Amazon Product Video Requirements: Specs and Rules
Amazon product video requirements fall into two groups: technical specs that decide whether a file uploads, and content rules that decide whether it gets approved. Sellers often check the first group and ignore the second, then wonder why a perfectly formatted video is rejected.
This guide covers both, separated by placement, because listing video and Sponsored Brands video do not follow identical rules. Amazon updates its technical limits from time to time, so we focus on the targets that stay stable and tell you where to confirm the exact numbers.
Amazon Product Video Requirements: The Short Version
If you only read one section, read this one. These are the practical targets most professional teams use, followed by the details.
Aspect ratio: 16:9 horizontal is the safe default for listing and Sponsored Brands video.
Resolution: Full HD (1920 x 1080) is the standard to aim for.
Format: MP4 or MOV is the common choice. Confirm on the upload screen.
Length: Short and focused beats long. Many strong listing videos run 30 to 60 seconds.
Audio: Design for sound-off viewing, with captions or on-screen text.
Content: No prices, promotions, competitor names, links, or unsupported claims.
Treat these Amazon product video requirements as a starting point. However, Amazon's own upload screen is the final authority on exact limits, so glance at it before you export.
Amazon Product Video Requirements for Listing Video
For the video that appears in the image carousel on a product page, Amazon publishes fewer hard numbers than sellers expect. That is why guides disagree, particularly on file size limits.
Aspect ratio and resolution. Horizontal 16:9 at 1080p is the most reliable choice. A lower resolution can upload but looks soft on large screens, while an unusual ratio can be cropped or letterboxed.
File format. MP4 and MOV are the formats most sellers use successfully. The upload screen lists what your account accepts, so read it before you export.
File size. For this reason, we do not quote a number here, because the figures in circulation conflict. Check the limit shown in Seller Central at the moment you upload. If your file is too large, then re-export with a more efficient bitrate rather than lowering resolution first.
Length. However, Amazon does not reward length for its own sake. A tight video that answers the main buyer question in the first few seconds usually outperforms a long one. Our listing video optimization guide explains how to structure that opening.
Amazon Product Video Requirements for Sponsored Brands Video
Ad video has its own technical rules, published by Amazon Ads, and they are stricter than the rules for listing video. In practice, they cover aspect ratio, minimum and maximum length, file size, and format.
Because Amazon revises these limits, we do not list exact numbers here. Instead, build your master edit in horizontal 16:9 at 1080p, keep the ad short and focused, and then check the current limits in the Amazon Ads campaign builder when you upload. If your master file is clean, trimming it to fit takes minutes.
Because the ad plays in a shopping feed, the first seconds matter more than the last. For a deeper look at building the ad itself, see our article on Amazon Sponsored Brand Video strategy.
Also keep in mind that ad creative goes through a separate approval process. A video that is fine on the listing can still be flagged as an ad, and the reverse is true as well.
Content Rules in Amazon Product Video Requirements
Technical specs get a file onto Amazon, but content rules get it approved. These rules are the part of the Amazon product video requirements that sellers overlook most. In general, Amazon restricts the following, whether the video is a listing video or an ad.
Prices, discounts, and promotions. They go out of date, so they are a frequent cause of rejection.
Review, rating, and "best seller" claims. Because Amazon treats these as customer-facing claims, they need support.
Competitor names and logos. This includes brands visible in the background of a lifestyle scene.
Contact information and links. Websites, phone numbers, social handles, and QR codes do not belong in the video.
Shipping and fulfillment promises. "Free shipping" or "fast delivery" claims should stay out.
Unsupported health or performance claims. Be careful in supplements, baby, and wellness categories.
Misleading or mismatched product depiction. The color, size, and bundle must match the ASIN.
Copyrighted music or footage. Use licensed tracks and original or licensed visuals.
For the step-by-step upload path and the most common rejection reasons in practice, read our guide on how to add video to Amazon listing pages.
Designing for the Way Shoppers Actually Watch
Meeting the specs is the baseline, but beating competitors takes more than compliance, and a few viewing habits shape good design.
Sound is often off. Therefore, plan the story so it works without audio. Captions, on-screen labels, and clear visuals carry the message. Our article on Amazon video captions shows how to do this without cluttering the frame.
The first frame is a sales asset. The thumbnail appears before anyone presses play. A clean, product-forward frame earns more plays than a blurry mid-motion one. See Amazon video thumbnail optimization for specifics.
Mobile comes first. Also, most shoppers will see the video on a phone. Keep text large, keep the product centered, and avoid fine detail that disappears on a small screen.
A Note on AI-Generated People in Video
Amazon has introduced disclosure expectations for photorealistic AI-generated people in listing content. If your production uses them, follow the disclosure options Amazon provides where you upload.
Pre-Export Checklist
Run this list of Amazon product video requirements before every export, and again before every upload.
The aspect ratio, resolution, and format match the placement.
The file size is under the limit shown on the upload screen.
Within the first three seconds, the product is clearly visible.
The video works without sound.
No prices, promotions, links, competitor logos, or contact details appear.
Music is licensed, and any AI-generated people are disclosed where Amazon asks for it.
The product on screen matches the ASIN exactly.
Want Video That Meets Every Requirement?
At My Brand Videos, we produce Amazon listing, PPC, and Brand Story video that is planned around these Amazon product video requirements from the script stage. As a result, you get fewer rejections, fewer re-edits, and files that are ready to upload.
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