Vertical Video Specs: Reels, TikTok & Shorts (2026)
By the Maybe Lab teamVertical video is 1080×1920 pixels at a 9:16 aspect ratio — the standard across Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Stories. The size is the easy part; the trap is the safe zone, because each platform overlays its own buttons and captions on top of your video. Here are the exact specs and how to make a vertical video that fits all of them.
Vertical video specs by platform
| Platform | Size | Length | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instagram Reels | 1080×1920 | Up to 3 min | 9:16 |
| TikTok | 1080×1920 | Up to 10 min | 9:16 |
| YouTube Shorts | 1080×1920 | Up to 3 min | 9:16 |
| Stories (IG / FB) | 1080×1920 | Up to 60 sec/card | 9:16 |
Mind the safe zone
Every platform stacks UI on top of your video: captions and the profile at the bottom, the like/share rail on the right, and sometimes a title up top. Keep essential text and your logo inside the middle ~80% of the frame — roughly 250px of padding top and bottom — or the platform's buttons will cover it. Design for the safe zone from the start; cropping later never looks right.
How long should a vertical video be?
- Ads and hooks: 6–15 seconds — win the first three or lose the view.
- Product clips and teasers: 15–30 seconds.
- Explainers and walkthroughs: up to 60 seconds before drop-off climbs.
- Whatever the length, front-load the payoff. See how long a product video should be.
Design rules for vertical
Vertical isn't a cropped horizontal video — it's its own frame. Use large type, fill the tall canvas, and assume sound-off with captions doing the work. A single subject reads far better than a busy composition at phone size. For turning one master video into platform-ready vertical cuts, see one video, ten clips.
How to make a vertical video fast
Exporting to exact sizes and safe zones is the tedious part. Describe your video to Maybe Lab, and it generates an on-brand vertical cut sized 1080×1920 with captions inside the safe zone — plus square and landscape versions from the same project for everywhere else.
Vertical video specs FAQ
What size is a vertical video?
1080×1920 pixels at a 9:16 aspect ratio. This is the standard for Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Stories.
Is TikTok the same aspect ratio as Reels and Shorts?
Yes — all three use 9:16 vertical at 1080×1920. You can post the same master cut to all of them, though safe-zone overlays differ slightly.
What is the safe zone in a vertical video?
The central area free of platform UI. Keep key text and logos within roughly the middle 80% of the frame — about 250px of padding top and bottom — so captions and buttons don't cover them.
How long should a vertical video be?
6–15 seconds for ads and hooks, 15–30 for product clips, and up to 60 for explainers. Shorter finishes more often, which the platforms reward.
Get the size and safe zone right and your video looks native on every feed. Describe it, and Maybe Lab makes the vertical cut — and every other ratio you need.
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