9:16 aspect ratio
The 9:16 aspect ratio is the vertical video shape, 9 units wide for every 16 tall: 1080×1920 pixels in full HD, used by TikTok, Reels, Shorts and Stories.
- Full HD
- 1080×1920 px
- Width ÷ height
- 0.5625
- Shape
- Vertical (portrait)
- Opposite
- 16:9 (1920×1080)
- Ratio of 1080×1920
- 9:16
- Closest common ratio
- 9:16
- Width ÷ height
- 0.5625
- Shape
- Portrait (vertical)
Drag the corner to try a shape. It snaps to common ratios.
Crop or fit a 16:9 clip into 9:16
Changing shape either crops the sides (fill) or adds bars (fit). Pick the clip's shape, or drop your own file.
9:16 sizes in pixels
| Name | Width × height |
|---|---|
| 720p | 720×1280 |
| 1080p (Full HD) | 1080×1920 |
| 1440p (2K) | 1440×2560 |
| 2160p (4K) | 2160×3840 |
Any width works as long as the height is 16/9 of it: height = width × 16 ÷ 9. Keep both sides even for video. For TikTok, Reels and Shorts, 1080×1920 is the size to export; YouTube takes Shorts at up to 1080p, so larger files gain nothing there.
Converting other shapes to 9:16
| From | Crop to fill keeps | Fit with bars covers |
|---|---|---|
| 16:9 (landscape) | 32% of the width | 32% of the frame |
| 4:3 | 42% of the width | 42% of the frame |
| 1:1 (square) | 56% of the width | 56% of the frame |
| 4:5 (portrait) | 70% of the width | 70% of the frame |
There are three ways to turn a 16:9 clip into 9:16. Crop fills the screen but loses two thirds of the width, so follow the subject with the crop. Fit keeps the whole picture but leaves it small, with bars above and below. Stack puts the clip in the middle and uses the space above and below for a headline and captions, which is common for screen recordings and podcasts. AI clipping tools do the follow-the-subject crop for you on long recordings; our comparison of AI clippers prices them per minute of source video.
Where 9:16 is used
9:16 is the full-screen shape for TikTok, Instagram Reels and Stories, and YouTube Shorts. Phones are a little taller than 9:16, so the apps show a 9:16 video full width with their buttons over the top and bottom. For other shapes, use the ratio calculator.
Sources
Official help, developer and ads pages, checked on October 13, 2026. Platforms change limits often; your upload screen has the final word.
How to use 9:16 aspect ratio
- 1
Type one side
The calculator is set to 9:16. Type a width to get the height, or a height to get the width.
- 2
Pick a standard size
Tap 720×1280, 1080×1920, 1440×2560 or 2160×3840 under the preview to use it.
- 3
Check a conversion
Pick 16:9, 4:3 or 1:1 as the clip shape to see how it crops or fits into 9:16.
FAQ9:16 aspect ratio FAQ
What is 9:16 in pixels?
Any size where the height is 16/9 of the width. The standard ones are 720×1280, 1080×1920 (full HD), 1440×2560 and 2160×3840 (4K). 1080×1920 is the one TikTok, Reels and Shorts use.
Is 9:16 the same as 16:9?
Same shape, turned on its side. 16:9 is landscape (1920×1080), the shape of YouTube and TVs; 9:16 is portrait (1080×1920), the shape of a phone held upright.
How do I convert a 16:9 video to 9:16?
Crop it or fit it. Cropping fills the frame but keeps only the middle 32% of the width, so move the crop to follow the subject. Fitting keeps everything but leaves bars above and below. A third way is to put the 16:9 clip in the middle and fill the space with captions or a blurred copy.
What is 9:16 as a decimal?
0.5625: the width divided by the height. Flipped, 16:9 is 1.778.
Is 4:5 or 9:16 better for Instagram?
9:16 for Reels and Stories, which play full screen. 4:5 (1080×1350) for feed posts, where it takes up the most room. A 9:16 reel shows in the feed and profile cropped, so keep the subject near the middle.
What aspect ratio is a phone screen?
Most phones are taller than 9:16 (around 9:19.5), so a 9:16 video fills the width and leaves a thin margin or the app's buttons above and below. That's why 9:16 is the shape every vertical video app asks for.
Still have questions?Email us
More free tools
Ratio calculatorAspect ratio calculator for video and photos: type a size or a ratio, get the missing side, and see how a clip crops into another shape.
TikTok dimensionsTikTok video size is 1080×1920 pixels at a 9:16 aspect ratio. Below are the length, file size and format limits from TikTok's own pages.
Reels dimensionsInstagram Reels size is 1080×1920 pixels at a 9:16 aspect ratio. Stories use the same frame; feed posts take 4:5 to 1.91:1.
Shorts dimensionsYouTube Shorts size is 1080×1920 pixels at a 9:16 aspect ratio, and a Short can be up to 3 minutes long.
From the UGCLive appEdit in 9:16 and export 1080×1920.
UGCLive exports every video at 1080×1920, ready for TikTok, Reels and Shorts. Set each clip's framing in the editor so the face stays in shot.
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