You’re scrolling through Facebook, and suddenly, a video catches your eye. It’s a Reel. You wonder, "How long could I actually make one of these?" Most people think there is a single, hard-and-fast number. They’re wrong. The truth about how long are reels on facebook has changed significantly over the last year, and staying on top of it is the difference between a video that goes viral and one that gets cut off mid-sentence.
Facebook isn't the same app it was two years ago. In 2026, the lines between "regular videos" and "Reels" have basically vanished. Meta decided to stop making us choose. Now, almost every vertical video you upload is treated like a Reel by the algorithm. But that doesn't mean you should just upload a movie and call it a day.
The 90-Second Rule (And Why It’s Kind of a Lie)
Technically, the standard limit for a Facebook Reel created within the app's native camera is 90 seconds. This was a big jump from the old 60-second cap.
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Ninety seconds is a long time in "internet years." It’s enough to show a full recipe, a quick workout, or a decent story about why your cat is acting weird. But here is the kicker: just because you can go to 90 seconds doesn't mean the app will always let you. If you are recording directly inside the Facebook app, you might find the timer stopping you earlier depending on the audio track you've chosen. Some licensed songs only allow for 30 or 60 seconds of use.
The "Long-Form" Reel Loophole
Meta started rolling out a massive update in mid-2025 that effectively removed the "hard cap" for many creators. If you upload a video from your gallery instead of recording it in the app, Facebook often automatically converts it into a Reel format even if it's longer than 90 seconds.
I've seen creators pushing three-minute "Reels" that show up in the dedicated Reels feed. Is it technically a Reel? Facebook says yes. Does the audience treat it like one? That's a different story.
How Long Should Your Reel Actually Be?
If you ask a social media manager, they’ll give you a range. If you ask the algorithm, it’ll give you a headache. Honestly, the "sweet spot" for engagement in 2026 is much shorter than the maximum limit.
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- The 7-Second Hook: If you don't grab them in the first 3 seconds, they're gone.
- The 15-30 Second Sweet Spot: This is where most viral content lives. It’s fast. It’s punchy. It’s easy to re-watch.
- The 60-Second Story: Use this for educational content. If you're teaching someone how to fix a leaky faucet, 15 seconds isn't enough. You need the full minute.
- The 90-Second Deep Dive: Save this for "Storytime" videos or high-production travel vlogs.
Christianna Silva, a senior culture reporter who tracks these trends, has noted that while platforms keep increasing the limits, user attention spans aren't exactly growing with them. Most successful Facebook Reels still wrap up well before the 60-second mark.
Facebook vs. Instagram: The Length War
You’ve probably noticed you can cross-post your Reels. You hit a button on Instagram, and boom, it’s on Facebook. But the limits aren't always identical.
Instagram has been experimenting with Reels up to 3 and even 10 minutes in some regions to compete with TikTok. Facebook, however, tends to favor the 90-second format for its "suggested for you" feed. If you cross-post a 3-minute video from Instagram, Facebook might display it, but its "discovery" algorithm—the thing that shows your video to people who don't follow you—often prioritizes the snappier 90-second clips.
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Why Your Reel Might Be Getting Cut Short
It happens to the best of us. You upload a masterpiece, and Facebook clips the end off. This usually happens for three reasons:
- Copyrighted Music: This is the big one. If your song is only licensed for 60 seconds and your video is 90, the app will often just kill the audio or the video at the 60-second mark.
- App Glitches: Facebook’s Android and iOS apps sometimes have different "latest" versions. If your app isn't updated, it might still think the limit is 60 seconds.
- Regional Restrictions: Meta doesn't roll out features to everyone at once. Someone in New York might have 90-second Reels while someone in a different country is still stuck with the old limits.
Practical Advice for 2026 Creators
Stop worrying about the maximum and start worrying about the "minimum viable interest." If you can tell the story in 20 seconds, do not stretch it to 90. The Facebook algorithm in 2026 uses a model called "True Interest," which looks at whether people actually finish your video.
If 1,000 people start your 90-second Reel but only 10 finish it, the algorithm thinks your video is boring. It will stop showing it to people. But if 1,000 people watch a 15-second Reel and 800 of them watch it twice? That video is going to the moon.
What you should do right now:
Open your Facebook Professional Dashboard. Look at your "Average Watch Time." If your average watch time is 12 seconds, but your videos are 60 seconds long, you are losing the battle. Start cutting your edits tighter. Aim for a completion rate of at least 60%. Use the on-screen captions because, let’s be real, half the people are watching your Reel on mute while they’re in a meeting or standing in line at the grocery store.
Keep your file size under 1GB and stick to the 9:16 vertical aspect ratio. Anything else looks like a mistake.
The question isn't just about how long are reels on facebook, but how much of that time you can actually make worth watching. Stick to the 90-second limit for safety, but aim for 30 seconds for success.