Social media video formats: 9:16, 1:1, 4:5 and 16:9 explained
A cheat sheet of video formats for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook: aspect ratio, resolution, length and safe zones for text.
Posting a video in the wrong format is one of the most common mistakes: black bars, cropped heads and text hidden behind app buttons. This guide gathers the most used social media video formats and shows how to choose the right one before creating the artwork — which is where the problem is truly solved.
The four aspect ratios you need to know
| Aspect ratio | Common resolution | Where to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 9:16 (vertical) | 1080 × 1920 | Reels, TikTok, Shorts, Stories |
| 4:5 (portrait) | 1080 × 1350 | Instagram and Facebook feed |
| 1:1 (square) | 1080 × 1080 | Feed, LinkedIn, ads |
| 16:9 (landscape) | 1920 × 1080 | YouTube, lessons, presentations, websites |
Format by platform
- Reels and Stories: 9:16. Keep text away from the top and bottom.
- Feed: 4:5 takes up more screen space than square.
TikTok
- 9:16, 1080 × 1920. The interface covers part of the right side (buttons) and the bottom (caption). See TikTok videos with a drawing effect.
YouTube
- Long-form videos: 16:9.
- Shorts: 9:16. See YouTube Shorts with whiteboard animation.
- 1:1 or 4:5 tend to take more feed space; 16:9 for company videos. Learn more in animated videos for LinkedIn.
- Feed: 4:5 or 1:1. Stories and Reels: 9:16.
Safe zones: where not to put text
On vertical screens, platforms overlay their interface on the video. As a rule of thumb at 1080 × 1920:
- Avoid key elements in the top 200 px (profile name, progress bar).
- Avoid the bottom 300 px (caption, music, call to action).
- Leave a 120 px margin on the right (like, comment, share buttons).
How to handle formats in Editor de Vídeo Online
- Hand drawing and Vox collage: the video follows the aspect ratio of the image you upload. Create the artwork in the final format.
- AI Prompts: cards include a format field — vertical 9:16, landscape or square — that goes straight into the prompt.
- Import elements: with no artwork open, the blank collage starts in the chosen format.
- Studio: when editing the final video, choose the format: same as the first clip, vertical, landscape or square.
See how to assemble the sequence in editing on the Studio timeline.
One video, many formats
If you publish in several places, the best strategy is:
- Create the main artwork at 9:16 (the most used format today).
- Create a 16:9 variation for YouTube, rearranging elements sideways.
- Generate both animations in Editor de Vídeo Online with the same style and entrance order.
Cropping a landscape video to vertical almost always cuts important information.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best video format for social media today?
Vertical 9:16 is the most versatile: it works for Reels, TikTok, Shorts and Stories. For YouTube and lessons, 16:9 is still the standard.
What resolution should I use?
1080 pixels on the short side is the standard: 1080 × 1920 for vertical and 1920 × 1080 for landscape.
What file format should I upload?
MP4 with H.264 video is accepted everywhere. If your file comes out as WebM, see how to convert WebM to MP4.
Conclusion
Choosing the format before creating the artwork saves rework and avoids awkward crops. Keep this article's table handy and design your images in the final aspect ratio. Create your video in Editor de Vídeo Online.
Make your animated video now
Editor de Vídeo Online runs in your browser (Chrome or Edge): upload an image, pick a style and record an MP4. Nothing to install.
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Editor de Vídeo Online Team
Written by the Editor de Vídeo Online team, the in-browser animation tool for hand-drawn whiteboard videos, Vox-style collages and paper cutout effects.
