Video size for Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and TikTok
Short answer
Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and TikTok all use vertical 9:16 video, and 1080×1920 pixels is the size to aim for, saved as an MP4. Keep captions and faces away from the top and bottom edges and the right side, where each app puts its buttons and text. Vireeli exports 9:16 MP4s at 30 fps: 1080×1920 on paid plans, 720×1280 on Free.
On this page
The right size for each app
| Instagram Reels | YouTube Shorts | TikTok | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 (vertical) | 9:16 (vertical) | 9:16 (vertical) |
| Best resolution | 1080×1920 | 1080×1920 | 1080×1920 |
| File type | MP4 | MP4 | MP4 |
| Frame rate | 30 fps | 30 fps | 30 fps |
One file works on all three, so you can export once and post everywhere. Each app sets its own maximum length and changes it from time to time; check the app before posting a long video. Most short-form posts run well under a minute or two, and Vireeli's base price covers up to 3 minutes of footage.
Safe zones: where to keep captions and faces
Each app draws its own interface over your video: your name and the follow button, the post text, the audio name, and a column of like, comment and share buttons. Anything important under them gets covered. As a rule of thumb on a 9:16 frame:
- Top: keep the top tenth or so clear; the app's tabs and labels sit there.
- Bottom: keep roughly the bottom quarter clear, more if you write long post text, because the description and audio name grow upward.
- Right side: leave a strip along the right edge for the like, comment and share buttons.
The exact areas differ between apps and change with app updates, so check your video in each app's preview before posting. In Vireeli, move captions with Position from top under Customize in the Style tab, and the hook title with Hook position in the Hook & CTA tab; see how to customise captions.
What Vireeli exports
| Setting | No plan (top-ups only) | Any plan |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 720×1280 | 1080×1920 |
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 | 9:16 |
| Format | MP4 (H.264 video, AAC audio) | MP4 (H.264 video, AAC audio) |
| Frame rate | 30 fps | 30 fps |
| Watermark | Small watermark | None |
Every video comes out in 9:16, whatever you upload. A landscape video is cropped to vertical; see how to turn a landscape video into a vertical short. Exporting is free and you can export again after any change.
Keep the quality when you post
- Move the exported MP4 to your phone by cable, AirDrop or a cloud drive. Sending it through a chat app usually compresses it.
- On Instagram, turn on Upload at highest quality in the app's media quality settings.
- Post the file as it is. Re-editing it in another app re-encodes it and softens the captions.
- Add trending audio inside the app if you want it, and export from Vireeli without music. See how to add background music.
Questions and answers
Is 1080×1920 the same as 1080p?
Yes, in vertical form. 1080p usually means 1920×1080 landscape; turned on its side for 9:16 video it's 1080×1920.
Can I post a 4:5 or square video instead?
The apps accept other shapes, but 9:16 fills the whole phone screen, which is why short-form video uses it. Vireeli exports 9:16 only.
Do captions get cut off on some phones?
Phones with taller or shorter screens can crop a little from the edges. Keeping captions inside the safe zones above avoids this.
Try it on your next video
Upload a clip and get captions, cut pauses, zooms and a hook back in one pass. Plans from $12 a month.