How to Make a Boomerang GIF from Any Video
Make an Instagram-style boomerang that plays forwards then backwards in a seamless loop — from any video or GIF. Choose the clip and speed. Free, no app.
3 min read ·
To make a boomerang GIF, open the Boomerang GIF Maker, add a video (or a GIF), choose where the clip starts, how long it is — 1–2 seconds works best — and the frame rate and size, and press Use this clip. Choose a speed (2× gives the classic quick bounce), then make the GIF and download it. It plays forwards, then backwards, forever, without ever jumping back to the start.
Make a boomerang step by step
- Open the Boomerang GIF Maker.
- Add a video — MP4, WebM or MOV — or a GIF.
- For a video: set the clip start and length with the sliders (up to 4 seconds), choose the Frames per second (10, 15 or 20) and the Size (longest side) (240, 360 or 480 px), then press Use this clip.
- Choose the speed: 0.5×, 1×, 1.5×, 2× or 3×, and watch it bounce in the preview.
- Adjust the GIF options if you need to, make the GIF and download it.
From a GIF, every frame is used — trim it first with Cut GIF if it's long.
What makes a great boomerang
Boomerangs turn a second or two of motion into a loop. The best subjects have one clear movement:
- A toast — glasses clinking.
- A jump — off a wall, into a pool, onto a bed.
- A hair flip or a head turn.
- A splash — water, confetti, a pillow fight.
- Waving, high-fives, spinning in a skirt or on a chair.
- Pouring — coffee, champagne, paint.
Keep the camera still (lean on something or use a stand) and let the subject move. Camera movement looks jerky when it reverses.
Why boomerangs loop so smoothly
A normal loop jumps from the last frame back to the first, which looks like a cut unless the clip happens to end where it started. A boomerang plays the frames forwards and then backwards, so the motion always reverses smoothly at each end. The tool doesn't repeat the turning-point frames, so there's no stutter at the ends either.
Speed
Original boomerangs play fast — that's part of the fun. 2× captures the feel; 1× is calmer and shows more detail; 3× is frantic and great for small movements.
Frame rate and size
15 frames per second at 360 px is a good default: smooth enough for most movement and small enough to share. Choose 20 for fast action like jumps and splashes, and 480 px when the GIF will be shown large. Higher settings mean bigger files — a boomerang has twice as many frames as the clip, minus the two turning points.
Size and sharing
- Instagram Stories play videos, not GIF files. To post a boomerang there, convert it with GIF to MP4 and choose to play it several times — or use Instagram's own Boomerang mode when filming.
- Messaging apps, Discord, Slack and email play GIFs directly. Keep it under a few MB with the GIF Compressor.
Boomerang a video instead
For a boomerang video — with higher quality and the option to keep it as MP4 — use Reverse Video and tick Boomerang. To make an existing GIF bounce, the GIF Reverser has a Forwards, then backwards option.
Privacy
Everything happens in your browser: your video is never uploaded, and there's no watermark.
Frequently asked questions
How long should the clip be?
1–2 seconds. The boomerang doubles it, and at 2× speed that's a 1–2-second loop — exactly the classic length.
Can I use a Live Photo?
Yes — in Photos on your iPhone, choose the Live Photo and Share › Save as Video, then use that video. (iPhone's built-in Bounce effect also works, but doesn't make a GIF file.)
Why does my boomerang look jerky?
The camera moved, or the frame rate is low. Use a steady shot and a higher frame rate.