How to Create Square Video for Business (2026 Guide)
Square videos get 35% more views on social media. Here is the complete guide to creating square videos for Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn in 2026.
Last updated: January 2026
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TL;DR: Key Takeaways
• Screen real estate: Square video (1:1 aspect ratio) is essential for social media feeds on platforms like Instagram and Facebook because it takes up more screen space on mobile devices.
• Creation process: Creating a square video involves choosing a video editor, setting your project to a 1:1 aspect ratio (e.g., 1080x1080 pixels), and cropping or resizing your footage to fit.
• Tool selection: Tools like Canva and CapCut are great for beginners, while Adobe Premiere Pro offers more advanced control.
• Captions matter: Always add captions to your square videos, as many users watch social media content with the sound off.
• Screen real estate: Square video (1:1 aspect ratio) is essential for social media feeds on platforms like Instagram and Facebook because it takes up more screen space on mobile devices.
• Creation process: Creating a square video involves choosing a video editor, setting your project to a 1:1 aspect ratio (e.g., 1080x1080 pixels), and cropping or resizing your footage to fit.
• Tool selection: Tools like Canva and CapCut are great for beginners, while Adobe Premiere Pro offers more advanced control.
• Captions matter: Always add captions to your square videos, as many users watch social media content with the sound off.
Why Square Video Still Matters in 2026
Ask just about any marketer, and they'll tell you that video content is a vital part of a modern marketing strategy. But it's not just about creating video; it's about creating the right kind of video for the right platform. When it comes to social media feeds, square video is still a top performer.
The reason is simple: screen real estate. On a mobile device, a square video takes up significantly more of the screen than a traditional landscape (16:9) video. This increased visibility leads to higher engagement, more views, and a better chance of stopping a user from scrolling past your content. As of 2026, with mobile traffic dominating social platforms, optimizing for the small screen isn't just a good idea—it's a necessity.
10 Steps to Creating a Great Square Video
Creating a square video doesn't have to be complicated. Here's a straightforward, 10-step process you can follow, from planning your video (for which you might need some free b-roll footage) to exporting the final cut.
- Plan Your Content: Before you even think about aspect ratios, know what your video is about. Keep your message concise and focused on a single goal.
- Shoot With Cropping in Mind: If you're shooting new footage, keep your primary subject centered. This gives you flexibility when you crop to a square format later, ensuring you don't cut out anything important.
- Choose Your Editing Tool: You don't need a Hollywood studio. Pick a tool that matches your skill level and budget. We'll compare a few popular options below.
- Set Your Aspect Ratio to 1:1: The first thing you should do in your editor is set up your project or sequence for a square aspect ratio. A resolution of 1080x1080 pixels is a safe bet for high quality on most social platforms.
- Import and Position Your Footage: Bring your video clips into the project. You'll have two main options: crop the video to fill the square frame, or place the full horizontal/vertical video inside the square with letterboxing (black bars) or a blurred background.
- Add Text Overlays and a Clear Headline: Since many people watch videos on mute, your video needs to make sense without sound. Use bold headlines and text overlays to convey your key message.
- Add Captions: This is non-negotiable for social media. Burned-in captions (text that's part of the video file) ensure everyone can understand your video, sound on or off. Most modern editors have auto-captioning features.
- Include a Call-to-Action (CTA): What do you want the viewer to do next? Tell them clearly. Whether it's "Learn More," "Shop Now," or "Follow Us," make your CTA obvious.
- Add Background Music: A subtle music track can make your video feel more professional, but make sure it doesn't overpower your message. For more on this, see our guide to finding free music for your videos.
- Export in the Right Format: Export your final video as an MP4 file with H.264 encoding. This is the most widely supported format for web and social media.
Comparison of the Best Square Video Editors in 2026
Choosing the right tool can feel overwhelming. Here's a breakdown of some of the best options available today, from simple mobile apps to professional desktop software.
| Tool | Best For | Ease of Use | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canva | Beginners, marketers, quick social posts | Very Easy | Templates, drag-and-drop editor, stock library |
| CapCut | Mobile users, TikTok/Reels style videos | Very Easy | Auto-captions, trending effects, free to use |
| InShot | Quick mobile edits | Very Easy | Filters, transitions, text overlays |
| Adobe Express | Simple and fast video resizing and creation | Easy | Quick actions, basic templates, integration with Adobe stock |
| Kapwing | Collaborative teams, subtitling workflows | Easy | AI tools, cloud-based, real-time collaboration |
| Wondershare Filmora | Hobbyists who want more features | Medium | Rich effects library, motion tracking, good balance of features |
| DaVinci Resolve | Advanced users who want a free pro tool | Hard | Professional color grading, robust free version |
| Adobe Premiere Pro | Professionals, complex editing projects | Hard | Industry-standard toolset, full creative control, integrates with After Effects |
Which Should You Try First? A Decision Guide
- If you're a beginner and need something fast and free: Start with CapCut on your phone. Its auto-captioning is a huge time-saver.
- If you're a marketer who also creates graphics: Use Canva. You can keep your branding consistent across all your visual assets.
- If you need more control but aren't a full-time video editor: Wondershare Filmora is a solid middle ground. It's more capable than online editors but not as intimidating as Premiere Pro.
- If you are a professional or aspire to be one: Invest the time to learn Adobe Premiere Pro. The control it gives you is unmatched. For more on professional editing software, see our comparison of the best video editing software.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Square Video
What is the best size for a square video?
The best and most common size for a square video is 1080 pixels by 1080 pixels. This provides excellent quality for most social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook without creating an unnecessarily large file. While you can go higher (e.g., 1920x1920), it's often not needed and will increase file size.
Why is square video better than landscape for social media?
It comes down to how we use our phones. We hold them vertically, so a square video (1:1 ratio) or a vertical video (4:5 or 9:16 ratio) fills more of the screen than a wide landscape video (16:9 ratio). This increased screen real estate makes the video more immersive and harder to ignore, which generally leads to higher engagement rates.
Can I make a square video without cropping?
Yes. If you have a horizontal video and don't want to crop the sides, you can place it in a 1:1 square frame. This will create empty space above and below the video (letterboxing). Instead of using black bars, it's common to fill this space with a blurred version of the video itself, a solid color, or branded graphics and text.
Do square videos work on YouTube?
While you can upload a square video to YouTube, it's not the ideal format for that platform. YouTube is primarily a horizontal video platform, and a square video will appear with black bars on either side on most devices (especially desktops and TVs). For YouTube, it's best to stick with the standard 16:9 aspect ratio. If you want to understand video players better, our guide to the HTML5 video player is a great place to start.
What's the difference between 1:1 and 4:5 aspect ratios?
A 1:1 aspect ratio is a perfect square. A 4:5 aspect ratio is a vertical rectangle, slightly taller than it is wide. Instagram's feed supports both, but 4:5 can be even more effective as it takes up more vertical space. However, 1:1 is more versatile and works well across Facebook, LinkedIn, and other platforms.
How long should a square video for social media be?
It depends on the platform and the content, but shorter is almost always better. For feed posts, aim for 15-60 seconds. You need to capture attention within the first 3 seconds. If you have a longer story to tell, consider breaking it into a series or using a format designed for longer content, like YouTube.
Should I add a logo to my square video?
Yes, but be subtle. A small, semi-transparent logo (often called a watermark) in one of the corners is a good practice for brand recognition. Don't make it so large that it distracts from the main content of the video.
What is the best font for captions on a square video?
Choose a clean, sans-serif font that is easy to read on small screens. Fonts like Helvetica, Arial, Montserrat, or Lato are solid choices. Use a high-contrast color combination, like white text with a black semi-transparent background or drop shadow, to ensure readability over any part of the video.
How do I get my square video to autoplay in the feed?
Most social media platforms, like Facebook and Instagram, autoplay videos in the feed by default. The key is to make sure your video is engaging from the very first frame, even without sound, to stop people from scrolling past it. A strong opening visual or a text headline can help.
Does file size matter for square videos?
Yes. While you want good quality, an excessively large file will take longer to upload for you and longer to load for the viewer, especially on a poor mobile connection. For a 60-second, 1080x1080 video, try to keep the file size under 100MB. Our guide to reducing video size can help you with this. For a deeper dive into the technical details, understanding video bitrate is also useful.
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