Video · 2 min read
How to make a GIF from video
GIFs are easy to send in chats and embed in articles, but it is also easy to end up with a file tens of megabytes large. Here is how to create a GIF from video and which settings affect size and quality.
Updated: November 2, 2026
Prepare the video
Trim the clip to the moment you need before converting. A GIF from a 30-second video will almost always be heavy and slow. Choose two to ten seconds with a clear action.
If the source is high resolution, scale it down to 720p or lower. GIF will not keep fine detail anyway, but the file size will grow noticeably.
How the conversion works
Our MP4 to GIF, MOV to GIF and WebM to GIF tools upload the video to the server. FFmpeg extracts frames, builds an optimised palette and assembles the animation at 12 frames per second and up to 480 pixels wide. That is a sensible balance for chats and articles.
Progress is shown on the page. The source file and the result are deleted automatically after download or within an hour.
What affects GIF size
- Duration. The biggest factor. Cutting from 10 to 5 seconds roughly halves the file.
- Resolution. 480 pixels wide is usually enough for a chat.
- Frame rate. 10–12 fps looks smooth and weighs less than 25–30 fps.
- Motion. Static scenes compress better; fast action does not.
- Palette. Fewer colours reduce size but can hurt gradients.
Tips
If the GIF is still too large, reduce duration and resolution. For longer animations, use MP4 or WebM: they are smaller and support audio. Keep GIF for short reactions and interface demos.
Questions and answers
How long should a GIF be?
Two to ten seconds is ideal. The shorter the clip, the smaller the file and the better the chance of keeping smooth motion. Our server accepts videos up to five minutes, but long clips take much longer.
Why is my GIF so large?
GIF stores frames separately and uses a limited palette. File size grows with duration, resolution, frame rate and the amount of motion in the frame.
Is audio preserved?
No. GIF does not support audio. Use MP4 or WebM if sound matters.
Can I make a transparent GIF?
The background is not removed in the current version. Transparency requires separate chroma-key processing.