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How many seconds of hook before the cut? 2, 2.5 or 5
We tested three hook lengths across 297 reels. Here is what the score curve looks like, why 2.5 seconds wins on average, and when to break the rule.
September 1, 2026 · data · editing · format
Every UGCFact clip is five seconds long, but you almost never show all five. The question is where to cut to the demo. We tried three points across 297 reels on live accounts and logged the seven-day score for each. The examples has the raw numbers; this is the reading.
The curve
| Cut at | Reels | Avg score | Median | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 s | 59 | 410 | 137 | 1,876 |
| 2.5 s | 201 | 439 | 144 | 2,120 |
| 5.0 s | 37 | 414 | 194 | 1,859 |
2.5 seconds is the default for a reason: it is long enough to read two lines of text and see the face land the emotion, and short enough that the demo starts before the viewer’s thumb does.
Why 2 seconds underperforms
At two seconds the reaction is still building. Most of our clips peak between 1.8 and 2.6 seconds (the contact sheet on every clip page shows the five frames). Cutting at two catches the face mid-motion, and the hook text has barely been read.
Why 5 seconds is interesting anyway
The full clip scores below 2.5 on average but has the highest median. Emotional hooks (teary, heart bait, confession) benefit from the extra beat: the viewer watches the tear almost fall, then the cut answers. Use the full five when the hook is a feeling, not a fact.
Practical rules
- Default to 2.5 s. Test 5 s only on emotional angles.
- Match the cut to the clip’s peak frame, not to a round number. The frames strip on each clip page marks it.
- Never fade. The hard cut is part of the hook.
- If the demo needs a caption, start it on the first demo frame, not during the reaction.
- Re-test when you change the reaction, not when you change the demo. The cut point belongs to the face.
The Reel Builder has a slider from 1.5 to 5 seconds so you can watch the same hook at three cut points before exporting anything.
FAQ
Can I use the full five-second clip?
Yes, and it is worth testing for emotional hooks. On average it scores slightly below the 2.5-second cut, but its median is higher.
What if my hook text is long?
Cut the text, not the timing. Two lines of at most 35 characters each read comfortably in 2.5 seconds.