Vertical video 101: sizes and safe zones for Reels, TikTok and Status
Senzo Mthembu · 14 January 2027 · 2 min readNothing wastes a good video like text hidden behind the like button or a product cut off by the caption. Getting the format right takes minutes and makes everything look more professional.
The three sizes that matter
- 9:16 vertical (1080×1920): Reels, TikTok, Stories, WhatsApp Status and YouTube Shorts. Full screen on a phone.
- 4:5 portrait (1080×1350): the Instagram and Facebook feed. Takes up more space than square.
- 1:1 square (1080×1080): still useful for feeds and some ad placements.
Respect the safe zones
In vertical video, the top of the screen holds your profile name and the bottom holds captions, buttons and the reply bar. Keep important text and faces roughly in the middle of the frame, away from the top and bottom edges and the right-hand side where buttons sit.
Plan once, export several
If you'll run the same ad in several places, design it in 9:16 with the key content in the centre. You can then crop or adapt it for 4:5 and 1:1 without losing anything important.
Other quick tips
- Export at 1080 pixels wide for sharp results.
- Add captions, because many people watch without sound.
- Check the video on your own phone before posting.
When we deliver campaign videos, we export every size you need, so each platform gets a version that fits.
Tell us about your business and we'll reply within 24 hours with a plan and a price.
The Papermint letter
One useful idea a month.
Practical tips on websites, apps, video and getting more customers. No spam, unsubscribe any time.