Pinterest Videos: A 2026 Guide to Best Practices

A picture is worth a thousand words—but on Pinterest, a video could be worth far more. As one of the fastest-growing social media networks, according to Statista, Pinterest has evolved significantly.

One of the platform’s biggest innovations was the introduction of Pinterest videos in late 2018, which now play a major role in Pinterest marketing. Thanks to their vibrant storytelling powers and rich visuals, Pinterest videos don’t just catch the eye—they get people to buy. According to Sprout’s The Content Benchmarks Report, the percentage of video content is increasing overall. So, if you’re looking for new ways to turn interest into sales, video Pins may be the answer.

In this article, we cover everything you need to know about Pinterest videos and why they deserve a spot in your social media strategy.

What is a video Pin?

A video Pin is a visual bookmark on Pinterest that features a single video asset and is designed to surface in home feeds, search results and related Pins. They play automatically in users’ home feeds and include cover images to capture users’ attention. You can also enhance video Pins with text overlays, simple animations and branding elements.

Much like Instagram and TikTok, Pinterest videos are designed with the mobile experience in mind. To perform well on Pinterest, video Pins should prioritize vertical aspect ratios such as 2:3 or 9:16, which align with how users naturally browse the platform.

Unlike sound-first platforms, Pinterest videos are often consumed with audio off, making strong visuals and on-screen text essential for engagement. For example, videos on Instagram and TikTok frequently rely on trending sounds or songs. But due to the network’s Autoplay function, Pinterest videos often play without sound on desktop and mobile. As a result, Pinners must prioritize visual resources—such as high-resolution footage, stunning imagery and text overlays—to effectively engage with users.

Why you should be creating Pinterest video Pins

Using Pinterest for business offers a range of benefits, all of which strengthen your overall social media strategy. Whether you’re a local service provider or a global e-commerce brand, these are a few reasons to embrace the power of Pinterest.

Boost brand awareness

Pinterest is built for discovery.

Pinterest search behavior is primarily exploratory, with the majority of searches focused on ideas, inspiration and solutions rather than specific brands. Typically, Pinners search for ideas and inspiration rather than specific companies. As a result, Pinterest plays a key role in introducing users to new products, brands and categories during the discovery phase of the customer journey.

Drive website traffic

Pinterest enables you to add links to your Pins, making it easier to drive website traffic. Whether it’s your blog, a product page or a booking form, you can tell users exactly where you want them to go next.

With a business account, you can also review how many people click these links via Pinterest analytics.

Increase engagement

Pinterest reaches hundreds of millions of users globally, many of whom actively use the platform to plan, save and shop with intent. This engagement doesn’t just apply to likes and comments, either—it covers conversions as well. Pinterest users are more likely to take shopping-related actions compared to users on many other social platforms, making the channel especially valuable for commerce-driven brands.

Pinterest videos are especially compelling. Pinterest videos consistently demonstrate strong viewability and completion rates, particularly when content is optimized for vertical viewing and early visual clarity.

Close more sales

Learning how to sell on Pinterest could increase your revenue. Pinterest remains a key player in the social commerce ecosystem, particularly for brands focused on discovery-led shopping experiences.

Pinterest also accesses some of the world’s highest earners. In the United States, Pinterest reaches 40% of households with a combined income of over $150K. Pinterest continues to attract users with strong purchasing power, especially in categories like home, fashion, beauty and lifestyle.

With more disposable income, Pinners can (and do) spend more than the average social shopper. Pinterest users tend to demonstrate higher purchase intent and longer consideration cycles compared to many other social platforms.

Pinterest video best practices for brands

To start reaping these rewards for your business, here are a few Pinterest video best practices to follow.

Stick to optimal lengths and formats

When creating video Pins, brands can choose from several supported aspect ratios, with vertical formats delivering the strongest performance.

Pinterest supports multiple video dimensions, including 2:3 (1000 × 1500), 9:16 (1080 × 1920) and 1:1, depending on creative needs. Vertical 9:16 videos create a more immersive mobile experience by filling more of the screen during scrolling and playback. Both organic and paid video Pins support vertical formats, though certain immersive placements are reserved for ads.

Here are the specifications for each option:

Repurpose your content

Repurposing your videos from other social media networks allows you to work smarter, not harder.

One of the key benefits of repurposing your content for Pinterest is the consistency it offers. Consistent messaging across social media accounts builds brand recognition, conveys authenticity and fosters customer loyalty.

Repurposing content also saves time. Instead of shooting, editing and formatting videos for each platform, you can use the same resources on multiple channels. For example, footage created for Instagram Reels, TikTok or YouTube Shorts can often be adapted for Pinterest with minimal edits. That’s exactly what luxury luggage brand BÉIS did to promote its limited-edition Wicked collection. The brand posted the same video to announce the launch on Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest.

Reformatting this content for Pinterest is simpler if you use a third-party video editing tool such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Canva or CapCut. These tools allow you to resize your videos for Pinterest without compromising resolution or including watermarks.

Prioritize accessibility

To ensure inclusivity, Pinterest videos must be accessible to all users. For example, adding captions to your videos ensures your content is easily understood, even if it isn’t heard.

Your visuals also need to be accessible. Use high-contrast color combinations (ideally a 4.5:1 ratio), particularly in your text overlays so your text is visible to everyone, including people with visual disabilities.

Include a call to action (CTA)

Whether it’s to buy a product, book a consultation call or sign up for a newsletter, the goal of Pinterest videos is to get people to take a specific action. By communicating that desired activity with a call to action (CTA), you’ll make your Pinterest videos more effective.

Organic video Pins allow outbound links, while CTA customization is limited, making on-screen text and descriptions critical for clarifying next steps. To customize your CTA, feature it in your description copy or text overlay.

For Pinterest video ads, you can choose from any of the following CTA texts:

Track video performance

Reviewing key metrics—such as engagement rate, save rate and average play time—is the best way to understand which videos resonate with your audience and which don’t.

Pinterest’s video-specific metrics are ideal for informing future video ideas. Pinterest analytics provides video-specific metrics such as average watch time, video completion rate and saves, helping brands understand content quality beyond impressions.

You can then use this data to optimize your content strategy. For instance, you may notice that a video receives a high volume of views for 95% of its duration. To leverage that engagement, you could follow the same editing style, feature the same collaborator or turn the video into a series to explore relevant topics.

Use templates to streamline your workflow

Of all Pinterest content tips, using templates is one of the most effective. By using templates, you can produce more Pinterest videos with less time and effort. These templates—such as those available on Canva—already feature eye-catching designs, text overlays, elements and animations. You simply need to edit them so the video aligns with your brand.

Affirm is one of the best brands on Pinterest making the most of templates. In many of its Pins, the brand includes text at the top and a colored block at the bottom featuring its logo. Using the same format doesn’t just streamline content creation but also provides cohesion. Such uniformity helps audiences instantly recognize your brand and know what to expect, fostering trust and loyalty.

How to post a video on Pinterest

Creating and sharing a video on Pinterest is simple. Here are the steps to follow when posting natively from a desktop or mobile device.

How to upload a video to Pinterest from desktop

To create a video Pin on desktop, follow the steps below:

• Log in to your Pinterest account.
• On the left-hand menu, click Create. For business accounts, you’ll need to click on the hamburger button. Under Create, select Create Pin.
• Click on the upload window, then select up to 10 videos from your computer.

Note: Each video you select will create a new Pin. To feature multiple images and videos in one video Pin, you’ll need to use the Pinterest mobile app.

• Add some information about your video Pin, including its title, description and link.
• Click Done.
• Click Publish.

How to upload videos on Pinterest from mobile

To create a video Pin on mobile (Android or iOS), follow the steps below:

• Log in to your Pinterest account on the Pinterest app.
• Press the + icon at the bottom of your screen.
• Click Pin.
• Select up to 10 videos from your phone or click the camera icon to record a new video.

Note: If you select multiple images and videos, they will be compiled in one video Pin.

• Click Next.
• Use the menu at the bottom of your screen to edit your video, add text or incorporate other effects.
• Click Next.
• Add some information about your video Pin, including its title, description and link.
• Click Create.

Stay discoverable and competitive with Pinterest videos

With a large, engaged and high-earning audience, Pinterest is brimming with opportunities for brands. Whether you want to boost brand awareness, increase sales or stand out among competitors, Pinterest videos can help you connect with this unique audience and achieve these goals.

To make your Pinterest videos as impactful as possible, use Pinterest analytics. Its data will shed light on the content that’s compelling and connecting with your audience. Using these insights, you’ll be better able to replicate this success and watch your brand thrive.

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