YouTube Shorts Size and Aspect Ratio: 1080×1920 (9:16)
By the Post0 team · Published
Short answer
Make YouTube Shorts 1080×1920 pixels, a 9:16 vertical frame. YouTube also accepts square (1:1) videos as Shorts, but a video wider than square, such as 16:9, is uploaded as a regular video instead.
The recommended size
| Setting | Use this |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080×1920 pixels |
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 (vertical) |
| Also accepted as a Short | 1:1 (square), or anything taller than square |
| Not a Short | 16:9 or any frame wider than it is tall |
| Length | Up to 3 minutes |
| Format | MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio is the safe choice |
1080×1920 fills a phone screen with no black bars, and it is the same size TikTok and Instagram Reels recommend, so one export works everywhere.
What happens with a horizontal video
YouTube only treats square or vertical videos as Shorts. Upload a 16:9 clip and it becomes a regular video, even if it is 20 seconds long. If you filmed horizontally, crop it to 9:16 in your editor before uploading, keeping the subject in the middle of the frame.
Does resolution matter?
YouTube accepts lower resolutions, but 1080×1920 looks sharp on every phone and gives YouTube a good source to compress. Filming in 4K vertical is fine too; just keep the 9:16 shape. Avoid exporting at 720×1280 if you can, because text and faces get soft after compression.
Leave room for the buttons
The Shorts player puts the title, channel name and buttons over the bottom and right side of your video. Keep text and faces away from those edges so nothing important is covered.
Check a file before you upload
Not sure about an export? The free video spec checker reads the file in your browser and tells you if it counts as a Short. For the length rule, see how long YouTube Shorts can be.
Frequently asked questions
Can a YouTube Short be square?
Yes. Square (1:1) videos up to 3 minutes count as Shorts.
What is the YouTube Shorts thumbnail size?
Shorts thumbnails are shown vertically. If you upload a custom image in YouTube Studio, YouTube recommends a 9:16 aspect ratio.
Is 4K allowed for Shorts?
Yes, as long as the video is vertical or square. 1080×1920 is enough for most creators.
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