---
title: "Video Aspect Ratios: YouTube, TikTok, Reels | border.video"
description: "The right aspect ratio and size for YouTube, Shorts, TikTok, Instagram Reels, Stories and feed, Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Pinterest, and how to convert a video."
url: https://border.video/video-aspect-ratios
---

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# Video aspect ratios for every platform (2026)

Which shape each app wants, what size to export, and what happens when you get it wrong, with a converter on the page if your clip doesn’t fit.

A video’s aspect ratio is its width compared with its height. YouTube’s standard is **16:9** (1920×1080); TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels and Stories all use **9:16** (1080×1920); Instagram and Facebook feed posts look best at **4:5** (1080×1350). The table below covers the rest.

Upload a video in the wrong ratio and the app either adds bars or crops it to fit. If your clip doesn’t match, convert it with the tool above: pick the shape, add the video, and the whole frame is fitted with a fill around it, so nothing is lost. The [aspect ratio converter](https://border.video/video-aspect-ratio-converter) has every ratio from 9:16 to 21:9.

__Video aspect ratios and sizes by platform (November 2026)__
| Platform and placement      | Aspect ratio        | Recommended size                  |
| --------------------------- | ------------------- | --------------------------------- |
| YouTube (standard video)    | 16:9                | 1920×1080, or 3840×2160 for 4K    |
| YouTube Shorts              | 9:16                | 1080×1920                         |
| TikTok                      | 9:16                | 1080×1920                         |
| Instagram Reels and Stories | 9:16                | 1080×1920                         |
| Instagram feed post         | 4:5 (1:1 also fine) | 1080×1350                         |
| Instagram profile grid tile | 3:4                 | 1080×1440                         |
| Facebook feed               | 4:5 or 1:1          | 1080×1350                         |
| Facebook Reels and Stories  | 9:16                | 1080×1920                         |
| X (Twitter)                 | 16:9 or 1:1         | 1920×1080 or 1080×1080            |
| LinkedIn feed               | 1:1, 4:5 or 16:9    | 1080×1080, 1080×1350 or 1920×1080 |
| Pinterest video pin         | 2:3 or 9:16         | 1000×1500 or 1080×1920            |
| Cinema ultrawide            | 21:9 (about 2.39:1) | 2520×1080 from a 1080p source     |

## How to change a video to the right aspect ratio

If your clip doesn’t match the platform, convert it here in three steps. Nothing is uploaded and nothing is cropped.

1. ### Pick the platform’s shape
Choose it above the drop zone (16:9 for YouTube, 9:16 for Shorts, TikTok and Reels, 4:5 for feeds, 1:1 for square), or under Shape once the clip is open.
2. ### Add the clip
Drop it on the tool or press Select video. The whole frame fits inside the new shape, with a white border round it to start.
3. ### Fill the space and export
Pick a look for the spare space, such as Blurred background or Black, then press Export video and Download video.

## YouTube and YouTube Shorts

Standard YouTube videos are **16:9**. The player adapts to other shapes, so a vertical or square video uploaded as a normal video plays with bars at the sides on a computer or TV. Upload at 1920×1080 or above; YouTube makes the smaller versions itself.

**Shorts** are vertical **9:16** (square also qualifies), up to three minutes long. A landscape clip posted as a Short shows small with bars, so convert it to 9:16 first; a [blurred fill behind the clip](https://border.video/blur-background-video) or a colour band with a title both work well.

## TikTok

TikTok is built around full-screen **9:16** at 1080×1920\. Landscape and square uploads play with bars above and below, and the app’s buttons and caption cover the right edge and the bottom of the screen. Keep text and faces in the upper middle of the frame. To turn a landscape clip into a TikTok-shaped one, use **9:16** with a blur or colour, as shown on the [9:16 conversion page](https://border.video/fit-video-to-9-16).

## Instagram: Reels, Stories, feed and the 3:4 grid

* **Reels and Stories**: 9:16, 1080×1920\. Most videos you share on Instagram are posted as Reels.
* **Feed**: up to 4:5 tall (1080×1350), which takes the most room on screen; 1:1 squares also suit carousels.
* **Profile grid**: 3:4 tiles (1080×1440) since early 2025, so a 9:16 Reel appears trimmed on your profile. Keep the subject central.

The full walk-through, with the sizes and the safe area, is on [resizing a video for Instagram](https://border.video/resize-video-for-instagram).

## Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Pinterest

### Facebook

In the feed, **4:5** or **1:1** fills more of a phone screen than landscape. Facebook Reels and Stories are **9:16**.

### X (Twitter)

**16:9** and **1:1** are the safest choices for the timeline. Vertical video plays as well, and takes up more of a phone screen.

### LinkedIn

Square **1:1** and portrait **4:5** take up more of the mobile feed; **16:9** suits talks and screen recordings watched on a desk.

### Pinterest

Video pins work best tall: **2:3** (1000×1500) for a standard pin or **9:16** for full screen.

## What happens if you upload the wrong ratio

Apps do one of two things with a video that doesn’t fit. Some add bars: YouTube pillarboxes a vertical clip, and TikTok letterboxes a landscape one. Others crop: Instagram zooms a landscape clip to fill a Reel and cuts off the sides. Neither is in your control once you post.

Converting first puts you in charge. Padding to the right ratio means the app has nothing to add or cut, and you choose what fills the space: a blur, your brand colours or a [frame or design](https://border.video/add-frame-to-video).

## Aspect ratio questions people ask

### What is the aspect ratio of a YouTube video?

16:9, usually 1920×1080 or 3840×2160\. YouTube Shorts are vertical 9:16 at 1080×1920.

### What aspect ratio is a TikTok video?

9:16, at 1080×1920\. Other shapes play with bars around them.

### What is 9:16 in pixels?

1080×1920 is the usual size. 720×1280 and 2160×3840 are also 9:16.

### Is 4:5 or 9:16 better for Instagram?

9:16 for Reels and Stories, which fill the screen. 4:5 for a feed post, which is the tallest shape the feed shows in full.

### What is the standard aspect ratio for video?

16:9 for TVs, computers and YouTube. On phones, 9:16 vertical video is now just as common.

### How do I change a video’s aspect ratio without cropping it?

Pad it. The tool on this page fits the whole frame inside the new ratio and fills the space with blur, colour or a design, then saves an MP4.

## More border and frame guides

* [ Add a border to a video online Over 400 looks, eight shapes and full control, previewed live on your own clip. ](https://border.video/)
* [ Convert a video to any aspect ratio Seven ratios from 9:16 to 21:9, padded with blur or colour, previewed live. ](https://border.video/video-aspect-ratio-converter)
* [ Resize a video for Instagram Reels, Stories, feed and grid sizes, filled with blur or colour instead of cropped. ](https://border.video/resize-video-for-instagram)
* [ Convert a landscape video to 9:16 Make a vertical video for TikTok, Reels or Shorts and keep the whole picture. ](https://border.video/fit-video-to-9-16)
* [ Make a video square without cropping Fit the full picture in a 1:1 frame and fill the gaps with colour or blur. ](https://border.video/make-video-square)
