How long should a Spotify Canvas be?
Between 3 and 8 seconds. That is Spotify’s hard requirement, and it is also the practical answer: a Canvas loops forever behind your track, so a short, clean loop reads better than a long clip people watch once. This maker locks the duration slider to that range, so a file rendered here can never be rejected for length.
Spotify Canvas dimensions, specs and export settings
Everything Spotify asks for, and what this tool gives you:
| Spec | Spotify requires | What you get here |
|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 vertical | Locked to 9:16 — nothing else is selectable |
| Dimensions | 720×1280 px minimum | 1080×1920 px, or higher on Studio |
| Length | 3–8 seconds | Slider capped to the valid range |
| Format | MP4 (H.264) | MP4, H.264, exported in-browser |
| Audio | None — Canvas is silent | No audio track is written at all |
| Looping | Repeats endlessly | Perfect loop: last frame equals the first |
How to make a Spotify Canvas from your cover art
- Upload your artwork. Any square image; 1200×1200 px or larger keeps the record label crisp. This is the “animate my cover image” shortcut — no video footage needed.
- Style the record. Layout, finish, background and shadow. Because Canvas plays behind the player UI, busy backgrounds fight with the controls — a flat color or soft gradient usually wins.
- Set speed and duration. 6–20 rpm keeps the artwork readable; duration stays within 3–8 s automatically.
- Keep Perfect loop on. The speed snaps to whole rotations, so the Canvas repeats without a visible jump — the single most common flaw in home-made Canvases.
- Render and upload. Download the MP4, then add it in Spotify for Artists.
Canvas maker vs Canva, CapCut and AI generators
A Canva project has no idea what a Canvas is — you set the canvas size by hand, fake the spin and hope the loop matches. CapCut means re-editing the same rotation for every track. AI Canvas generators produce something moving, but not your record with your artwork on the label. This is purpose-built: the format, duration and loop are enforced by the tool, and the output is your cover on a real pressing.
Cannot be rejected
9:16, 3–8 s, silent MP4 — the values Spotify checks are the only ones you can pick.
No visible jump
Whole-rotation snapping means the last frame lands exactly on the first, every time.
Your release, not stock
Your cover on the sleeve, your label art on the disc, your colors behind it.
How to add your Canvas in Spotify for Artists
Canvas is uploaded through Spotify for Artists, not through your distributor: DistroKid, Ditto, TuneCore and the rest deliver the track, but the Canvas is attached afterwards on Spotify’s own dashboard. Open Spotify for Artists, find the track, choose Add Canvas, and upload the MP4 you rendered here. It is set per track, can be swapped at any time, and takes a short while to appear in the app — so it is low-risk to test a few versions across a release.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a Spotify Canvas be?
3 to 8 seconds. The duration slider here is locked to that range, so your file is always within spec. Shorter loops (3–5 s) tend to feel tighter behind the player.
What are the Spotify Canvas dimensions?
Vertical 9:16, at least 720×1280 px. This maker renders 1080×1920 px or higher, comfortably above the minimum, and does not allow any other aspect ratio.
Does a Spotify Canvas have sound?
No — Canvas is always silent. Spotify plays your track’s audio over it, so no audio track is written into the file. That is why this tool has no soundtrack option; for a video with music, use the vinyl or CD maker.
How do I make a Spotify Canvas?
Upload your cover art, style the record, set the speed, keep Perfect loop on, then render. You get a 9:16 MP4 that meets every Spotify requirement, ready to upload in Spotify for Artists.
Can I make a Canvas from just an image?
Yes — that is exactly what this does. One square cover image becomes an animated, looping vertical video; no footage, no editing timeline and no AI guesswork.
How do I add a Canvas to my track?
In Spotify for Artists: pick the track, choose “Add Canvas” and upload the MP4. Distributors such as DistroKid or Ditto deliver the music, but the Canvas itself is attached on Spotify’s dashboard.
Can I change or replace a Canvas later?
Yes. A Canvas can be swapped at any time, and it is set per track — so you can test a couple of versions and keep the one that performs.
Why is my Canvas not showing up?
Give it time to process after uploading, and check you are looking on mobile — Canvas shows in the Spotify app, not on every surface. If it was rejected, it is almost always the length or aspect ratio; a file rendered here cannot fail on either.
What is the best export setting for a Canvas?
MP4 (H.264), 9:16, 1080×1920, 3–8 s, silent, looping. That is exactly what this tool produces — there is nothing to configure.
What makes the loop seamless?
The disc must complete a whole number of turns within the duration. With Perfect loop on, the speed is nudged so it does — the speed label shows the real rpm and turn count, and the preview matches the export exactly.
Is the Spotify Canvas maker free?
Designing and previewing are free with no account. Rendering the MP4 requires a plan (Artist from €4.99/mo). GIF export stays free with an account, if a looping GIF is all you need.
Which vertical position works best?
Center is the safe default. Bottom placements leave room for the track title and controls that Spotify overlays at the top and bottom of the screen — check the preview before rendering.