How to Cut Videos on FFmpeg: Trim Videos Easily [2026]

Want to use FFmpeg to trim videos? Trimming videos is among the most popular tasks in video editing. The good thing about FFmpeg is that it can offer a powerful, command-line solution to trim videos efficiently and instantly. With just a few commands, you can cut out unnecessary art from the videos. You can even extract highlights and shorten lengthy footage. In this guide, we will offer all the methods you can follow to trim videos using the FFmpeg tool. Thus, read this content and learn more about the video-trimming procedures.

Part 1. What is FFmpeg Video Trimming

FFmpeg cutting video is an excellent procedure for cutting or trimming a specific portion from your clip using FFmpeg command-line tools. This method lets you eliminate/remove unwanted parts or extract highlights without re-encoding, helping you to preserve the original quality for satisfying video playback.

Part 2. How to Trim Video on FFmpeg Without Re-Encoding

FFmpeg video trimming without re-encoding is a simple feature that allows you to cut videos quickly while maintaining the original quality. Since the method only copies the selected portion instead of processing the whole file, it is both fast and efficient. With that, we can tell that it is ideal for simple edits or highlights extraction. Besides that, you can also do more during the process. You can combine videos on FFmpeg, crop, adjust playback speed, and more. To start trimming videos on FFmpeg without re-encoding, see the instructions below.

Step 1 First, download and set up FFmpeg on your computer. Then, start opening your CMD to start the video-trimming process.

Step 2 You can start inserting the command. The command will be ffmpeg -ss [start_time] -to [end_time] -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mp4. Then, hit the Enter key.

-ss [start_time] - sets the starting point (e.g., 00:01:30 for 1 minute 30 seconds).

-to [end_time] - sets the ending point (e.g., 00:03:00 for 3 minutes).

-c copy - ensures no re-encoding is done, keeping the original quality intact.

Part 3. How to Trim Video on FFmpeg with Re-Encoding

Want to use FFmpeg to cut videos with re-encoding? Well, it is a flexible way to trim videos while changing their format, codec, and quality settings. Compared with the faster copy method, this procedure takes longer since the video is fully reprocessed. The good thing here is that it gives you control over compatibility, compression, and resizing videos on FFmpeg. To use FFmpeg to cut a video by time with re-encoding, see the steps below.

Step 1 After downloading FFmpeg, start launching the CMD and begin the trimming process.

Step 2 Type the command, which is ffmpeg -ss [start_time] -to [end_time] -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -preset fast -c:a aac output.mp4. Then, press Enter.

-ss [start_time] - sets the starting point (e.g., 00:00:30).

-to [end_time] - sets the ending point (e.g., 00:02:00).

-c:v libx264 - specifies the video codec (H.264 in this case).

-crf 23 - controls quality (lower = better quality, larger file size).

-preset - fast balances speed and compression efficiency.

-c:a aac - re-encodes audio to AAC for compatibility.

Part 4. Cut Specific Part of the Video Using FFmpeg

Do you want to cut specific parts of the video when using FFmpeg? Well, this task is possible. This method is ideal if you want to extract the only portion you need. By identifying the start and end times, FFmpeg lets you remove unwanted sections, create shorter footage, and isolate highlights.

Step 1 Set up FFmpeg on your computer and run CMD.

Step 2 Then, insert the command to start cutting a specific part from the video. The command is ffmpeg -ss 00:01:00 -to 00:02:30 -i input.mp4 -c copy clip.mp4.

Step 3 Hit the Enter key to start saving the edited video.

Part 5. Comparison of the FFmpeg Video Trimming Methods

To get more insights about the FFmpeg video trimming methods, you can check the table in this section.

Part 6. Excellent Alternative to FFmpeg for Trimming Videos

Using FFmpeg to cut video is effective. However, we can't ignore the fact that this tool is unsuitable for beginners. It is because it needs proper command to achieve the result. So, if you want the best alternative to trim video more easily, we suggest using Tipard Video Converter Ultimate. With its Video Trimmer feature, you can easily trim your clips with and without re-encoding. Plus, it can provide standard and best-optimized presets for better video quality. The best part here is that it can offer various AI enhancement features, allowing you to improve your videos for better video playback.

To start learning how to trim videos, see the steps below.

Step 1 Download and install Tipard Video Converter Ultimate on your desktop.

Step 2 From the primary interface, proceed to the More Tools section and select the Video Trimmer feature. Then, tap Plus to add the video you want to trim.

Step 3 You can now start trimming the video. Use the slider to adjust the start and end time based on your preferences. You can even decide whether you want to keep or delete the selected one.

Step 4 After trimming, start saving the video by hitting the Export function below.