What size should a video be for TikTok, Reels and Shorts?
Vertical 9:16, ideally 1080 × 1920 pixels. That works on all three platforms.
Free tool · runs in your browser
TikTok, Reels and Shorts safe zone checker: what do the buttons cover?
Pick a platform and, if you like, put your own still frame underneath. Red is what the name, caption and buttons cover. The bright frame is safe for text and faces.
Free area: 900 × 1420 px (62% of the frame)
Rule of thumb. TikTok gives no fixed pixels for regular videos; the area depends on caption length and device.
Tabs, search, name
Name, caption, audio
Buttons
Safe for text and faces
Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or sent to us. Your last input is kept only in your own browser so it is still there after a reload.
What a safe zone is
On TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, the interface sits on top of your video: tabs and search at the top, like, comment and share buttons on the right, and the name, caption and audio at the bottom. Whatever is in the picture there, hardly anyone sees it. The safe zone is the area that stays clear. That is where hooks, captions, faces and anything people need to read belong.
The margins per platform
| Platform | Top | Bottom | Left | Right | Free area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 130 px | 370 px | 60 px | 120 px | 900 × 1420 px |
| Instagram Reels | 269 px | 672 px | 65 px | 65 px | 950 × 979 px |
| YouTube Shorts | 288 px | 672 px | 48 px | 192 px | 840 × 960 px |
| All three combined | 288 px | 672 px | 65 px | 192 px | 823 × 960 px |
Based on 1080 × 1920 pixels. Rules of thumb, as of october 25, 2026. Reels per Meta's guidance for Reels ads, Shorts per Google's guidance for vertical video ads on YouTube, TikTok without fixed figures from the platform.
Worth knowing: the platforms only publish exact pixels for ads. Meta gives 14% top, 35% bottom and 6% on the sides for Reels ads, Google gives 288 pixels top and 672 bottom for vertical video ads on YouTube. Regular videos often have a little more room because there is no ad line. Sticking to the stricter figures keeps you safe. TikTok gives no fixed pixels for regular videos, because the area depends on caption length and device.
What to watch when editing
- Captions go in the middle or the upper third of the clear area, not at the bottom edge, where the caption text and audio label sit.
- Hook text goes below the top bar, not right at the edge.
- Faces and facecams stay away from the bottom right, where the buttons are.
- Long captions push the text at the bottom further up. With many lines, plan for more room.
- One export for all: the “All three combined” setting shows what stays clear on every platform.
Double-check on a phone
Phones have different aspect ratios. On tall screens, a 9:16 video is sometimes cropped slightly or shown with bars. When in doubt, upload your video as private or as a draft and look at it in the app with the caption showing. For vertical layouts with a facecam, see our guide on Twitch clips on TikTok.
FAQ
Questions about this tool
Where should captions go?
In the clear area, usually in the middle or slightly above. At the bottom edge, the name, caption and audio label cover them.
Are these numbers official?
For ads, yes: Reels per Meta, Shorts per Google. Regular videos have no fixed pixels, so the figures here are a strict rule of thumb.
Is my image uploaded?
No. Your image or video is only shown in your browser and never leaves your device.
Can I use a video instead of an image?
Yes. Pick a video file and it plays muted under the overlay. A still frame is usually enough for the check.
Also useful: YouTube chapter formatter · Social media character counter · Video length checker · Twitch clips on TikTok · Short form video editing · YouTube Shorts editing service · All tools