Guide

Best Video Sizes for Social Media (TikTok, Reels, Shorts and More)

Uploading the wrong shape gives you black bars or a cropped face. Here are the sizes that work on each platform, and how to get your video there.

Updated · 2 min read

Aspect ratio matters more than resolution

The aspect ratio is the shape of the video: tall, square or wide. If it doesn't match what the app expects, the app adds black bars or crops the edges. Resolution (like 1080 × 1920) is just how many pixels fill that shape. Get the shape right first, then pick a sensible resolution.

Common sizes that work well

  • TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, Facebook Reels, Stories: vertical 9:16, usually 1080 × 1920.
  • Instagram and Facebook feed: portrait 4:5 (1080 × 1350) takes the most space on screen; square 1:1 (1080 × 1080) also works.
  • YouTube and most websites: widescreen 16:9, 1920 × 1080 (Full HD) or 1280 × 720 (HD).
  • WhatsApp: any shape plays; what matters is file size. 720p is a good balance for sending.

Platforms change their recommendations over time. These are common, widely used sizes, not official requirements. Check the platform's help pages if you need exact specs for ads.

Keep important things away from the edges

On vertical apps, buttons, captions and the username cover the bottom and right side of the screen. Keep faces and on-screen text in the middle area, roughly the central two-thirds, so nothing important hides behind the app's interface.

Make the file smaller without changing the shape

The Marukit Video Compressor with quality and resolution options
The Marukit Video Compressor with quality and resolution options
  1. Open the Video Compressor and choose your video.
  2. Pick Balanced quality and a resolution: 1080p for uploads where quality matters, 720p for messaging.
  3. Press Compress video. The shape stays the same; only the file gets smaller. You get an MP4 that every app accepts.

For WhatsApp, use Compress Video for WhatsApp, which aims for a file size you choose (like 16MB) and checks the result.

Thumbnails and cover images

Cover images should match the video's shape: 1080 × 1920 for vertical videos, 1280 × 720 for YouTube. Use the Image Resizer with Crop to fill to get an exact size without stretching.

Try the Video CompressorReduce MP4, MOV and WebM size with H.264 output. Free, no signup.Open tool

Frequently asked questions

Should I upload in 4K?

Most phone apps show vertical videos at 1080p. Uploading 4K takes longer and is usually compressed down anyway. 1080p is the safe choice.

Why does my video look blurry after uploading?

Apps recompress uploads. Starting from a clean 1080p H.264 file, not an already heavily compressed one, gives them the best material to work with.

Tools in this guide

Video Tools Video Compressor Reduce MP4, MOV and WebM size with H.264 output. Open tool Image Tools Image Resizer Change width and height, keep the aspect ratio or crop to fill. Open tool Video Tools Compress Video for WhatsApp Fit a video under a size you choose, then check the result. Open tool

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