Reels and Shorts both name 3 minutes: one 180-second master
Instagram does not recommend Reels over 3 minutes to new audiences, and Shorts run up to 3 minutes. Build one 180-second master in Timeline 1.0 for both.
Two platform pages name the same number for different reasons. Instagram says you can record clips that add up to 20 minutes, but "Reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences." YouTube says Shorts can be up to three minutes.
One master
| Platform | Statement on its page |
|---|---|
| Instagram Reels | Up to 20 minutes recorded; over 3 minutes not recommended to new audiences |
| YouTube Shorts | Up to 3 minutes; square or vertical |
| Sume Timeline 1.0 | Up to 1,800 s per render; default 1080x1920 |
Why 180 and not 179
The YouTube page says up to three minutes. Instagram's wording is about over three minutes. Both are met at 180 s or less; building to about 175 s leaves margin for a render that comes out a frame long.
Same file, two uploads
One Timeline 1.0 render gives a vertical MP4. Upload it to both. The one difference is disclosure: on YouTube you answer the altered-content question in Studio, while Instagram has its own flow that you should read on its own help page.
Plan it unbilled
Check the plan's billable_minutes for 175 s before you render. Timeline bills $0.10 per rounded-up output minute, so a 175 s master rounds to 3 minutes.
Sources
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Written by Sume