9:16 Video Specs: Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts

What resolution should a 9:16 video be?

A 9:16 frame is 1080×1920 at full HD, the most common target. Meta's Reels ads guide recommends 1440×2560, and TikTok's in-feed ad spec sets a floor of 540×960. A 1080×1920 file is above every minimum listed below.

The Meta and TikTok numbers come from their ad specifications. Organic posts are generally uploaded in the same 9:16 shape, but the ad pages are where the platforms publish exact limits.

To export a 9:16 master (already composed at 9:16) as an MP4 that fits all three, use H.264 with the widely compatible yuv420p pixel format and AAC audio:

ffmpeg -i launch.mov -vf "scale=1080:1920" -r 30 \
  -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -crf 18 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ac 2 -movflags +faststart launch-9x16.mp4

If the source has no audio, drop the audio options and add -an.

What are the Instagram Reels safe zones?

Meta's Reels ad specs say to keep text, logos and other key elements out of at least the top 14%, the bottom 35% and 6% on each side of the frame. Those areas are covered by the account name, caption, call-to-action and buttons.

On a 1080×1920 frame that works out to:

The bottom margin is the big one: more than a third of the frame. Backgrounds can extend into it, but anything people must read or recognize should sit in the upper-middle part of the frame.

TikTok and YouTube Shorts overlay their own interface in similar places (captions and buttons at the bottom and right). Designing to Meta's safe zones is a reasonable shared baseline, but preview your video in each app before publishing.

What are TikTok in-feed video specs?

TikTok's Ads Manager help center lists these for non-Spark in-feed ads (ads uploaded directly, not boosted from an organic post):

• Aspect ratio and size: 9:16 at 540×960 or larger, 16:9 at 960×540 or larger, or 1:1 at 640×640 or larger.
• File types: .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .3gp or .avi.
• File size: 500 MB or less.
• Bitrate: 516 kbps or higher.
• Duration: up to 10 minutes.

Although square and landscape are accepted, 9:16 fills the screen in TikTok's full-screen feed. A 1080×1920 H.264 MP4 at a sensible quality setting sits comfortably within the size and bitrate rules.

For organic TikTok posts, use the same 9:16 MP4. The ad specs are the most precise published numbers, and an export that meets them is a safe default for organic uploads too.

How long can a YouTube Short be?

Up to three minutes. YouTube's help center says square or vertical videos up to three minutes long, uploaded on or after October 15, 2024, are categorized as Shorts. Earlier uploads keep the old one-minute rule.

There is a catch for music: any Short over one minute with an active copyright claim of any type, including manual claims, is blocked globally. If your mascot clip uses a licensed track you do not control, keep it under a minute, or use original or properly licensed audio.

Shorts accept square video as well as vertical, so a 1080×1080 animation can be posted as-is. A 9:16 version fills more of the screen, though, which is why most creators pad or recompose square clips to vertical.

ffmpeg -i idle-1080.mp4 \
  -vf "pad=1080:1920:0:218:color=white" \
  -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -crf 18 -movflags +faststart idle-9x16.mp4

That places the square clip on a 1080×1920 canvas with its center at y≈758, the middle of the Reels safe area computed above. The 1080-pixel clip is taller than the ~979-pixel safe area, so keep the character itself in the middle of the clip and let only background reach the margins. Set color to match the clip's background.

Where should a mascot sit in a 9:16 frame?

In the upper-middle area. Using the Reels safe area on a 1080×1920 frame, the region from roughly y=269 to y=1248 and x=65 to x=1015 is clear of interface overlays. A mascot centered around y≈760, a little above the frame's center, sits comfortably inside it.

• Keep the face and hands inside the safe area. Feet and background can extend lower.
• Leave room for a caption above or below the character, but still within the safe area.
• Use motion that reads small. On a phone, a clear hop or wave is more legible than subtle facial animation.
• Open on the character. The first frame is also the thumbnail people see while scrolling.

Charmotion's character sets include a 9:16, 1080×1920 launch MP4 alongside 17 square 1080×1080 animations, generated from one uploaded image in about 1–2 hours. The Starter plan ($4.99/month) includes these MP4s and GIF previews, which covers Reels, TikTok and Shorts.

Can one 9:16 MP4 work on every platform?

Usually, yes. A 1080×1920 H.264 MP4 with AAC audio meets Meta's format requirements, exceeds TikTok's 540×960 minimum and is a valid Short as long as it is three minutes or less. What changes between platforms is length and file size:

Keep the master under three minutes and under 500 MB and it qualifies for all three. Platform differences in captions, music libraries and on-screen text are best handled in each app after upload rather than burned into the file.

Trim a longer master to fit with -t, re-encoding so the cut is frame-accurate:

ffmpeg -ss 0 -t 59 -i master-9x16.mp4 -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p \
  -crf 18 -c:a aac -b:a 128k -movflags +faststart short-59s.mp4

How to export one vertical video for Reels, TikTok and Shorts

1. Compose at 1080×1920. Lay out the video at 9:16 and keep text, logos and the mascot's face inside the Reels safe area.
2. Export H.264 MP4. Encode with libx264, yuv420p, AAC stereo audio at 128 kbps or more, and +faststart.
3. Check length and size. Keep the file under 3 minutes and 500 MB so it qualifies as a Short and as a TikTok in-feed ad.
4. Check music rights. For Shorts over one minute, use only original or licensed audio, because claimed Shorts over a minute are blocked.
5. Preview in each app. Upload as a draft and check that captions and buttons do not cover anything important.

Frequently asked questions

Is 1080×1920 good enough for Instagram Reels?

Yes, it is the standard 9:16 size and plays well. Meta's Reels ad specs recommend 1440×2560, which is also 9:16, so render at that size if your source allows. Either way, keep key content out of the top 14%, bottom 35% and side 6%.

Can I post a square video as a YouTube Short?

Yes. YouTube's help center says square or vertical videos up to three minutes, uploaded on or after October 15, 2024, are Shorts. A 9:16 version fills more of the phone screen, so padding a square clip to 1080×1920 is often worth it.

What frame rate should a vertical video use?

None of the cited specs here requires a specific frame rate for 9:16 video. 30 fps is a common, widely compatible choice; keep a 60 fps source at 60 if the platform preserves it and the motion benefits. Test the uploaded result on a phone.

Do TikTok specs differ for organic posts and ads?

TikTok publishes its precise numbers for ads, such as 540×960 minimum, 500 MB maximum and up to 10 minutes for non-Spark in-feed ads. A 1080×1920 H.264 MP4 that meets those rules is a safe export for organic posts as well.

Quick answers from this guide

• What are the Instagram Reels safe zones?
• How long can a YouTube Short be?
• What are TikTok in-feed video ad specs?

Sources

• Instagram Reels video ads specifications — Meta Business Help Center
• Video ads specifications — TikTok Ads Manager Help
• Upload YouTube Shorts up to 3 minutes — YouTube Help
• FFmpeg filters documentation (palettegen, paletteuse, scale, pad) — FFmpeg
• FFmpeg formats documentation (gif and mov/mp4 muxers) — FFmpeg