The Complete Guide to Vertical Video Formats for TikTok, Reels & Shorts
The exact aspect ratios, resolutions, and safe zones each platform expects, plus the pacing rules that actually hold attention in a vertical frame.
Aug 21, 2026 · 7 min read · Tutorial
Platform specs at a glance
| Platform | Ratio | Resolution | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920px | Full-bleed vertical, minimal safe-zone margin needed |
| Instagram Reels | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920px | Same as TikTok, but leave extra bottom margin for the caption/UI overlay |
| YouTube Shorts | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920px | Same core spec; top and bottom UI overlays are slightly taller |
Four rules that actually matter
Design for the safe zone, not just the frame
Platform UI — captions, like/share buttons, usernames — covers roughly the top and bottom 15% of every vertical video. Keep key visual details and text out of those zones.
Match resolution exactly, don't just match aspect ratio
A correctly cropped 9:16 video at the wrong resolution still gets upscaled or compressed by the platform, softening detail. Export at the platform's native resolution when possible.
Cut for sound-off viewing first
A large share of vertical video is watched muted initially — a hook and story that read clearly without audio hold attention longer before sound gets turned on.
Keep pacing tight for the format
Vertical, single-column video has no peripheral visual interest to hold attention during a slow moment — cuts and pacing generally need to be tighter than landscape video.
How Zyvo handles this automatically
Every Zyvo video template outputs finished, correctly formatted vertical video by default — no manual cropping, resolution matching, or safe-zone guesswork required. See what else to check in a format-specific video tool.
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