into the app window
- Set the output codec to H.264 and resolution to match your Facebook placement (1080×1920 for Reels/Stories, 1080×1080 or 1920×1080 for Posts)
- Set quality/bitrate to 10–12 Mbps for 1080p content
- Select MP4 as the output format
- Click compress — done in seconds on Apple Silicon Macs
Compresto's folder watcher feature is particularly useful if you're batch-exporting a week's worth of Reels or social content from Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve. Drop the exports in a watched folder and Compresto automatically processes them all in the background.
For general video compression guidance beyond Facebook, see our post on how to compress video without quality loss.
Tool 2: HandBrake (Free, Precise Control)
HandBrake gives you the most granular control over every encoding parameter and it's completely free.
HandBrake settings for Facebook:
- Open HandBrake, click "Open Source" and load your video
- Under "Dimensions," set width to 1080 and let height scale proportionally (or set exact dimensions for Reels: 1080×1920)
- In the "Video" tab:
- Video codec: H.264 (x264)
- Framerate: Same as source (or 30 fps)
- Quality mode: Average Bitrate
- Target bitrate: 10,000 kbps (10 Mbps) for 1080p
- Enable 2-pass encoding for better quality at same bitrate
- In the "Audio" tab: AAC, 192 kbps, stereo
- Output format: MP4
- Click "Start Encode"
HandBrake's 2-pass encoding takes about twice as long as single-pass but produces noticeably better results, especially for fast-motion content like sports or gaming clips.
Tool 3: VLC (Quick and Already Installed)
VLC is a solid option when you need to compress video for Facebook quickly without installing anything new.
- Open VLC, go to File > Convert / Stream
- Click "Open media" and select your video
- Choose a profile or create a custom one with H.264 video at 10 Mbps and AAC audio at 192 kbps
- Set output dimensions to match your Facebook placement
- Click "Go"
VLC is less precise than HandBrake and doesn't support 2-pass encoding, but it's fast and good enough for most content. Read our broader social media compression guide at how to compress videos for social media for platform comparisons.
Reels vs Posts: Compression Strategy Differences
Reels and regular feed videos have meaningfully different contexts, and the optimal compression strategy reflects that.
For Reels:
- Prioritize visual sharpness in the first 3 seconds — that's your hook, and algorithmic testing depends on it
- Mobile-first viewing means 1080×1920 vertical is non-negotiable
- Reels are often looped, so compression artifacts become more noticeable over repeated plays
- Keep files under 200 MB even though 4 GB is allowed — faster uploads mean less failed post risk
For Feed Videos:
- 4:5 (portrait) or 1:1 (square) beats 16:9 landscape for feed real estate
- Longer videos (2–10 minutes) perform well for certain content types; don't arbitrarily trim
- Facebook generates a thumbnail automatically, but uploading a custom one improves click-through rates
- Bitrate can be slightly lower than Reels since the video plays smaller on screen initially
For Stories:
- Users swipe through Stories rapidly — the first 2 seconds determine whether someone stops or swipes
- 1080×1920 vertical is required
- 60-second maximum means file sizes stay naturally manageable without aggressive compression
Common Facebook Video Compression Mistakes
Starting with a file that's already compressed. If you're re-exporting from a compressed file (like a video you downloaded), every generation of compression adds artifacts. Always compress from the original, uncompressed export from your editing software.
Using H.265 instead of H.264. While H.265 produces smaller files, Facebook's encoder handles H.264 input better. Upload H.264 and let Facebook decide how to transcode for delivery. If you want to reduce file size without affecting quality before upload, use Compresto or HandBrake's high-quality H.264 settings rather than switching to H.265 for the upload file.
Over-compressing before upload. Because Facebook re-encodes everything, uploading a heavily compressed 720p file doesn't save meaningful bandwidth — Facebook transcodes it anyway — but it does hurt the quality of the output Facebook serves to your audience. This is the opposite of the Discord situation where every byte counts.
Ignoring audio. Facebook's auto-captioning and algorithmic surfacing both benefit from clear, clean audio. Compress audio to 192 kbps AAC stereo, not 128 kbps mono.
Wrong aspect ratio for Reels. Uploading a 16:9 video as a Reel results in pillarboxing (black bars on sides), which looks unprofessional and performs poorly. Always crop or re-export in 9:16 before uploading to Reels.
Sharing Compressed Videos Across Platforms
If you're creating content for Facebook and also posting on other platforms, you don't need to start from scratch for each one. A well-compressed master file can be adapted:
- Facebook Posts → Instagram Feed: Same file often works (MP4, H.264, 1080p), adjust aspect ratio if needed
- Facebook Reels → Instagram Reels: Nearly identical specs — same file frequently uploads to both
- Facebook → TikTok: TikTok accepts the same 9:16, MP4, H.264 format
Check our guides on how to compress videos for Instagram, compress video for TikTok, and compress video for Twitter for platform-specific nuances.
If you're also compressing videos to share in Discord with friends or communities, the approach is quite different — Discord has hard file size limits, while Facebook doesn't. See compress videos for Discord for that workflow.
FAQ: Compress Video for Facebook
What is the best format for Facebook video uploads in 2026?
MP4 with H.264 video codec and AAC audio is the best format for Facebook video uploads. Facebook supports many formats (MOV, AVI, MKV, etc.), but MP4/H.264 gives the best compatibility and quality after Facebook's re-encoding process. Avoid uploading H.265/HEVC files — Facebook handles H.264 input better.
Does Facebook compress uploaded videos?
Yes. Facebook transcodes every uploaded video through its own encoding pipeline before serving it to viewers. Your original file is not what audiences see — Facebook creates multiple versions at different quality levels for adaptive streaming. This is why starting with a high-quality source matters: Facebook's encoder produces better output when it has more information to work with.
What resolution should I use for Facebook Reels?
Upload Facebook Reels at 1080 × 1920 pixels (9:16 vertical). This is the recommended resolution for the Reels format. Lower resolutions like 720 × 1280 are accepted but result in lower quality output after Facebook's re-encoding. Keep bitrate at 10–12 Mbps before upload.
How large can a Facebook video be?
Facebook allows video uploads up to 4 GB for all video types (Reels, Posts, Stories). Feed videos can be up to 240 minutes long. Stories and Reels have duration limits (60 and 90 seconds respectively) that naturally constrain file size, but the technical upload limit is 4 GB.
Why does my Facebook video look blurry after upload?
Facebook video looks blurry after upload for two main reasons: (1) you uploaded a file that was already heavily compressed, giving Facebook's encoder degraded source material to work with, or (2) your bitrate was too low for the resolution. For 1080p content, use at least 8–10 Mbps before uploading. Also check that you're uploading in H.264 — some editing software defaults to H.265 exports, which Facebook handles less reliably.
Start Compressing Smarter
Facebook's 4 GB upload limit means you rarely need to compress for size — but you do need to compress correctly to get the best quality output from Facebook's re-encoding pipeline.
Download Compresto to compress video for Facebook the right way on Mac. With hardware-accelerated H.264 encoding, batch processing for content calendars, and simple drag-and-drop workflow, it's the fastest way to prepare professional-quality videos for Facebook.
For more platform-specific guides, see our coverage of video compression for YouTube and TikTok and our complete social media video compression guide.