Amazon Sponsored Brands video specs and rejection checklist
Most video ads are refused for a short list of technical reasons: a frame rate Amazon does not accept, bars around the picture, text under the mute button, or a discount shown on screen. All of these are published, so none of them needs to be discovered through a rejection.
This post covers the Sponsored Brands video spec as it appears on Amazon Ads, plus the moderation rules that cause most refusals. Where Amazon's own pages disagree, it says so rather than picking a side.
Check which ad type your spec belongs to
Amazon publishes different video numbers for different ad types. Everything below is for Sponsored Brands video. Amazon's moderation guide shows that Display ads video is stricter in places: it asks for 1920 x 1080 or higher, a minimum video bit rate of 4 Mbps and a minimum audio bit rate of 192 kbps, where Sponsored Brands asks for 1 Mbps and 96 kbps. The container and codec lists also differ, so a file that passes one ad type is not automatically valid for the other.
The spec page lists India among its locales and does not mark any technical value as marketplace-specific. The language rule is the exception: on-screen text and voiceover must match the language of the marketplace where the ad runs. If one video runs in several marketplaces, Amazon suggests subtitles or a separate version for each.
Picture, length and file
The spec page lists one aspect ratio, 16:9 with square pixels, in three sizes: 1280 x 720, 1920 x 1080 or 3840 x 2160. Letterboxing and pillarboxing are not allowed, so no black, coloured or blurred bars to fit a vertical clip into the frame. If your footage is vertical, recompose it for 16:9 instead of padding it.
Duration must be 6 to 45 seconds. The spec page recommends 20 seconds or less, while the moderation and getting-started guides put the best length at 15 to 30 seconds. Treat 6 to 45 as the rule and 15 to 20 as a sensible target. The file can be up to 500 MB, as MP4 or MOV, encoded in H.264 or H.265 with a Main or Baseline profile and progressive scan.
Accepted frame rates are 23.976, 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 29.98 and 30 fps. The minimum video bit rate is 1 Mbps and Amazon recommends 4 Mbps or higher. Phones often record at 50 or 60 fps, which is not on the list, so convert before upload.
Sound, captions and language
Audio can be PCM, AAC or MP3, stereo or mono, at least 96 kbps and at least 44.1 kHz. Amazon's guidance is that these ads autoplay without sound, so the message has to work on mute. Silent videos are allowed, but the moderation guide asks for a No audio disclaimer or an obvious sign that nobody is speaking, and Amazon recommends closed captions.
A soundtrack is not required. If you use one, the moderation guide lists sudden volume changes, static, crackling and faint audio among common rejection reasons. Spoken lines and text must be in the primary language of the marketplace; if the audio is in another language, subtitles must be in the local language.
Layout and content rules behind most refusals
Keep text and important information out of the lower-right corner, where the mute toggle sits. The spec page provides a safe-area template, and it is worth laying it over your timeline. For size, the moderation guide asks for text of at least 50 pt (100 pt preferred) at 720p and 1080p, and at least 100 pt (200 pt preferred) at 2160p. Keep the product large enough to read on a phone.
The moderation guide says a video cannot include customer reviews or star ratings, Amazon branding or references to Amazon products, deals, discounts or other savings, flashing or spinning visuals, or pressuring and urgent language. It also lists black or blank frames at the start or end, an abruptly cut ending at maximum length, illegible text and low resolution. So the 4.5 stars badge and the 30 percent off super both have to come out of the edit. Show the product within the first two seconds and its key benefit within five.
Export checklist and a size check
Before exporting, confirm in this order: 16:9 with no bars; 1280 x 720, 1920 x 1080 or 3840 x 2160; 6 to 45 seconds; MP4 or MOV under 500 MB; H.264 or H.265, Main or Baseline, progressive; a listed frame rate; video at 1 Mbps or more; audio at 96 kbps and 44.1 kHz or more; text outside the lower-right corner and above the size minimum; no ratings, discounts or Amazon marks; language matching the marketplace.
Here is an illustrative size check. A 30-second 1080p clip at 4 Mbps video plus 192 kbps audio runs at about 4.2 Mbit/s, which is roughly 126 Mbit or 16 MB. Even 45 seconds of 4K at an illustrative 50 Mbps comes to about 280 MB. The 500 MB cap is rarely the problem; frame rate, bars, safe area and on-screen offers are. Export a 6-second test first, read its properties in any media-info tool, and only then render the full set.
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
Can I upload a vertical 9:16 video?
Amazon's pages disagree. The Sponsored Brands ad-specs page lists 16:9 only, while the getting-started guide says both vertical (9:16) and horizontal (16:9) are supported. Build 16:9 by default and check whether your campaign builder accepts vertical before producing it.
Can one file serve both Sponsored Brands and Display ads?
Not safely. The two have different minimum bit rates, resolutions, frame-rate lists and container or codec rules, so check the table in Amazon's moderation guide and export separately if needed.
Can I show a discount or price in the video?
No. The moderation guide lists deals, discounts and other savings as content a video cannot include. Put the offer in a coupon or deal badge instead.
Does the video need audio?
No. Silent videos are allowed, but they must be clear without sound and should say No audio or make it obvious that nobody is speaking. Captions are recommended.
What if my file is 50 seconds long?
Amazon lists 6 to 45 seconds as the allowed range, so a 50-second file is outside the spec. Trim it and avoid an abrupt cut at the end, which the moderation guide flags.
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