# TikTok Video Size and Ratio Guide (9:16, 1080×1920) > The best TikTok video size is 1080×1920 pixels at a 9:16 aspect ratio. See supported ratios, length and file limits, safe zones and export settings. Canonical: https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/tiktok-video-size-ratio Last updated: 2026-10-23 Category: TikTok. The best size for a TikTok video is 1080×1920 pixels, which is a 9:16 vertical aspect ratio. That fills the whole phone screen with no black bars. TikTok also accepts square (1:1) and horizontal (16:9) videos, but they appear smaller, with empty space above and below. Here's everything else you need to get the format right, from safe zones for text to the export settings that keep your video sharp. ## TikTok video specs at a glance | Spec | Recommendation | | --- | --- | | Aspect ratio | 9:16 (vertical) | | Resolution | 1080×1920 pixels | | Minimum resolution | 720×1280 pixels | | Other accepted ratios | 1:1 (square), 16:9 (horizontal) and others, shown with bars | | File formats | MP4 or MOV (MP4 or WebM on desktop, at the time of writing) | | Video codec | H.264 is the safest choice | | Frame rate | 30 fps (24–60 fps all work) | | Caption length | Up to 4,000 characters, at the time of writing | | Photo posts | 1080×1920 recommended (9:16) | | Profile photo | 200×200 minimum recommended | TikTok updates its upload limits regularly, so treat any length or file-size figure as a snapshot. The upload screen in TikTok Studio on desktop lists the current maximums, and that's the most reliable place to check. ## Why 9:16 is the right ratio TikTok is built for phones held upright. A 9:16 video uses the full height and width of most phone screens, so your content takes up the whole view in the For You feed. Anything else leaves unused space, which makes your video look smaller and less polished next to the ones around it. ### What happens with other ratios - **1:1 square (1080×1080):** shows as a square in the middle of the screen, with background above and below. Fine for repurposed feed content, but it uses only about half the screen. - **4:5 portrait (1080×1350):** a little taller than square, still with bars. A reasonable compromise if the same file is going to Instagram's feed. - **16:9 horizontal (1920×1080):** appears as a thin strip across the middle. Viewers may be able to rotate their phone or open a full-screen view for longer horizontal videos, but most people won't bother. If you only have horizontal footage, reframe it rather than uploading it as-is. Most editing apps let you crop to 9:16 and pan to follow the action, or place the horizontal clip in the middle with a caption above and below so the frame is still filled. ### Photo posts and carousels TikTok's photo mode lets you post a swipeable set of images. Use 1080×1920 for full-screen images. Square and landscape photos work but get letterboxed like videos. Our [TikTok photo resizer](https://scheduleforyou.com/tools/tiktok-photo-resizer) converts any image to 1080×1920, 1080×1080 or a 200×200 profile photo. You can crop to fill the frame, or fit the whole image and add a background color. ## TikTok video length and file size These limits change more often than the aspect ratio. At the time of writing: - **Recording in the app:** you can choose short presets or record longer clips, up to 10 minutes. - **Uploading:** TikTok has expanded uploads well beyond that for many accounts, especially from desktop, where longer videos (up to around 60 minutes) are supported. - **File size:** the maximum depends on whether you upload from the app or the desktop site. Desktop allows much larger files. A typical 1080p short video is far below any of the limits. Length limits aren't a target. Short videos are easier to watch to the end, and longer ones need a reason to keep people watching. Choose the length that suits the content, not the maximum allowed. ## TikTok safe zones: where to put text TikTok places interface elements on top of your video: your username and caption at the bottom, the like, comment, share and profile buttons down the right side, and the Following / For You tabs across the top. Anything important under those elements is hard to see. As a rule of thumb: - **Keep text and faces away from the bottom of the frame.** The caption, sound name and username cover roughly the lower fifth of the screen, more when your caption is long. - **Leave a margin on the right side.** The engagement buttons run down the right edge. - **Avoid the very top.** Navigation tabs and the status bar sit there. - **Center your key text slightly above the middle.** That area is clear on almost every phone. Screen shapes vary, so the exact covered area differs between devices. Before publishing, preview the video in TikTok's editor or save a draft and watch it on your own phone with the interface showing. ### Text and captions that stay readable - Use large, bold text with good contrast, such as white text with a dark outline or a semi-transparent background behind it. - Keep on-screen text to a few words per frame. Viewers are scrolling quickly. - Turn on TikTok's auto captions or add your own so people watching without sound can follow along. - If you want styled text in your written caption, our [TikTok font generator](https://scheduleforyou.com/tools/tiktok-font-generator) creates Unicode bold, italic and script styles. Use it for a word or two, since styled characters aren't searchable and screen readers may struggle with them. ## Export settings for a sharp TikTok video TikTok compresses every upload. Starting from a clean, high-quality file gives the compression less to damage. 1. **Set your project to 1080×1920 before you start editing.** Changing the canvas size at the end can stretch or crop your work. 2. **Export at 1080p.** TikTok supports higher resolutions for some uploads, but 1080×1920 is the standard and plays well everywhere. 3. **Use H.264 in an MP4 file.** It's the most widely compatible combination. Use AAC for audio. 4. **Match your frame rate to your footage.** If you shot at 30 fps, export at 30 fps. Mixing rates can cause stutter. 5. **Use a reasonably high bitrate.** Most editors have a "high quality" or "social media" preset that works well. 6. **Turn on high-quality uploads.** Check the TikTok app's data or upload settings for an option to upload in high quality, and upload over Wi-Fi when you can. ### Common problems and fixes | Problem | Likely cause | Fix | | --- | --- | --- | | Black bars above and below | Video isn't 9:16 | Reframe or crop to 1080×1920 | | Video looks blurry | Low-resolution source or heavy compression | Export at 1080×1920, upload in high quality over Wi-Fi | | Text cut off | Text is in the safe-zone margins | Move text toward the center | | Video is stretched | Canvas set to the wrong size | Set the project to 1080×1920 before editing | | Upload fails | File too large, too long or an unsupported format | Re-export as MP4 (H.264) and check the current limits in TikTok Studio | ## Reusing your TikTok video on other platforms A 9:16 video at 1080×1920 also fits Instagram Reels, Facebook Reels and YouTube Shorts. That makes vertical video one of the easiest formats to repurpose. Check each platform's length limits and safe zones before cross-posting, since the overlays are in slightly different places. For Instagram specifics, see our guide to [Instagram Reel size](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/reel-size-instagram). If you post the same vertical video to several platforms, Schedule For You lets you upload it once, write a separate caption for TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and the rest, and schedule each one from a single calendar. Each caption gets a live character-limit check. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the best TikTok video size? 1080×1920 pixels in a 9:16 vertical aspect ratio. It fills the full phone screen and gives TikTok enough detail to keep your video sharp after compression. ### Can I post a horizontal video on TikTok? Yes, TikTok accepts 16:9 horizontal videos, but they appear as a band across the middle of the screen with empty space above and below. For better results, reframe horizontal footage to 9:16 before uploading. ### What is the minimum resolution for TikTok videos? 720×1280 pixels is the practical minimum for a vertical video. Anything lower will look soft on most phones. Aim for 1080×1920 whenever your source footage allows. ### How long can a TikTok video be? At the time of writing, you can record up to 10 minutes in the app, and longer uploads (up to around 60 minutes) are available for many accounts, especially from desktop. TikTok changes these limits regularly, so check the upload screen for your account's current maximum. ### Does TikTok support 4K uploads? TikTok accepts higher-resolution files, but it compresses videos for playback, and 1080×1920 is the standard most viewers see. Exporting at 1080p gives you a smaller file that uploads faster, with little visible difference on a phone. ## Related - [All guides](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog) - [Pricing](https://scheduleforyou.com/pricing)