How Long Should LinkedIn and Instagram Video Clips Be?
Platforms keep raising the maximum video length, but the maximum is not the target. What matters is how long you can hold attention, and that depends on how tightly the clip is cut.
The short answer
For clips cut from webinars, talks and interviews, aim for 20 to 60 seconds, with one idea per clip. Go longer only when the story genuinely needs it and every second earns its place.
Why shorter usually wins
- People decide in the first few seconds whether to keep watching, so the strongest line has to come first.
- A clip with one clear idea is easier to remember, save and share than a clip that covers three.
- Shorter clips are more likely to be watched to the end, which is the best signal that your content is worth showing to more people.
When a longer clip makes sense
A full story with a setup and a payoff, a short step-by-step explanation, or a customer telling their experience in their own words can run 60 to 90 seconds or more. Instagram, for example, now allows Reels up to three minutes. Longer is fine when it is tight; it is never fine when it is slow.
Length by platform, in practice
- LinkedIn: 30 to 90 seconds works well for professional audiences, especially when the post copy adds context.
- Instagram Reels and TikTok: 15 to 45 seconds for most clips, with a strong first line on screen.
- YouTube Shorts: 20 to 60 seconds, and a clear reason to watch the full video if one exists.
How to make a clip feel shorter
The fastest way to improve a clip is not to cut more ideas, it is to cut the dead air: filler words, false starts, long pauses and side tangents. A 70-second answer often becomes a sharp 45-second clip without losing a single point.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best length for a LinkedIn video?
For clips cut from talks and webinars, 30 to 90 seconds works well, as long as every second earns its place.
Should every clip be under a minute?
Most should. Longer clips are fine when they tell a complete story and are tightly edited.
Do captions matter for short clips?
Yes. Many people watch with the sound off, so accurate on-screen captions keep them watching.
Can one clip run on every platform?
Usually, with small changes: a vertical version for Reels, TikTok and Shorts, and post copy written for each platform.