When posting videos on LinkedIn, choosing the right aspect ratio is important for optimizing engagement and views. The aspect ratio refers to the proportional relationship between the width and height of a video. On LinkedIn, there are three recommended video ratios to use: 16:9, 9:16, and 1:1.
16:9 Landscape Video
The 16:9 landscape video format is the most common widescreen aspect ratio. 16:9 means that for every 16 units of width, there are 9 units of height. This format is popular for LinkedIn video posts because it matches the native format that most video cameras record in. Some key benefits of posting 16:9 landscape videos on LinkedIn include:
- Works well filling desktop/laptop screens when LinkedIn videos auto-play
- Ideal for product demos, interviews, and other videos showing wide landscape visuals
- Familiar format viewers are used to seeing online and on TV
- Allows flexibility editing clips from widescreen cameras
The 16:9 landscape orientation is excellent for showcasing company culture, thought leadership topics, event coverage, and more engaging video content suited to LinkedIn. However, landscape videos can appear very small on mobile as black bars take up much of the screen. Using 16:9 is recommended for videos intended mainly for desktop viewers.
9:16 Portrait Video
The 9:16 vertical or portrait video format has risen in popularity with the growth of mobile social media. 9:16 means that for every 9 units of height, there are 16 units of width. Key benefits of posting 9:16 portrait videos on LinkedIn include:
- Occupies more mobile screen real estate compared to tiny landscape videos
- Ideal for on-the-go user views and scrolling on mobile
- Creates an immersive, full-screen viewing experience
- Suited to talking headshots and single-subject focus
Portrait orientation works very well for personal videos, employee spotlights, LinkedIn Stories, and other mobile-friendly content. However, 9:16 portrait videos will have black pillarboxes on either side when viewed on desktop. This format is best for video content aimed primarily at mobile viewers.
1:1 Square Video
The 1:1 square video format has equal width and height dimensions. Key features of posting square videos on LinkedIn include:
- Displays well across desktop, mobile, and social media feeds
- No black bars like landscape or portrait orientations
- Easily tailored from both horizontal and vertical formats
- Ideal for product features, Q&As, tutorials, and talking heads
Square 1:1 ratio videos provide the most flexibility for cross-platform engagement on both desktop and mobile. This versatile format works nicely for a mix of visuals, graphics, products, and on-screen talent. However, 1:1 does not take full advantage of wide desktop or tall mobile displays.
Recommended LinkedIn Video Specifications
When editing and exporting videos for LinkedIn, it’s important to follow the recommended specifications for optimal quality and performance:
| Video Type | Recommended Specs |
|---|---|
| LinkedIn Feed Upload | Up to 10 minutes long 720p HD resolution Under 5GB file size |
| LinkedIn Stories | Up to 20 seconds long 1080 x 1920 aspect ratio MP4 video format |
| LinkedIn Live Video | 1080p HD resolution Variable frame rate H.264 video codec |
It’s also important to optimize videos for web delivery by using optimal bitrate encoding and testing across devices. For the best quality, upload the highest resolution version and let LinkedIn automatically adjust for lower bandwidth viewers.
Most Effective LinkedIn Video Dimensions
To maximize engagement and views for LinkedIn video posts, consider these best practice dimensions and sizes:
| Aspect Ratio | Dimensions |
|---|---|
| 16:9 Landscape | 1920 x 1080 px 1280 x 720 px |
| 9:16 Portrait | 1080 x 1920 px 720 x 1280 px |
| 1:1 Square | 1080 x 1080 px 720 x 720 px |
When custom cropping video content from horizontal or vertical orientations, these dimensions optimize the most important visual areas while minimizing black bars. 720p HD and 1080p Full HD are recommended for keeping videos crisp across varying screen sizes and resolutions.
Video File Format Recommendations
The optimal video file format can aid compatibility and improve LinkedIn video performance. Here are the top file formats to export videos in:
- MP4: The most universal format, playable on all browsers and devices. H.264 video codec and AAC audio codec are recommended.
- MOV: Works well retaining quality from video editing apps. Use H.264 and AAC codecs.
- AVI: An older but compatible format. Recommend using MPEG-4 or DivX codecs.
- WMV: Decent format compatible with Windows Media Player.
- FLV: Adobe Flash video format that works but limits metadata and optimization.
For the widest compatibility across LinkedIn including mobile, MP4 is the best file format choice. But MOV, AVI, and WMV can also provide quality results. FLV is not ideal due to lack of playback support on some devices.
Video Optimization Tips
Properly optimizing your video files can help them look cleaner and crisper on LinkedIn. Here are some optimization tips:
- Choose a high-quality video codec like H.264 or HEVC for best results.
- Encode videos at the proper bitrates balanced with the resolution.
- Remove letterboxing or pillarboxing to maximize display area.
- Set the video at the correct frame rate based on uploads at 24, 25, 30, or 60fps.
- Export audio at 192kbps minimum, encoded with AAC or MP3 codec.
- Add ID3 metadata tags to insert titles, descriptions, thumbnails.
- Insert captions if needed for greater accessibility.
With proper video optimization and sizing, your LinkedIn video posts can help grab viewer attention and effectively communicate your messaging through compelling on-screen visual content.
Conclusion
Posting videos in the recommended formats and dimensions tailored to LinkedIn’s platforms ensures your content will look and perform at its absolute best. The most flexible and multi-purpose options are 1:1 square and 16:9 landscape orientations encoded in MP4 or MOV files at HD 720p or 1080p resolution following LinkedIn’s guidelines. Optimizing for web delivery through proper aspect ratios, codecs, frame rates, bitrates, and metadata tagging provides a quality experience for LinkedIn members watching videos in their feeds or your Company Page and Showcase Pages. Attention-grabbing videos consistent with LinkedIn’s specifications encourage viewers to stop scrolling and boost engagement with your brand’s visual storytelling.
