Full Width Video for Website Backgrounds: Best Practices and Tips

Using a full width video as a background is one of the most visually powerful ways to grab attention and add depth to a modern website. A well-chosen video can set the mood, highlight your brand’s personality, or give visitors a glimpse of your services in action. However, making it look good across all devices—especially on mobile—requires careful setup.

As a website designer, working with full width video backgrounds involves more than just uploading a clip. To ensure a smooth and professional display, there are a few key things to keep in mind, particularly when it comes to video dimensions, formatting, and performance.

Recommended Video Size for Backgrounds

To make sure your full width background video looks great on desktop screens, you should aim for a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (Full HD). This provides a wide, crisp layout that scales nicely across larger screens without pixelation or blurring. The video should be in landscape orientation and ideally under 60 seconds, keeping the file size manageable for fast loading.

Use common video formats like .mp4 (preferred for compatibility and performance), and compress your video using a tool like HandBrake to reduce file size without sacrificing too much quality.

Optimising for Mobile Devices

One common mistake is assuming that the same video will display well on mobile as it does on desktop. Mobile devices have smaller screens, different aspect ratios, and data limitations, so a separate version is often a good idea.

For mobile, create a version of your video with dimensions closer to 720 x 1280 pixels (vertical format) or 1080 x 1350 pixels, which suits portrait layouts better. Alternatively, if your website platform allows it, use a still image fallback or a slightly different video that communicates the same message but fits the screen more naturally.

Additional Tips for Great Video Backgrounds

• Keep it subtle: Avoid videos with too much movement or flashing lights, as they can be distracting.

• Use overlays: Apply a semi-transparent overlay (dark or light) to help text stand out against the video.

• Mute the audio: Background videos should be silent to avoid unexpected noise when a page loads.

• Looping and autoplay: Most background videos play in a loop and start automatically. Make sure these settings are enabled where supported.

• Optimise loading speed: A slow-loading video can hurt the user experience. Always compress your files.

Why It Matters

Video backgrounds add dynamic flair and professionalism to your website, helping you make a strong first impression. When implemented properly, they support brand storytelling and keep visitors engaged longer. But if done poorly—blurry, cut off, or slow to load—they can have the opposite effect.

By taking the time to optimise video size, formatting, and mobile responsiveness, you ensure that your full width background looks polished and performs reliably on every device.

If you're looking to elevate your website design with striking video backgrounds, make sure the visuals serve the content—not compete with it. A clean, well-designed video can say more in a few seconds than a page of text ever could.

Need a professional-quality video for your website? Agata Business Services can take care of everything from A to Z, including video creation and editing. Get in touch and let us help you bring your vision to life.