How long should a YouTube Short be?
Updated October 2026
A YouTube Short can be up to 3 minutes long, as long as the video is vertical. That limit has applied since October 2024; before that it was 60 seconds. Most clips cut from podcasts and streams work best between 20 and 60 seconds. Below are the limits per platform and the lengths ClipClap produces.
How long can a YouTube Short be in 2026?
Up to 3 minutes. YouTube's own help page describes Shorts as short-form videos "up to 3 minutes long" and caps resolution at 1080p. The video has to be vertical. A video that goes over 3 minutes is uploaded as a regular video instead of a Short.
Many guides still say 60 seconds. That was the limit until October 2024, when YouTube raised it to 3 minutes. Shorts uploaded before the change keep the old limit, so an older Short can look shorter than a new one for no reason other than its upload date.
How long can a TikTok video or Instagram Reel be?
Both platforms accept far more than a short clip needs. Third-party spec guides we found put TikTok in-app recording at 10 minutes and uploads at up to 60 minutes, and Reels at up to 3 minutes. We could not read a current figure for either on an official help page, so treat these numbers as unconfirmed and check the app before you plan around them.
The practical point holds either way: the maximum is not the target. All three platforms reward watch time, and a clip that ends early beats a clip stretched to fill the limit.
| Platform | Maximum length | Status of the figure |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube Shorts | 3 minutes, vertical | Official YouTube Help, checked 19 October 2026 |
| TikTok | 10 minutes in-app recording, up to 60 minutes upload | Third-party guides, no official page read |
| Instagram Reels | Up to 3 minutes | Third-party guides, no official page read |
| ClipClap output | 15 to 90 seconds | Current setup |
Platform limits change. A figure marked as third-party has not been confirmed against the platform's own help page by us.
What length gets the best retention?
There is no single best length, and we have no study of our own to quote. Our rule of thumb is simple: a clip should be as long as its idea and no longer. A short exchange can work in 15 seconds. A story with a setup, a turn and a payoff usually needs 30 to 60.
Retention depends more on the first three seconds and on whether the ending lands than on the total length. A 45-second clip that starts mid-thought loses viewers faster than a 90-second clip that opens on the point.
What length should clips from podcasts or streams be?
Aim for 20 to 60 seconds for most moments, and use the longer end only when the story needs it. Podcast answers and stream reactions both tend to have one clear peak. Start a few seconds before the setup, end right after the payoff, and cut anything between that does not carry the point.
If you clip for a paid campaign, read the campaign rules first. Some set a minimum or maximum length, and a clip outside the range is rejected however good it is. Our guide to clipping streams for Whop covers the usual rules.
What clip lengths does ClipClap produce?
ClipClap clips run 15 to 90 seconds. Inside that range the length follows the moment: the cut starts where the thought starts and ends where it resolves. That is why one video can return clips of different lengths.
This is the range in the current setup, not a promise about any one clip. If a clip is too long or too short, the browser editor lets you trim it, and you can ask for a re-cut by describing the moment you wanted.
How do I cut to the right length automatically?
Send ClipClap a link or a file and it picks the moments, sets the start and end, reframes to 9:16 and adds subtitles.
The source video must be at least 60 seconds long, because clips are cut out of longer talk. Paid plans accept sources up to 3 hours. For the full plan list, see the pricing page.
Try it on your own video
Paid plans start at €3.99 ($4.49) a week, and the first week is €1.99 ($2.29) for new customers. Send a link or a file to the bot and the clips come back in the same chat. Plans and limits are on the pricing page.
Open the botNo Telegram? Use it in your browser - same clips, same plans.
Sources
- YouTube Help, Shorts - read 19 October 2026: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/10059070
- Social Media Today, YouTube expands Shorts to 3 minutes - read 19 October 2026 (search result, used for the October 2024 change only): https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-expands-3-minute-shorts-to-all-users/736967/
- TechCrunch, TikTok expands max video length to 10 minutes (February 2022) - read 19 October 2026 (search result): https://techcrunch.com/?p=2277359