Guides

The right video size for TikTok, Reels and Shorts

TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts all play vertical video full screen. One set of export settings works on all three, so you can make a video once and post it everywhere.

Updated October 23, 2026 · 5 minute read

The short answer

These are the settings RankingReel uses when you export in Full HD from a browser that records MP4. The rest of this guide explains each one and what to do when your clips don't match.

Why 9:16 matters

A phone held upright has a screen of roughly 9:16, and all three apps fill the screen with a 9:16 video. A horizontal 16:9 video is shrunk into a strip across the middle, with empty space above and below, so it ends up a fraction of the size on screen. Square video does better but still leaves gaps.

If your clips are horizontal, you don't need to reshoot them. Place them in a vertical frame and use the space above and below for the title and the ranking list. That is the layout RankingReel uses. In the Layout & style card, Fill crops the sides of a horizontal clip so it fills the video area, and Fit keeps the whole clip visible with the background color around it.

Resolution: 1080p or 720p?

All three platforms compress every video you upload. Starting with more detail gives a better result after that compression, especially for text. A ranking video is mostly title and list text, so 1080 × 1920 is worth it whenever your computer can record it smoothly.

Choose 720 × 1280 if the export stutters on an older computer or you need a smaller file. Going above 1080 × 1920, to 4K for example, is rarely worth it for short vertical videos that are mostly watched on phones.

File format and size

MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio is accepted by TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, so it is the safest choice. RankingReel exports MP4 when your browser can record it and WebM otherwise. YouTube accepts WebM, but Instagram may not, so convert a WebM file to MP4 before posting it as a Reel.

File size is rarely a problem for short videos. A Full HD export from RankingReel uses about 10 megabits per second, so a 30-second video comes out at roughly 40 MB, far below what the apps accept.

Frame rate

30 frames per second is the standard for short-form video and is what RankingReel exports. 60 fps looks smoother for fast gaming or sports footage. Clips shot at 60 fps still play at normal speed in a 30 fps export; they just show half as many frames.

Length

Maximum lengths change often. At the time of writing, YouTube treats vertical videos of up to three minutes as Shorts, Instagram allows Reels of up to three minutes, and TikTok accepts much longer uploads. Check each app's upload screen if you are near a limit.

A ranking video rarely needs that long. Five clips of three to six seconds each, plus a moment for the title, come to 20 to 45 seconds. Short videos are more likely to be watched to the end and replayed, and TikTok has said that whether people finish watching a video is one of the signals it uses to recommend it.

Safe zones: where not to put text

Each app draws its own interface on top of your video. The caption, username and sound name run along the bottom, the like, comment and share buttons sit on the right, and some screens show tabs or a search bar along the top. Text underneath them is hard to read.

Rough guidelines for a 1080 × 1920 frame:

• Bottom: keep important text out of the bottom fifth, roughly the last 380 pixels.
• Right: leave about 150 pixels clear along the right edge.
• Top: leave about 150 pixels at the top. On TikTok, this is where the Following and For You tabs appear.
• Left: this is the clearest side of the screen, which is why RankingReel puts the ranking list there.

If your title sits right at the top edge, drag it down a little in the preview. The most reliable check is to send the exported file to your phone and watch it full screen before you post.

Cover images

All three apps let you choose a cover image when you upload, either a frame from the video or, in some apps, an image of your own. For a ranking video, pick a frame where the title and part of the list are visible, so people can see what is being ranked before they tap.

Checklist before you post

• Vertical 9:16 at 1080 × 1920
• An MP4 file (convert WebM before posting to Instagram)
• Title and list clear of the bottom and right edges
• Watched once on a phone, full screen with the sound on
• A cover frame that shows the title