Snapchat Spotlight Guide 2026: Size, Length, Safe Zones and How to Get Views

Spotlight is Snapchat’s public short-video feed, similar to TikTok’s For You page and Instagram Reels. For creators already making vertical video, it is extra reach for almost no extra work.

Specs

Spec	Value
Size	1080 × 1920, 9:16
Length	5 to 60 seconds
Caption	Up to 250 characters, with topic tags
Format	MP4 or MOV
Audio	Original or Snapchat sound library

Safe zones

Snapchat places the caption and creator name near the bottom and controls on the right. Keep text and faces out of the top and bottom 15% of the frame. Check a frame with the Safe Zone Checker using the Instagram Story preset; Snapchat’s overlay is similar.

What gets views on Spotlight

• A strong first second. Viewers swipe even faster than on TikTok. Use a visual hook plus on-screen text; ideas in the Hook Generator.
• 15-30 second videos with a clear payoff. Check pacing with the Script Timer.
• Topic tags in the caption so Snapchat knows where to show it.
• Daily posting. Spotlight rewards volume and consistency.

Repurposing from TikTok and Reels

Export the original video from your editor without the TikTok or Instagram watermark. Watermarked videos are often down-ranked. Rewrite the caption for Snapchat with a topic tag and post at a different time from the other platforms.

Monetization

Snapchat pays eligible creators through its unified monetization program, based on Spotlight and Stories engagement and ad revenue. Requirements and availability vary by country; check the Creator Hub inside the app.

FAQ

Can I post landscape video to Spotlight? It will be letterboxed; crop to 9:16.

How long should a Spotlight be? 15-30 seconds performs best.

Do hashtags work? Use Snapchat topic tags in the caption.

Can I schedule Spotlight posts? Not natively; save drafts and post manually.