WaffleFrameWhy trim video before anything else?
Trimming is the best first step for almost every edit. A shorter clip exports faster, compresses smaller and is easier to crop for vertical formats. Cut away the slow start, the "is it recording?" moment and the awkward ending, and the rest of your workflow gets quicker.
Once your clip is trimmed, you can turn it vertical with the Shorts Maker or shrink it with the Video Compressor.
A precise video cutter for social media
The handles move in steps of a tenth of a second, which is more than precise enough for intros, outros, highlights and memes. The kept part is re-encoded as a standard H.264 MP4, so the cut always starts on a clean frame and plays correctly everywhere — unlike some "fast cut" tools that leave frozen frames at the start.
How to shorten a video for each platform
- YouTube Shorts: up to 3 minutes, but 15–60 seconds performs best.
- Instagram Reels: up to 3 minutes; 7–30 seconds is a sweet spot.
- WhatsApp status: 60 seconds per clip.
- X (Twitter): 2 minutes 20 seconds for most accounts.
Trim to the platform limit before uploading so the platform doesn't cut your video at a random point.
Your footage stays on your device
The trimmer uses ffmpeg compiled to WebAssembly, running inside your browser tab. Your video is read from your disk, cut in memory and saved back. There is no upload queue, no server file size limit and no copy of your footage on anyone else's computer.
Common platform length limits for trimmed clips
| Platform | Max length | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube Shorts | 3 minutes | 15–60 seconds |
| Instagram Reels | 3 minutes | 7–30 seconds |
| TikTok (upload) | 10 minutes | 15–45 seconds |
| WhatsApp status | 60 seconds | Under 30 seconds |
| X (Twitter) | 2:20 | Under 45 seconds |
Platform limits change regularly — check the platform's help center for the latest values.
Who is this for?
Creators
Cut the best 20 seconds from a long recording for a highlight or Short.
Phone videos
Remove the shaky start and end of clips filmed on your phone.
Meetings & webinars
Keep only the important part of a recording before sharing it.
Memes & reactions
Pinpoint the exact moment to share in chats and group threads.
Tips for best results
- Start a fraction of a second before the action — instant starts can feel abrupt.
- End on a natural pause, not mid-sentence.
- For several highlights, trim each one separately from the original file.
- Preview with sound on — audio often reveals a better cut point than the picture.
- Trim before you compress or convert; it saves time on every later step.
Frequently asked questions
How do I trim a video for free?
Drop your video into the trimmer above, drag the start and end handles to the part you want to keep, and click Export. Every logged-in account gets 5 free exports per day, reset at midnight Brussels time. You get a clean MP4 without a watermark, created on your own device.
Do I lose quality when I trim a video?
The part you keep is re-encoded with high-quality H.264 settings (CRF 23), so in practice it looks the same as the original. Re-encoding also guarantees that the clip starts on a clean frame and plays correctly in every app, which some lossless cutters can't promise.
Can I cut a part out of the middle of a video?
Yes. Put the start handle where the good part begins and the end handle where it ends; everything outside is removed. If you need several separate parts, export each one as its own clip. To join them back together, use the Merge Videos tool.
Is my video uploaded when I trim it?
No. The video cutter runs inside your browser using ffmpeg compiled to WebAssembly. Your file never leaves your device: it is read from your disk, trimmed in memory and saved back to your downloads. That keeps private footage private and means there's no upload to wait for.
How precise is the trimmer?
The handles move in steps of 0.1 seconds, which is precise enough for social media highlights, intros and outros. Preview the clip before exporting to check the start and end. If a cut feels a little early or late, nudge the handle and preview again.
Which video formats can I trim?
You can trim MP4, MOV and WebM files, which covers iPhone and Android recordings, most cameras and OBS screen recordings. Files up to about 500 MB work best, because your own device does the work. The trimmed result is always a widely compatible MP4.
