How to Make a Facebook Cover Photo Video

Your Facebook Page's cover area is the first thing a visitor sees, making it some of the most valuable digital real estate you own. Swapping out a static photo for a dynamic cover video can immediately grab attention and show off your brand's personality in a way an image just can't. This guide covers every step of the process, from understanding the technical requirements to generating creative ideas that will make your page stand out.

Why Swap a Static Photo for a Video Cover?

Before getting into the how-to, let's talk about the why. Is a cover video really worth the effort? Absolutely. A static image is passive, a visitor might glance at it and move right on. A video, on the other hand, is an active experience that pulls people in.

Here’s what a cover video offers that a photo can’t:

• It Commands Attention: Movement is naturally eye-catching. A video playing at the top of your page is impossible to ignore and instantly makes your brand feel more dynamic and modern than pages with static banners.
• It Tells a Better Story: You only have a few seconds to make an impression. A single photo can convey a mood, but a 30-second video can showcase a product in action, offer a glimpse behind the scenes, introduce your team, or tell a mini-story about what your brand stands for. It's a hugely efficient storytelling tool.
• It Sets You Apart: Despite being available for years, most business pages still use a static cover photo. Using a video is a simple way to stand out in a sea of sameness. It signals that your brand is forward-thinking and willing to put in that extra bit of effort to create a polished visitor experience.

Facebook Cover Video Specs: The Rules to Follow

Facebook has some specific rules for cover videos. Getting these wrong will either result in an upload error or a final video that looks blurry, cropped, or awkward. Keep this checklist handy before you start creating.

• Dimensions: Your video dimensions should be at least 820 x 312 pixels. However, for the best results, use a dimension of 820 x 462 pixels. Facebook's cover space is a wide rectangle, but the platform centers your video vertically, which can crop the top and bottom. Designing at 820 x 462 gives you a little extra vertical space to play with so you can position it perfectly later.
• Mobile Safe Zone: This is the most important part! On mobile, the sides of your cover are cropped. Think of an 820 x 312 frame with the center 560 pixels being the "mobile-safe" zone. Keep your most important visual information - like text or logos - within this central area to make sure nothing gets cut off on smartphones.
• Video Length: Your video must be between 20 and 90 seconds long. The sweet spot is usually around 20-45 seconds. Long enough to be interesting, but short enough to hold a new visitor's attention.
• File Format and Size: Facebook prefers MP4 files. While it accepts other formats, MP4 is the most reliable choice for compatibility and a smooth upload. Try to keep your file size under 1GB to prevent slow uploads. A 1080p resolution is perfect for balancing quality and file size.
• Audio Best Practices: Cover videos autoplay muted. The visitor must click on them to hear any audio. For this reason, your video should be designed to work powerfully without sound. Use compelling visuals, kinetic text, and easy-to-follow action to get your message across. If your video does have audio, be sure it adds value and isn't just distracting background music.

Creative Ideas for a Killer Facebook Cover Video

Stuck on what to actually put in your video? You don't need a huge production budget to create something memorable. Here are a few simple but effective ideas to get you started.

1. The Product Showcase or Demo

If you sell a physical product, show it in action. A close-up shot capturing satisfying details, a short montage of the product being used by happy customers, or a quick demonstration of its coolest feature all work well. For a coffee shop, this could be a beautiful pour-over being made. For a tech company, it might be a quick screen recording of their software's user interface.

2. A Look Behind the Scenes

People love connecting with the humans behind a brand. Give them a quick tour of your workshop, introduce a few team members with a friendly wave, or show a time-lapse of your team setting up for a local event. This content feels authentic, builds trust, and makes your company much more relatable.

3. Animated Logo or Slogan

For service-based businesses or established brands that don't have a physical product to show off, an animated logo can be a clean and incredibly professional choice. A simple animation where your logo reveals itself or where your brand tagline animates onto the screen is sleek, polished, and reinforces your brand identity without needing any live-action footage.

4. A Tour of Your Location

If you run a brick-and-mortar business like a restaurant, a retail store, or gym, this idea is for you. A drone shot flying past your storefront or a smooth walkthrough of your interior during a quiet moment on a sunny day helps potential customers or guests envision themselves visiting your space. It helps answer visitor questions (What does it look like inside?) before they even have to ask.

5. Customer Testimonials in Action

Leverage your amazing customer feedback! Create a short video that splices together brief clips from several positive reviews, or have social media testimonials fade in and out. This acts as instant social proof, proving to new visitors that your existing clients are happy with what you do.

Step-by-Step: How to Create Your Cover Video

Creating your video isn't as intimidating as it sounds. With modern tools, you can create a professional-looking cover video in under an hour, even if you’ve never edited a video before.

Using an Online Video Editor (Like Canva)

Website-based editing tools are the easiest entry point for beginners. Canva, for example, is incredibly popular for this and makes the whole process a seamless experience:

1. Log in to Canva and on the home page search for "Facebook Cover." You’ll find both image and video templates.
2. Select a video template to get started. This opens a project pre-sized at the optimal 820 x 462 pixel dimension. Look for templates that position text centrally to ensure they are mobile-friendly.
3. Upload your own video clips or photos, or use the built-in stock library to find relevant footage. Drag your assets into the design and adjust the timing on the timeline below.
4. Add your branding. Overlay your logo and text within the mobile-safe zone. You can animate text for added flair. Remember to design for a no-sound experience.
5. Check the total length. Keep your video within the 20-90 second range and download your finished file as an MP4.

Using Your Smartphone

If you're shooting original footage, your phone is a fantastic camera. Here's how to get the best results:

1. Film horizontally (landscape mode). All modern phones shoot high-quality video, the key is keeping it steady. Use a tripod or rest your phone on a solid surface to avoid shaky footage.
2. Edit right on your phone. Mobile apps like CapCut, InShot, or the built-in Photos app let you do basic editing like a pro.
3. Trim and arrange your clips. Cut your clips down to the most interesting parts and arrange them into a compelling sequence. You can also add text overlays or your logo.
4. Export as an MP4. Once you’re done editing, export the final video to your phone's camera roll.

How to Upload Your Video to Facebook

Once you’ve got your finished video file exported as an MP4, the final step takes less than five minutes.

1. On a desktop computer, go to your Facebook Business Page.
2. Hover your cursor over your current cover photo (or the empty cover area). An "Edit Cover Photo" button will appear in the corner. Click it.
3. From the dropdown menu, select "Upload Photo/Video."
4. A file browser window will open. Locate the MP4 video file you saved and click "Open."
5. Facebook will start processing your video. Once it appears in the cover area, click and drag the video up or down to reposition it perfectly.
6. Click through the thumbnail options arrows to choose a cover thumbnail. This is the static image people will see before the video plays.
7. Click "Save Changes." Your new video cover will now be live on your page.

Final Thoughts

A Facebook cover video is a powerful tool for making a great first impression. It can communicate your brand’s personality more effectively than a static image and encourages visitors to engage with your page. By paying attention to the technical specs and getting creative with your content, you can easily make your page stand out from the crowd.

Creating great content is only half the battle, staying consistent across all your social channels is what grows your brand. To make managing your content easier, we built Postbase. Our platform allows you to plan, schedule, and analyze all your social media posts from one visual calendar. This lets you focus on creating engaging content without the stress of managing multiple platforms.