How long should a listing video be on each platform?
These are the lengths CastMyListing cuts each platform's video to. The range is what works on that platform; the aim is where a typical home lands. "Hook by" is how soon the video has to show the viewer why to keep watching.
| Platform | Shape | Range | Aim for | Hook by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instagram Reels | 9:16 | 15 to 45 s | 25 s | 2 s |
| 4:5 | 20 to 60 s | 35 s | 3 s | |
| YouTube | 16:9 | 45 to 180 s | 75 s | 5 s |
| YouTube Shorts | 9:16 | 15 to 45 s | 30 s | 2 s |
| TikTok | 9:16 | 15 to 35 s | 25 s | 2 s |
| MLS & Zillow | 16:9 | 45 to 180 s | 90 s | 4 s |
| Rednote | 9:16 | 25 to 90 s | 45 s | 3 s |
| 9:16 | 20 to 90 s | 45 s | 3 s |
Why is there no single right length?
Viewers arrive differently on each platform. On TikTok, Reels and Shorts, the feed decides in a second or two whether someone keeps watching, so a home has to earn every second. On YouTube and the MLS, people searched for the home or clicked its tour, so they will watch a complete walkthrough. One video cut to one length is too long for the first group and too thin for the second.
That is why CastMyListing makes a separate video for each platform from the same walkthrough, each with its own length, shape, pacing and ending, instead of one video cropped to fit them all.
How long should a TikTok, Reels or Shorts listing video be?
- Instagram Reels: 15 to 45 seconds, about 25, in 9:16. The hook comes in the first 2 seconds, and shots run about 1.2 to 2.5 seconds.
- YouTube Shorts: 15 to 45 seconds, about 30, in 9:16. The hook comes in the first 2 seconds, and shots run about 1.5 to 3 seconds.
- TikTok: 15 to 35 seconds, about 25, in 9:16. The hook comes in the first 2 seconds, and shots run about 1.2 to 2.5 seconds.
Open on the most impressive shot, never the front door or a hallway, then give one idea per shot. A Short can end on a shot that flows back into the first, so it loops.
How long should a Facebook listing video be?
20 to 60 seconds, about 35, in 4:5. Facebook viewers often scroll with the sound off, so show what the home is in the first 3 seconds and let captions carry the story. Shots run a little longer than on TikTok, about 2 to 3.5 seconds.
How long should a YouTube walkthrough be?
45 to 180 seconds, about 75 for a typical home, in 16:9. Say what the home is, where it is and its standout feature in the first 5 seconds. Then walk room by room in the order you'd show it, holding each shot 3 to 6 seconds so a viewer can take it in. A large or unusual home can run longer; a small apartment needs less.
How long should an MLS video tour be?
45 to 180 seconds, about 90, in 16:9. Buyers and their agents compare homes on the portals, often on a laptop or TV, so the MLS tour is the calmest and most complete: every main room, in the order you walk the home, with nothing that identifies you. The unbranded MLS tour guide covers what to leave out.
What about Rednote and WeChat?
If you reach buyers on Rednote or WeChat, both work as talking walkthroughs that answer buyer questions room by room: Rednote at 25 to 90 seconds, about 45, and WeChat at 20 to 90 seconds, about 45.
Does a longer video need more footage?
Yes. A video avoids using the same footage twice, so a 90-second MLS tour needs well over 90 seconds of steady footage. The short vertical videos play walking footage faster than real time, so even a 25-second TikTok uses more seconds of footage than it lasts. The filming guide shows how to get enough clean footage in one walk.
Questions
How long should a real estate video be on TikTok?
15 to 35 seconds, and about 25 is a good aim. Put the most impressive shot in the first 2 seconds, never the front door.
What is the best length for an Instagram Reel of a listing?
15 to 45 seconds, about 25. Lead with the best-looking shot and keep each shot short: 1.2 to 2.5 seconds.
How long should a YouTube property tour be?
45 to 180 seconds, about 75 for a typical home. YouTube viewers chose to watch, so a complete room-by-room walkthrough works, with each shot held 3 to 6 seconds.
How long should an MLS virtual tour video be?
45 to 180 seconds, about 90. It is a calm, complete tour in the order you walk the home, in 16:9, with nothing that identifies the agent.
Next
Each platform's page shows how its video is made: