The Exact YouTube Shorts Size Creators Should Use

Short vertical clips spread fast, but only if they look sharp on every screen. Getting the YouTube Shorts size right is the difference between a crisp, full‑screen video and a blurry mess framed by black bars.

This guide walks through the exact specs, explains why they matter, and shows how to set up common tools so every Short you publish looks intentional and professional.

Core Specs: The Correct YouTube Shorts Size

YouTube Shorts rely on a strict combination of resolution, orientation, and length. If any of these are off, the video may upload, but it will not behave like a proper Short.

Core YouTube Shorts size requirements:

Orientation: Vertical
YouTube Shorts ratio: 9:16
Common resolution: 1080 × 1920 pixels (Full HD vertical)
Minimum resolution: 720 × 1280 pixels (still 9:16)
Maximum length: 60 seconds

A practical way to think about it: take a standard smartphone screen and flip it upright. That rectangle is the shorts dimensions target. A 1080 × 1920 file fills that space cleanly.

Why 9:16 Is Non‑Negotiable

YouTube classifies a video as a Short when:

The video is vertical (or at least taller than it is wide, usually 9:16), and
The duration is 60 seconds or less.

Upload a 1920 × 1080 (horizontal) clip and it will sit in the regular player with black bars, even if the runtime is 15 seconds. The algorithm and the interface treat it as a standard video, not a Short.

Example:

A 30‑second clip at 1080 × 1920 (9:16) shows up in the Shorts shelf, fills the phone screen, and supports swiping.
The same 30‑second clip at 1920 × 1080 (16:9) appears as a normal video with letterboxing. It will not behave like a Short.

If a project is started at the wrong youtube shorts ratio, every frame must be reframed or cropped later. Locking 9:16 from the beginning saves time and keeps important visual details inside the safe area.

Recommended Shorts Dimensions and Bitrate

The YouTube Shorts size spec allows several resolutions as long as the aspect ratio is correct. Choosing the right one depends on the device and the workflow, but one standard setting works for almost every creator.

Ideal Resolution for Most Creators

For reliable quality and compatibility, use:

1080 × 1920 pixels
9:16 aspect ratio
Frame rate: 24, 25, 30, 50, or 60 fps (30 or 60 fps are most common)

This matches the vertical version of standard Full HD and looks sharp on modern phones and tablets.

Example: A cooking channel recording quick recipe tips can shoot at 1080 × 1920, 30 fps. The food remains clear, text overlays are readable, and file sizes stay manageable for frequent uploads.

Alternative Shorts Dimensions That Still Work

If bandwidth or storage is tight, lower resolutions are acceptable as long as the youtube shorts ratio stays 9:16.

Common options:

720 × 1280 (HD) – smaller files, still usable on most phones
1440 × 2560 (QHD) – sharper than 1080p, heavier files
2160 × 3840 (4K vertical) – premium quality, large files, more demanding editing

Example: A travel vlogger shooting on a high‑end phone may capture at 2160 × 3840, 60 fps for flexibility. The master file can be archived, then exported as 1080 × 1920 for upload to balance quality and speed.

Bitrate and Codec Guidelines

YouTube re‑encodes every upload, but starting with a clean file helps preserve detail.

Practical export targets:

Codec: H.264 (widely supported) or H.265/HEVC (smaller files, newer devices)
Bitrate:
- 1080p at 30 fps: 8–12 Mbps
- 1080p at 60 fps: 12–20 Mbps
Audio: AAC, 128–320 kbps, 44.1 or 48 kHz

Example: A gaming creator editing in Premiere Pro can export Shorts at H.264, 1080 × 1920, 60 fps, 16 Mbps. The result uploads quickly while maintaining clean motion and legible HUD elements.

How the YouTube Shorts Ratio Affects Framing

The youtube shorts ratio of 9:16 forces a different visual strategy than the usual 16:9 landscape frame. What fits comfortably in a horizontal video often feels cramped or awkward when rotated.

Composing for 9:16

The tall frame emphasizes vertical movement and central subjects. To avoid awkward cropping:

Keep the main subject in the center third of the frame.
Leave breathing room above and below the subject.
Avoid tiny text near the very top or bottom; it can clash with UI elements.

Example: A fitness trainer filming a squat demonstration should stand slightly back from the camera, centered, with shoes and head both visible. Shooting too close cuts off feet or head once captions and progress bars appear.

Safe Zones and On‑Screen UI

The Shorts player overlays several elements:

Progress bar at the bottom
Engagement icons (like, comment, share) on the right
Channel info and audio line near the bottom left

Design text and graphics so they sit away from those regions.

A simple rule: imagine an inner rectangle that covers 80% of the screen height and 80% of the width. Place titles, subtitles, and important logos inside that area.

Example: A language tutor adding vocabulary words can place text in the upper middle of the frame, not the very top edge. When the video moves between the feed, the Shorts shelf, and the full‑screen player, the words remain visible and clean.

Reframing Horizontal Footage

Sometimes only a horizontal master exists. Converting it into the correct shorts dimensions is possible but demands careful choices.

Options:

Crop to 9:16: Zoom into the most important part of the frame.
Reframe dynamically: Use keyframes to pan across the 16:9 footage within a 9:16 window.
Add background blur: Place the 16:9 clip in the center and blur a duplicated layer behind it to fill the tall frame.

Example: A podcast clip shot in 16:9 can be turned into a Short by cropping tightly on the speaking guest in 9:16. Animated keyframes can follow the guest’s gestures, making the Short feel like it was filmed vertically from the start.

Setting YouTube Shorts Size in Popular Tools

Most editing apps now include vertical presets, but they are not always labeled clearly. Setting the correct YouTube Shorts size at the beginning of a project prevents headaches later.

Adobe Premiere Pro

Create a new sequence.
Under Settings, set Frame Size to 1080 horizontal and 1920 vertical.
Confirm Pixel Aspect Ratio is Square Pixels (1.0).
Choose Frame Rate (30 or 60 fps for most Shorts).

Example: A tech reviewer who usually edits long 16:9 videos can duplicate a standard 1080p sequence, then flip the frame size values. This creates a dedicated shorts dimensions template for all future vertical edits.

Final Cut Pro

Create a new project.
Set Video Format to Custom.
Enter 1080 × 1920 and choose the desired frame rate.
Confirm Square pixels and Rec. 709 color space for standard delivery.

Example: A musician recording performance snippets can keep a single 9:16 project template. Each new Short only requires replacing the clip and adjusting basic cuts, which speeds up publishing.

CapCut, VN, and Mobile Editors

Most mobile editors provide a 9:16 or TikTok/Shorts canvas preset.

Typical steps:

Start a new project.
Pick 9:16 or Vertical as the aspect ratio.
Import clips; the app will auto‑fit them.

Example: A street photographer editing on a phone can shoot directly in vertical mode, then open clips in CapCut with a 9:16 canvas. Exporting at 1080 × 1920 ensures the file meets the expected YouTube Shorts size.

YouTube’s Built‑In Shorts Camera

The YouTube app itself offers a Shorts camera that enforces the correct youtube shorts ratio by default.

Open the YouTube app.
Tap + → Create a Short.
Record vertically; the app locks the orientation and length.

Example: A news publisher covering a live event can pull out a phone, open the Shorts camera, and know that the recorded clip already matches the proper shorts dimensions without extra setup.

Common Mistakes With YouTube Shorts Size (and Fixes)

Small technical errors quickly degrade viewing experience. Most issues trace back to ignoring the required YouTube Shorts size or mismanaging exports.

Mistake 1: Wrong Aspect Ratio

Uploading 4:3, 1:1, or 16:9 content results in heavy pillarboxing or letterboxing. Even if the runtime is under 60 seconds, the video may not be treated as a Short.

Fix:

Set the project to 9:16 from the start.
If using existing footage, crop and reframe to 9:16.

Example: A meme compilation channel that uploads square 1080 × 1080 videos sees them appear as standard uploads. Converting the canvas to 1080 × 1920 and centering the meme content allows the same jokes to run as true Shorts.

Mistake 2: Tiny or Cut‑Off Text

On a small phone screen, thin fonts and small sizes become unreadable. Text that hugs the bottom edge can be covered by the progress bar or channel info.

Fix:

Use bold, high‑contrast fonts.
Keep subtitles and titles inside the central safe area.

Example: A finance creator adding profit figures near the bottom edge finds that viewers cannot read them. Moving the numbers higher and using a thicker typeface lifts retention because viewers no longer struggle to decode the information.

Mistake 3: Over‑Compressed Files

Aggressive compression introduces blocky artifacts and muddy edges, especially around text and motion.

Fix:

Export at the recommended bitrates for the chosen resolution.
Avoid repeatedly re‑exporting from already compressed files.

Example: A comedy channel re‑downloads its own Shorts from YouTube to add subtitles, then re‑uploads them. The double compression ruins quality. Working from the original 1080 × 1920 master and exporting once keeps the final Short clean.

Mistake 4: Horizontal Capture for Vertical Content

Recording horizontally forces heavy cropping later and often cuts off hands, props, or slides.

Fix:

Decide before filming whether the final output is a Short.
Rotate the phone or camera and frame deliberately for 9:16.

Example: A teacher giving quick math tips initially records landscape for flexibility, then struggles to fit both face and whiteboard into a vertical crop. Switching to vertical capture allows full formulas and facial expressions to appear together, improving clarity.

FAQs About YouTube Shorts Size

What is the best YouTube Shorts size in pixels?

The best all‑around YouTube Shorts size is 1080 × 1920 pixels with a 9:16 aspect ratio. This matches most smartphone screens and delivers clear, sharp video.

Can YouTube Shorts be horizontal?

Horizontal videos can appear on YouTube, but they will not behave as Shorts in the vertical feed. To qualify as a Short, the video must be vertical or at least strongly vertical (typically 9:16) and 60 seconds or less.

Do YouTube Shorts need to be 4K?

No. 4K vertical (2160 × 3840) is optional. Most creators use 1080 × 1920. Higher resolutions increase file size and editing load without guaranteeing better performance.

What is the minimum resolution for YouTube Shorts?

YouTube does not publish a strict minimum, but 720 × 1280 at a 9:16 youtube shorts ratio is a practical lower bound. Anything below that often looks soft or pixelated on modern phones.

Does YouTube crop Shorts automatically?

YouTube does not intelligently reframe horizontal videos into vertical Shorts. It displays the file as uploaded. For proper shorts dimensions, the creator must crop or edit the video to 9:16 before uploading.

Can one video be used for both Shorts and regular uploads?

Yes, but separate versions are needed:

A 16:9 version for standard uploads.
A 9:16 version for Shorts.

Many channels record one master, then create a vertical cut with tight framing and subtitles tailored to the Shorts feed.

Dialing in the correct YouTube Shorts size, from the 9:16 ratio to the exact pixel dimensions, turns quick clips into watchable, shareable content. Once the template is set in the camera and editor, each new Short becomes a creative choice instead of a technical gamble.

The Exact YouTube Shorts Size Creators Should Use

The Exact YouTube Shorts Size Creators Should Use