Squarespace background video size: 60 seconds, aim for 40

Squarespace's help page (updated August 20, 2026) puts a limit of 60 seconds on an uploaded section background video and recommends keeping it under 40 seconds. To get there from a longer clip, cut it with Sume Video trim using start and duration: 40.

Squarespace's numbers are from its help page and Sume's from Video trim, both read 2026-09-30. For what a hero video is, see what is a hero video.

What does Squarespace recommend?

How do I cut to 40 seconds?

Send video_url (a media.sume.com clip), start, and duration: 40, with an Idempotency-Key. Use end instead if you think in out-points; exactly one of the two is allowed. If the source is shorter than your range, the cut clamps and the result warns trim_clamped_to_source. The source can be up to 1800 seconds.

curl -X POST https://api.sume.com/v1/video-trim \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $SUME_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Idempotency-Key: squarespace-bg-001" \
  -d '{
    "video_url": "https://media.sume.com/artifacts/artf_demo/talk.mp4",
    "start": 0,
    "duration": 40,
    "mode": "sync"
  }'

Does the request wait for the result?

The default mode is async. Passing mode: "sync" waits up to 30 seconds for a finished job; otherwise you get a 202 and poll the job status and result routes. The result's video_url is a new MP4, and the source is untouched.

Does the trim fix frame rate or size?

Only if you ask. The optional output field sets width, height (256 to 2160) and fps (24, 25, 30 or 60) with exact precision. Omit it to inherit the source. Squarespace's 1080p and 60 fps advice is guidance rather than a limit, so conform only if your source differs.