How to Improve Video Quality for Uploaded Squarespace Videos
You’ve added a stunning 1080p or 4k video to your Squarespace site, taken away by its clarity and detail, only to find that after it's been uploaded and published, it looks blurry, pixelated, or much less sharp than it did when you first uploaded it. Frustrating, right? You’re not alone. Keypoint 2 Many Squarespace customers struggle with this because the platform naturally compresses loaded videos in order to give more performance over the quality.
The good news is you don’t have to get along with muddy playback. With the right process, whether you have your videos embedded via YouTube or Vimeo, hosted somewhere else, or you add them pre-compressed, you can greatly improve how your videos look on Squarespace.
In this guide, we’re going to examine why and how Squarespace compresses your videos, and how you can best optimize your video for quality so that it plays and looks as crisp and professional as possible on any device.
The Problem: Squarespace Compresses Uploaded Videos
When you upload a video directly to Squarespace using a Video Block (Upload option) or as a background video, Squarespace:
Re-encodes the video to optimize for performance
Compresses the resolution and bitrate
Hosts the video using its own CDN with streaming-friendly settings
As a result, even if you upload a 4K video, it may be downscaled or heavily compressed—making it look blurry or muddy, especially on retina screens or large monitors.
Key Reasons for Quality Loss
| Cause | Description |
|---|---|
| Compression | Squarespace reduces file size to improve load speed |
| Resolution cap | Background videos are typically capped at 720p |
| Bitrate reduction | Lower bitrate = smaller file, but lower visual detail |
| File re-encoding | Original video is altered to match Squarespace’s specs |
| Mobile fallback | Some devices may load a lower-quality version |
How to Upload Videos Without Losing Quality
If sharpness and clarity are crucial to your content (e.g., showreels, product demos, creative portfolios), use one of these alternative methods:
Option 1: Host Your Video on YouTube or Vimeo
Instead of uploading directly:
Upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo
Use a Video Block → Embed option
Paste the video URL
These platforms support up to 4K streaming, offer better compression algorithms, and give you full control over player settings.
Bonus: YouTube Embed Quality Fix
Force YouTube to load HD by adding ?vq=hd1080:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/VIDEO_ID?vq=hd1080
Option 2: Use Custom Code with External Hosting (Advanced)
Host your video file (.mp4, .webm) on:
AWS S3
Bunny.net
Vimeo Pro or Wistia
Then embed the video manually using <video> tags:
<video controls autoplay muted loop width="100%">
<source src="https://yourdomain.com/your-video.mp4" type="video/mp4">
</video>
This gives you full control over resolution, quality, and playback behavior—ideal for portfolios and media-heavy sites.
Option 3: Compress Video Yourself Before Upload
If you still want to use Squarespace’s Upload option, optimize your video before uploading:
Use HandBrake (free app) to compress smartly
Set resolution to 1280x720 or lower
Keep bitrate around 1.5–2.5 Mbps for better control
Save as .mp4 (H.264 codec, web optimized)
The idea is to reduce the file size your way before Squarespace does it their way.
Don’t Use Background Video for Showcase Content
Squarespace background videos:
Have a max size of 20MB
Auto-strip audio
They are often capped at 720p resolution
They are designed for ambience, not detail
Use background video only for subtle visual effects, not for a sharp, high-impact presentation.
Final Recommendations
| Goal | Best Practice |
|---|---|
| Showcase high-quality video | Use YouTube/Vimeo embed |
| Control file quality | Host externally with <video> HTML |
| Light, ambient visuals | Use Squarespace background video (with fallback image) |
Final Thoughts
Squarespace is awesome for creating beautiful, contemporary websites — but when it comes to video hosting, the platform’s native compression can actually screw you over. If you are concerned about displaying sharp detail and professional-quality playback, you will want to avoid direct uploads are results and opt for embeds or external hosting.
Here’s the quick takeaway:
For the highest quality: Other pro-quality hosting services would be YouTube, Vimeo, and like pro hosting.
Best for control: Host your own video files and embed them using HTML.
For lighter ambience: There’s a background video option in Squarespace — but it’s a reserved one, for subtle, decorative visuals.
By controlling how your videos are displayed, you’ll avoid your website looking like an amateurish disaster and instead be able to deliver the high-quality media experience your audience craves.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Squarespace compresses and re-encodes the videos you upload automatically to make sure they load quickly. This frequently leads to a lower resolution, bitrate, and level of detail — so even a 4K upload can look fuzzy or pixelated when it’s finally published.
-
Embed with YouTube or Vimeo. Both services offer 1080p and 4K streams with improved compression algorithms, meaning your videos will look crisper on all platforms.
-
Yes. You can use an external service to host your video files (AWS S3, Bunn. net, Vimeo Pro, Wistia), upload them, and use an HTML tag to embed the files. This puts you in charge of resolution and playback.
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Not really. Background videos are limited to 20MB and 720p, with audio compressed out of them. They are good as a background ambient, but not as a detailed or professional video showcase, pet care, etc.
-
Compress your video files first, via something like HandBrake. Recommended settings:
Resolution: 1280x720 (better for smoother Squarespace playback)
Bitrate: 1.5–2.5 Mbps
Format: . mp4 with H.264 codec
That way, you know the compression before Squarespace does its own.
