Vertical video specs for Shorts, Reels and TikTok
The shape, resolution and length each short-form platform expects — in one place, so one export works everywhere.
2 min read · Updated
YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels and TikTok all want vertical video, and they're close enough that one well-made export can go to all three. The differences are in length limits and in what each app crops out of view.
The common format
One export at these settings suits all three platforms:
- Aspect ratio — 9:16 (vertical).
- Resolution — 1080 × 1920 pixels.
- Frame rate — 30fps for most content; 60fps for gaming and fast action.
- Format — MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio uploads reliably everywhere.
Video aspect ratios explained covers why 1080 × 1920 is still called 1080p, and 30fps vs 60fps when the higher frame rate helps.
Length limits
Length limits have been rising; these were the limits at the time of writing:
- YouTube Shorts — up to 3 minutes (extended from 60 seconds in October 2024).
- Instagram Reels — up to 3 minutes for a standard Reel (extended in January 2025).
- TikTok — up to 10 minutes when recorded in the app, and longer — up to 60 minutes — when uploaded.
Platforms change these regularly, so check the upload screen if you're close to a limit.
The safe zone
Each app overlays buttons, captions and the account name on top of the video — usually along the right-hand side and across the bottom. Anything important placed there gets hidden. Keep faces, key text and on-screen captions in the centre of the frame, well clear of the bottom fifth and the right edge.
Exporting for the best quality after upload
Every platform re-encodes what you upload. Uploading exactly 1080 × 1920 avoids an extra resize, and exporting at a generous bitrate gives the platform's encoder a clean starting point. In Instagram's settings, turn on the option to upload at the highest quality. Why Instagram videos look worse after downloading explains what happens on upload.
Posting one video to several platforms
Upload your original export to each platform rather than downloading a posted version from one and re-uploading it to another — every round of compression costs detail, and some apps add a watermark to their own saves.
Need a copy of a Short you already posted? The Shorts downloader keeps the vertical frame intact, and the Instagram downloader does the same for Reels.