TikTok, Reels and Shorts safe zones in pixels
Every vertical video loses part of its frame to the app it's posted in: your username, the caption and the like and share buttons sit on top of the picture. The safe zone is the part they don't cover. Here are the safe zones of TikTok, Instagram Reels, Stories and YouTube Shorts in pixels, and how to check them on your own video while you edit.
Safe zones in pixels (1080×1920)
| Top | Bottom | Left | Right | Safe area | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 130 px | 480 px | 60 px | 140 px | 880×1310 px |
| Instagram Reels | 270 px | 670 px | 65 px | 65 px | 950×980 px |
| Instagram Stories | 270 px | 380 px | 65 px | 65 px | 950×1270 px |
| YouTube Shorts | 180 px | 390 px | 60 px | 120 px | 900×1350 px |
Rounded, conservative values, checked in September 2026. The interface depends on the phone, the app version and the length of your caption, so leave a little extra room.
What covers each part of the frame
- TikTok: the Following and For You tabs and search at the top; your username, caption and sound at the bottom; the like, comment, save and share buttons down the right.
- Instagram Reels: the Reels header at the top; your name, caption and audio in the bottom third, with the like, comment and share buttons beside them on the right.
- Instagram Stories: the progress bar and your profile name at the top; the reply field and reactions at the bottom.
- YouTube Shorts: the search and menu at the top; the title, channel name and subscribe button at the bottom; the like, comment and share buttons on the right.
Video sizes in pixels
| Size in pixels | Used for | |
|---|---|---|
| 9:16 | 1080×1920 | TikTok, Reels, Stories, Shorts |
| 4:5 | 1080×1350 | Instagram and Facebook feed posts |
| 1:1 | 1080×1080 | Square posts |
| 16:9 | 1920×1080 | YouTube videos |
In 4K every side doubles — 2160×3840 for a 9:16 video — and the safe zones scale with it.
Step by step
Open a vertical project
In Video Grid Collage (free on the App Store), tap 9:16 in the Format section of the start screen, or open a collage you're working on.
Turn on safe zones
With nothing selected, tap Aspect → Safe Zones and choose TikTok, Reels, Stories or Shorts. The parts of the frame covered by that app's interface are shaded in the preview.
Move text and faces into the clear area
Drag titles, captions and stickers out of the shaded parts, and pick a layout that keeps the important frames in the middle. Pinch and drag clips inside their frames to keep faces in view.
Check every platform
Posting the same video everywhere? Switch between the platforms: Reels leaves the least room at the top and bottom, TikTok on the right.
Export
The shading is only a guide in the editor — it isn't in the exported video. Export and post.
Tips for the safe zone
- Keep faces and the main action in the upper middle of the frame — the bottom is the busiest part on every platform.
- A long caption grows upward and covers more of the video. Keep captions short, or leave extra room at the bottom.
- Put your own captions above the bottom zone, so the platform's caption doesn't cover them.
- Posting everywhere? Follow the Reels margins at the top and bottom and the TikTok margin on the right.
Try it yourself — free
Video Grid Collage · 4.9 on the App Store · 100 layouts, up to 100 clips in one collage