Guide2 min read
9:16 vs 16:9: which video format for Reels, TikTok, Shorts and YouTube
Short answer
Use vertical 9:16 (1080×1920) for Instagram Reels, TikTok and YouTube Shorts, and widescreen 16:9 (1920×1080) for regular YouTube videos, websites, presentations and TV. Keep text away from the top and bottom of vertical frames, where app buttons and captions sit. In Brandreel you can switch one project between 9:16 and 16:9 and render each.
Format is the first decision in every reel because it decides where people will watch it. Phones held upright want vertical video; laptops, TVs and embedded players want widescreen.
Quick reference
| Where it plays | Aspect | Size | Brandreel format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instagram Reels | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | Vertical |
| TikTok | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | Vertical |
| YouTube Shorts | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | Vertical |
| Instagram / Facebook Stories | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | Vertical |
| YouTube (regular) | 16:9 | 1920×1080 | Horizontal |
| Website hero, landing page | 16:9 | 1920×1080 | Horizontal |
| Slides, events, TV | 16:9 | 1920×1080 | Horizontal |
Safe zones for vertical video
On Reels, TikTok and Shorts the app draws its own interface over your video: the account name and caption at the bottom, like and share buttons on the right, and sometimes a header at the top. Keep headlines and logos in the middle of the frame, and preview the reel on a phone before you post.
Resolution: 720p, 1080p or 4K
- 1080p is the right default for social — it’s what the platforms display.
- 720p renders fastest; fine for previews and drafts.
- 4K for big screens, events, or when you’ll crop or re-edit later.
Every Brandreel render is an H.264 MP4 with audio normalised to −14 LUFS, the loudness the big platforms target, so your reel won’t be turned down or sound quiet next to others.
Both formats from one project
Pick the format you need most when you create the reel. Later, open the editor and switch between Vertical 9:16 and Horizontal 16:9 in the top bar — scenes, script and audio stay the same while the templates re-lay out the frame. Render each, and you have a Short and a YouTube cut from the same work.
Questions
- What size should an Instagram Reel be?
- 1080×1920 pixels, a 9:16 vertical frame. The same size works for TikTok and YouTube Shorts.
- Can I make one video for both Shorts and regular YouTube?
- Make two renders from one project. In Brandreel, switch the project between Vertical 9:16 and Horizontal 16:9 in the editor; the templates re-lay out text and motion for each frame.
Try it on your product
One sentence in, a finished reel out — with AI hero clips, voiceover, captions and publishing built in.