Kling 4.0 Prompts: A Shot-Plan Formula and 25 Ready-to-Use Examples

Kling 4.0 can generate up to 30 seconds of video in one go. That's great news, and it creates a new problem: a vague prompt that worked fine for a 5-second clip falls apart over 30 seconds. The model fills the gaps with its own guesses, and by second 18 your coffee ad has turned into a slow pan across an empty kitchen.

The fix is to stop writing prompts like captions and start writing them like shot plans. This guide gives you a seven-part formula that works for any shot, then 25 examples you can paste in and adapt.

You can try every prompt here in the Kling 4.0 AI video generator on Kling5 AI, which runs Kling 4.0 and Kling 3.0 in the browser. One thing to know up front: Kling5 AI is an independent third-party platform. It isn't Kling's official site and isn't affiliated with Kuaishou or the official Kling team. The prompts themselves work anywhere Kling 4.0 is available. Kling 5 hasn't been released yet (as of November 2026), so Kling 4.0 is the newest Kling model you can use today.

What changed in Kling 4.0, and why it matters for prompts

According to Kling's own guide, published September 30, 2026, Kling 4.0 brings four changes that matter when you write prompts:

• 3 to 30 seconds per generation, with no stitching.
• Up to 10 keyframes in one video. Keyframes are images that mark the moments the video should reach, such as an opening shot, a reveal, or a lighting change.
• Up to 15 reference assets per task, including images, videos, subjects, and voice references.
• Prompts up to 8,000 tokens, which is enough room for a detailed, time-coded plan.

Kling's guide puts the key idea simply: keyframes show the important moments, and the prompt explains how the video moves between them. For a fuller rundown of what's new, see our breakdown of Kling 4.0 features.

A note on platforms: Features vary by where you run the model. In Kling5 AI's Kling 4.0 tool, image-to-video takes a first frame and an optional last frame, reference-to-video accepts up to 10 images and 5 videos, and output is 720p or 1080p in 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, or 21:9. Kling's full 10-keyframe workflow lives in Kling's own app. The time-coded prompts below work with either setup.

The shot-plan formula

Every strong Kling 4.0 prompt answers seven questions:

1. Subject: Who or what are we looking at? Be specific: "a woman in her 60s with silver hair in a loose bun," not "a woman."
2. Action: What do they do? Use one clear verb per beat.
3. Setting: Where and when? Place, time of day, weather.
4. Camera: Shot size, movement, and lens feel. "Slow dolly-in, medium close-up, shallow depth of field."
5. Light and style: Light source, color palette, film look.
6. Sound: Ambient noise, dialogue, music mood, or silence.
7. Timeline: What happens when. This one is essential for anything over about 10 seconds.

Here's the template:

[Length, aspect ratio]. [Subject] [action] in [setting].
Camera: [shot size], [movement], [lens/depth of field].
Light and style: [light source], [palette], [look].
Sound: [ambience], [dialogue], [music or none].
Timeline:
0–Xs: [beat one]
X–Ys: [beat two]
Y–Zs: [beat three]

Five rules that save you rerolls

1. One major change per beat. Kling's guide recommends changing one big element at a time. Don't switch location, outfit, and time of day in the same two seconds.
2. Match the order. If you're using keyframes, describe events in the same order the keyframes appear.
3. Use camera verbs, not adjectives. "Push in," "orbit left," "crane up," and "handheld follow" beat "dynamic" and "cinematic."
4. Give dialogue its own line, in quotes. Keep each line short. One sentence per character per beat is plenty.
5. Leave some room. A 30-second shot with 12 beats feels rushed. Three to five beats is the sweet spot.

25 Kling 4.0 prompt examples

Paste these as-is, or swap in your own subject, product, and setting. Lengths and aspect ratios are suggestions.

Product and ads

1. Morning coffee grinder (15s, 16:9)

15 seconds, 16:9. A matte black hand-crank coffee grinder on a pale oak kitchen counter at sunrise.
Camera: macro close-up, slow push-in, shallow depth of field.
Light and style: warm low sun through a window on the left, soft steam haze, natural film grain.
Sound: quiet birdsong outside, the crunch of beans being ground, no music.
Timeline:
0–5s: Beans pour into the grinder in slow motion.
5–11s: A hand turns the crank; fine grounds fall into a glass jar.
11–15s: The camera settles on the grinder as steam drifts through the light.

2. Sneaker in the rain (10s, 9:16)

10 seconds, 9:16. A white running sneaker with neon orange laces rotates slowly on a wet black platform as rain falls around it.
Camera: low angle, 180-degree slow orbit, sharp focus on the shoe.
Light and style: cyan and magenta rim lights, raindrops lit like sparks, glossy commercial look.
Sound: heavy rain, a deep bass pulse on each half-turn.
Timeline:
0–6s: The orbit reveals the side profile, water beading on the upper.
6–10s: The camera stops at a three-quarter view; one drop hits the toe in slow motion.

3. Skincare bottle and water (8s, 1:1)

8 seconds, 1:1. A frosted glass serum bottle stands in shallow, perfectly still water on a white stone surface.
Camera: locked-off, top-down for 3 seconds, then a gentle tilt to eye level.
Light and style: soft diffused daylight, pale sage and cream palette, clean minimal look.
Sound: a single water drop, soft ambient hum.
Timeline:
0–3s: A single drop lands beside the bottle and sends out perfect ripples.
3–8s: The camera tilts down to eye level; light refracts through the bottle onto the water.

4. Kitchen to hero shot, 30-second ad (30s, 16:9; works well with keyframes)

30 seconds, 16:9. A woman in her 30s with curly hair, wearing a mustard sweater, discovers a compact blender in a bright morning kitchen.
Camera: starts wide, then medium shots, ending on a product close-up.
Light and style: bright, airy, lots of white and light wood, warm skin tones.
Sound: kitchen ambience, a short laugh, the blender whirring, a soft upbeat acoustic tune.
Timeline:
0–6s: Wide shot. She enters the kitchen, yawning, and notices a box on the counter.
6–13s: Slow push-in as she opens the box and lifts out the blender, smiling.
13–21s: Medium shot. She drops berries and spinach in and blends; the jar swirls purple-green.
21–26s: Close-up of her first sip; she raises her eyebrows, impressed.
26–30s: Product hero shot on the counter, soft morning light, glass glistening.

With keyframes: Use an image of the kitchen as your first frame and the product hero shot as your last frame.

5. Smartwatch dawn run (12s, 9:16)

12 seconds, 9:16. A runner in a dark grey jacket jogs along a coastal path at dawn, wearing a slim silver smartwatch.
Camera: handheld follow from behind, then a quick move to a close-up of the wrist.
Light and style: blue hour turning gold, mist over the sea, crisp athletic look.
Sound: footsteps on gravel, waves, steady breathing, a soft chime from the watch.
Timeline:
0–7s: Follow shot as the runner climbs a gentle hill toward the light.
7–12s: The runner glances at the watch; the screen glows with a heart icon as the sun breaks the horizon.

Food and drink

6. Ramen steam (8s, 16:9)

8 seconds, 16:9. A bowl of tonkotsu ramen with a soft-boiled egg, chashu, and scallions on a dark wooden counter.
Camera: extreme close-up, slow slide left to right, shallow depth of field.
Light and style: a single warm overhead pendant light, rich browns and golds, moody restaurant look.
Sound: gentle simmering, a distant kitchen clatter.
Timeline:
0–5s: Steam curls up through the light as the camera slides across the toppings.
5–8s: Chopsticks lift a tangle of noodles; broth drips back into the bowl.

7. Night taco stand (12s, 16:9)

12 seconds, 16:9. A street taco stand at night with a cook flipping tortillas on a sizzling flat-top grill.
Camera: medium shot from the customer's side, slow push-in to the grill.
Light and style: string lights and a bare bulb, orange and teal palette, slight haze.
Sound: sizzling grill, street chatter, a radio playing faint cumbia.
Timeline:
0–6s: The cook flips three tortillas in quick succession, smoke rising.
6–12s: Close-up as he fills a taco with charred meat, onion, and cilantro and slides it onto a paper plate.

8. Iced latte pour (6s, 9:16)

6 seconds, 9:16. Cold milk pours into a tall glass of ice and espresso on a marble café table.
Camera: side-on macro, locked off, slow motion.
Light and style: bright window light, high contrast, crisp café commercial look.
Sound: ice clinking, a soft pour, café murmur.
Timeline:
0–6s: Milk swirls into the espresso, forming slow marble patterns around the ice.

Cinematic storytelling

9. Lighthouse keeper in a storm (20s, 21:9)

20 seconds, 21:9. An elderly lighthouse keeper in a yellow oilskin coat climbs a spiral staircase during a storm.
Camera: low angle looking up the stairwell, then a slow crane up to the lamp room.
Light and style: cold blue storm light, flashes of lightning, a warm lantern glow, painterly realism.
Sound: howling wind, rain against glass, creaking iron steps, thunder.
Timeline:
0–8s: He climbs steadily, lantern in hand, the stairwell shaking with each gust.
8–15s: He reaches the lamp room and pulls a heavy lever.
15–20s: The great lamp ignites and its beam sweeps across black, churning waves.

10. Astronaut and a flower (15s, 16:9)

15 seconds, 16:9. An astronaut in a scuffed white suit walks across a rust-red rocky plain under a hazy pink sky.
Camera: wide tracking shot from the side, then a slow move to a close-up on the ground.
Light and style: dusty low sun, muted reds and oranges, epic science-fiction look.
Sound: muffled breathing inside the helmet, wind hiss, no music.
Timeline:
0–7s: The astronaut walks, then stops abruptly and looks down.
7–12s: They kneel; a single tiny blue flower grows between two rocks.
12–15s: Close-up of a gloved finger hovering near the petals, not quite touching.

11. Noir detective (12s, 16:9)

12 seconds, 16:9. A tired detective in a rumpled trench coat sits at a desk in a 1940s office at night.
Camera: slow push-in from the doorway, then a close-up on his face.
Light and style: black-and-white, hard light through window blinds, cigarette-smoke haze, film noir.
Sound: rain outside, a ticking clock, a distant saxophone.
Timeline:
0–7s: He turns over a photograph on the desk and stares at it.
7–12s: The phone rings. He lets it ring twice, then reaches for it.

12. Paper boat in the gutter (10s, 16:9)

10 seconds, 16:9. A small paper boat made from a newspaper page races down a rain-filled gutter on a city street.
Camera: ground-level tracking shot alongside the boat, wide-angle lens.
Light and style: overcast daylight, wet reflections, saturated red and yellow accents, playful.
Sound: running water, distant traffic, a child laughing off-screen.
Timeline:
0–6s: The boat spins through a small whirlpool and rights itself.
6–10s: It slides toward a storm drain, and a small hand reaches in and scoops it up at the last second.

13. Bookshop from day to night (30s, 16:9; works well with keyframes)

30 seconds, 16:9. A narrow, cluttered secondhand bookshop with tall shelves and a rolling ladder.
Camera: one continuous shot, a slow dolly from the front door toward the back counter.
Light and style: warm, cozy, dust motes in the light; the light shifts with the time of day.
Sound: a door chime, pages turning, a clock, rain arriving later.
Timeline:
0–8s: Late morning. Sunlight fills the shop; a customer browses near the window.
8–16s: Afternoon. The light turns golden; a cat jumps onto the ladder.
16–24s: Dusk. Lamps flick on one by one; rain starts against the window.
24–30s: Night. The shopkeeper flips the sign to Closed and switches off the last lamp.

With keyframes: Use four images of the same shop at morning, afternoon, dusk, and night, in that order.

Character and dialogue

14. Grandmother's pasta lesson (12s, 16:9)

12 seconds, 16:9. A grandmother with flour on her hands teaches her teenage grandson to fold tortellini at a farmhouse table.
Camera: medium two-shot, slight handheld feel, then a close-up of their hands.
Light and style: soft afternoon window light, warm, documentary feel.
Sound: kitchen ambience, a pot simmering.
Dialogue:
Grandmother: "Not like that. Gently. Like you're tucking it into bed."
Timeline:
0–6s: She watches him struggle, then speaks her line.
6–12s: Close-up as she guides his fingers and the pasta folds perfectly. He grins.

15. Rooftop conversation (15s, 16:9)

15 seconds, 16:9. Two friends in their 20s sit on a city rooftop at dusk, legs dangling over the ledge, sharing a bag of chips.
Camera: wide shot from behind, then a slow orbit to a side profile of both.
Light and style: purple and orange sky, city lights blinking on, soft and nostalgic.
Sound: distant traffic, wind, a far-off siren.
Dialogue:
Friend 1: "Do you think we'll still do this when we're old?"
Friend 2: "We'll just need a lot more cushions."
Timeline:
0–6s: Wide shot; they watch the skyline.
6–15s: The orbit reveals their faces as they speak, then laugh.

16. Barista talks to camera (10s, 9:16)

10 seconds, 9:16. A cheerful barista with a nose ring and a green apron speaks directly to the camera behind a café counter.
Camera: phone-style selfie framing, slight natural handheld movement.
Light and style: bright café lighting, natural colors, casual social-video look.
Sound: espresso machine hiss, café chatter.
Dialogue:
Barista: "Okay, secret menu time. Ask for it 'upside down.' Trust me."
Timeline:
0–7s: She leans in toward the camera and delivers the line with a wink.
7–10s: She holds up a layered iced drink to the lens.

17. Friendly cartoon fox (8s, 1:1)

8 seconds, 1:1. A small, round-faced cartoon fox with big eyes and a striped scarf waves from the doorway of a tree-stump house.
Camera: static medium shot, then a small bounce-in.
Light and style: stylized 3D animation, soft rounded shapes, autumn colors, storybook warmth.
Sound: crunching leaves, a little "hello!" in a bright, playful voice.
Timeline:
0–4s: The fox pops out of the doorway and waves with both paws.
4–8s: It tilts its head, giggles, and a leaf lands on its nose.

Action and sports

18. Skateboard bowl at sunset (8s, 16:9)

8 seconds, 16:9. A skateboarder in a loose flannel shirt carves through a concrete bowl at sunset.
Camera: low-angle tracking shot, fisheye lens, following the board.
Light and style: golden backlight, long shadows, 1990s skate video look.
Sound: wheels rumbling on concrete, the snap of the tail, distant cheers.
Timeline:
0–5s: He drops into the bowl and carves up the far wall.
5–8s: He pops a frontside air at the lip, silhouetted against the sun.

19. Rooftop parkour chase (15s, 21:9)

15 seconds, 21:9. A runner in a red hoodie sprints across connected rooftops in a dense old city, chased by a figure in black.
Camera: fast handheld follow, then a wide shot for the jump.
Light and style: overcast, desaturated with the red hoodie popping, gritty thriller look.
Sound: heavy breathing, footsteps on tin roofs, a pulsing synth score.
Timeline:
0–6s: Follow shot as she vaults a chimney and slides under a clothesline.
6–11s: Wide shot as she leaps a gap between two buildings.
11–15s: She lands, rolls, and glances back. The pursuer stops at the edge.

20. Surfing the barrel (10s, 16:9)

10 seconds, 16:9. A surfer rides inside the curl of a turquoise wave on a sunny tropical morning.
Camera: starts as a high drone shot, then drops to water level beside the surfer.
Light and style: brilliant sun, clear turquoise water, vivid action-sports look.
Sound: crashing surf, rushing water, then a muffled underwater moment.
Timeline:
0–4s: Drone view of the wave forming and the surfer dropping in.
4–10s: Water-level shot as the surfer crouches inside the barrel, spray catching the light, and shoots out the end.

Nature and travel

21. Black sand beach (12s, 21:9)

12 seconds, 21:9. Waves crash onto a black sand beach beneath towering basalt sea stacks on a cold, windy day.
Camera: slow drone push forward at low altitude, then a gentle rise.
Light and style: moody overcast light, white foam against black sand, muted, epic landscape.
Sound: thundering waves, strong wind, seabirds.
Timeline:
0–8s: Low push forward as a wave rushes up the sand toward the lens.
8–12s: The drone rises to reveal the full stretch of coastline.

22. Rainy alley at night (10s, 9:16)

10 seconds, 9:16. A narrow alley of wooden houses in an old Japanese city on a rainy night, paper lanterns glowing.
Camera: slow walk forward at eye level, steady gimbal.
Light and style: warm lanterns, wet reflective stones, deep blues, romantic travel look.
Sound: rain on rooftops, distant footsteps, a wind chime.
Timeline:
0–6s: The camera glides forward; someone with a clear umbrella turns a corner ahead.
6–10s: The camera stops at a lantern as a raindrop runs down its paper.

23. Desert storm rolling in (15s, 16:9)

15 seconds, 16:9. A massive storm front rolls across a flat desert toward a lone wooden windmill.
Camera: locked-off wide shot, slight time-lapse feel.
Light and style: harsh sun turning to dark, bruised purples, lightning on the horizon, dramatic.
Sound: wind building, distant thunder, the windmill creaking faster.
Timeline:
0–6s: Bright sun; the windmill turns slowly as the dark cloud wall approaches.
6–12s: The sky darkens and dust begins to lift from the ground.
12–15s: A lightning bolt strikes in the distance as the first gust hits the windmill.

Social and UGC style

24. First-person unboxing (10s, 9:16)

10 seconds, 9:16. First-person view of hands opening a small kraft paper box on a bed with a knit blanket.
Camera: POV, natural handheld movement, close framing.
Light and style: soft lamp light, cozy, authentic phone-video look.
Sound: paper rustling, a delighted gasp, soft room tone.
Timeline:
0–6s: The hands pull back tissue paper slowly.
6–10s: They lift out a hand-thrown ceramic mug with a speckled glaze and turn it toward the camera.

25. A day in one continuous shot (30s, 9:16)

30 seconds, 9:16. A young illustrator moves through her small studio apartment over one day, all in a single continuous shot.
Camera: one handheld shot that moves through the rooms with her, never cutting.
Light and style: the light changes naturally from morning to night, warm and lived-in.
Sound: room tone, a kettle, pencil scratching, rain in the evening, a soft lo-fi beat.
Timeline:
0–7s: Morning. She opens the curtains and stretches.
7–15s: Midday. She sketches at her desk, a mug of tea steaming beside her.
15–23s: Afternoon. She holds up a finished drawing toward the window to check it.
23–30s: Night. She turns off the desk lamp and the city glows outside the window.

Troubleshooting common problems

When to use Kling 3.0 instead

Kling 4.0 isn't the right tool for every job. The Kling 3.0 AI video generator is still useful when you need Motion Control, which copies the movement from a reference video onto your character, or when you want a quick clip of 15 seconds or less with a simple sound on/off switch. For long, planned scenes, stay with 4.0.

Try the same prompt on other models

A well-structured shot plan isn't tied to Kling. If you want to see how the same prompt looks in models like Seedance 2.5 or Gemini Omni, paste it into AI Studio, which hosts several video models. You'll learn a lot about each model's personality from a single prompt.

Will these prompts work in Kling 5?

Kling 5 hasn't been announced yet, so there are no official prompt guidelines for it. Shot-by-shot prompts written second by second like these aren't tied to one model version, so once Kling 5.0 is released, check them against the official notes and adjust as needed.

Sources

• Kling AI, Kling 4.0 multiple keyframes guide, September 30, 2026
• Wikipedia, Kling AI, for the version history
• Kling5 AI, Kling 4.0 and Kling 3.0 tool pages and site FAQ, checked November 2, 2026