Meta has specific video aspect ratio requirements for different ad placements. AdStellar validates your videos automatically and lets you swap assets per placement.
Aspect Ratio Requirements
| Placement | Required Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|
| Feed (Facebook & Instagram) | 1:1 to 4:5 | 16:9 also accepted but not optimal |
| Stories & Reels (Facebook & Instagram) | 9:16 (vertical) | Full-screen vertical format |
| In-stream Video | 16:9 (landscape) or 1:1 | Pre-roll and mid-roll video ads |
| Search | Flexible | Accepts most ratios |
| Marketplace | 1:1 preferred | Square performs best |
| Right Column | Not applicable | Right column doesn’t support video |
Compatibility Indicators
When you add a video to a creative template, AdStellar checks it against each placement’s requirements:
- Optimal — Video meets the placement’s recommended aspect ratio
- Compatible — Video will work but isn’t ideal (may be cropped or letterboxed)
- Not Optimal — Video doesn’t meet requirements and may not deliver well
Placement Overrides
If your video isn’t optimal for all placements, you can swap in different video assets per placement. In the Creative Builder, click on a placement group to assign a different video.
For example, use a 1:1 square video for Feed and a 9:16 vertical video for Stories.
For maximum coverage, prepare your video in 3 aspect ratios: 1:1 (square) for Feed, 9:16 (vertical) for Stories/Reels, and 16:9 (landscape) for in-stream. This ensures optimal delivery across all placements.
What Happens with Incompatible Videos
Meta may automatically crop or letterbox videos that don’t match the placement’s aspect ratio. This can result in:
- Important content being cut off at the edges
- Black bars appearing above/below or on the sides
- Lower engagement due to poor visual presentation
Using the correct aspect ratio for each placement prevents these issues entirely. 
