TikTok Ad Specs 2026 — In-Feed, TopView, Spark
TikTok is a 9:16 first surface, but the UI overlays are dense — the right side has the like/comment/share stack, the bottom has caption + brand handle + CTA. Miss the safe zone and your product photograph, price tag, or logo ends up hidden behind icons.
Updated January 2026
Per-placement deep dives
In-Feed Ads
| Placement | Aspect | Dimensions | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|
In-Feed Video Safe zone: Center 1080×1150 clear zone. Top ~130px = username. Bottom ~490px = caption + CTA + right-rail. | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | MP4, MOV, MPEG, AVI |
In-Feed Image (Carousel) | 9:16 or 1:1 | 1080×1920 or 1080×1080 | JPG, PNG |
Premium Placements
| Placement | Aspect | Dimensions | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|
TopView First ad on app open. 5–60 sec video, sound-on by default. | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | MP4, MOV |
Spark Ads (organic boost) Boosts an existing organic TikTok, so specs are whatever the creator uploaded. | Original (usually 9:16) | Whatever the post was uploaded at | N/A — uses the underlying post |
Branded Hashtag Challenge Banner | 16:9 | 1208×628 | JPG, PNG |
Common mistakes
- 01Putting product on the right side — it's covered by the like/comment/share rail.
- 02Baking the CTA into the bottom 15% of the frame — TikTok's own CTA button sits there.
- 03Using text-heavy static images. TikTok's algorithm favors motion; static ads underdeliver.
- 04Not designing for sound-on. 90%+ of TikTok users have sound enabled — silent ads feel off-platform.
FAQ
Do TikTok ads need to look organic?
Yes. Ads that visually match native content — handheld shots, on-screen text, native fonts — outperform polished studio work by 20–40% on CTR in most verticals.
What's the TikTok safe zone in pixels?
Keep critical content inside the center 1080×1150 area of a 1080×1920 frame. The top ~130px and bottom ~490px are consumed by app UI.