Short vertical video looks the same on every app, which is good news: one well-made master file can serve Instagram Reels, TikTok and YouTube Shorts with very few changes. Here are the settings that work.

The shared basics

  • Aspect ratio: 9:16 (vertical).
  • Resolution: 1080 × 1920 pixels is the standard and works everywhere.
  • Frame rate: 24, 25 or 30 frames per second are all fine; keep the frame rate you filmed in.
  • Format: MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio is accepted by all three.

Maximum lengths and file sizes change from time to time, so check each platform’s help pages before making unusually long videos.

Mind the safe zones

Each app places buttons, captions and the account name over the bottom and right side of the video. Keep important text and faces away from the bottom fifth and the right edge of the frame, and away from the very top, where the app shows its own controls. A centred “safe area” keeps your message readable on all three apps.

Feed images and other formats

  • Instagram feed images: 4:5 portrait (1080 × 1350) takes the most space in the feed; square 1:1 also works.
  • YouTube (standard videos): 16:9 landscape, 1920 × 1080 or higher.
  • LinkedIn and Facebook: square or 4:5 images and video stand out more in the feed than landscape.

Export settings that avoid quality loss

  • Export at the same resolution you will upload (1080 × 1920), not larger; the app will recompress anyway.
  • Use a high bitrate export from your editor; the platform’s compression is less damaging to a clean source.
  • Upload over Wi-Fi; some apps reduce quality on mobile data, depending on your settings.
Burned-in captions help. Many people watch without sound. Captions inside the safe zone, or the app’s automatic captions, keep them watching.

One master, three uploads

Make one 9:16 master with captions in the safe zone, then upload it to each app with a caption written for that audience. Avoid uploading a file with another app’s watermark: platforms say they may show such videos to fewer people. See our guide on repurposing one video.

DrutoScan’s Multi-Platform Publishing helps you publish one piece of content to the platforms you connect.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best resolution for Reels, TikTok and Shorts?

1080 × 1920 pixels in a 9:16 vertical frame works well on all three.

Will a TikTok watermark hurt my Reels?

Platforms say they may show videos with other apps’ watermarks to fewer people. Upload the clean master file instead.