Instagram Reels should be created at 1080 × 1920 pixels in a 9:16 aspect ratio. That same vertical master also works naturally for TikTok and YouTube Shorts, giving independent brands one reliable starting point for short-form campaign video.
This 2026 social-media size guide covers Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn so you can export platform-ready images and video without repeatedly cropping the same content or losing important text beneath interface controls.
Instagram Reels Size & Aspect Ratio in 2026
Use 1080 × 1920 px at 9:16 for Instagram Reels. Keep important text, prices, logos and calls to action inside the central safe area because captions, buttons and profile controls can overlap the outer parts of the frame.
For a broader production checklist, use the Creator Content Size Guide & Campaign Asset Checklist. To evaluate whether the campaign itself is visually consistent and conversion-ready, use the Creator Brand Content Audit Scorecard.
Quick Social Media Size Chart
| Platform | Content Type | Recommended Canvas | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reel or Story | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | |
| Portrait feed post | 1080 × 1350 px | 4:5 | |
| Square feed post | 1080 × 1080 px | 1:1 | |
| TikTok | Vertical video | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 |
| YouTube | Standard video | 1920 × 1080 px | 16:9 |
| YouTube | Custom thumbnail | 3840 × 2160 px | 16:9 |
| YouTube | Short | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 |
| Portrait image | 1080 × 1350 px | 4:5 | |
| Landscape video | 1920 × 1080 px | 16:9 | |
| Vertical video | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 |
The Best Master Format for Short-Form Video
Create vertical short-form content on a 1080 × 1920-pixel canvas. That 9:16 master works naturally for Instagram Reels, Instagram Stories, TikTok and YouTube Shorts.
Instagram accepts Reels from 1.91:1 through 9:16 and requires at least 720 pixels of resolution and 30 frames per second. TikTok's official advertising guidance recommends vertical 9:16 video and commonly lists minimum vertical dimensions such as 540 × 960 or 720 × 1280 depending on placement.
A 1080 × 1920 master gives the editor enough resolution to create clean platform-specific exports without enlarging smaller footage.
Instagram Sizes for Independent Brands
Instagram Reels
- Recommended canvas: 1080 × 1920 px
- Aspect ratio: 9:16
- Minimum official resolution: 720 px
- Minimum official frame rate: 30 FPS
Keep important text, prices, logos and calls to action away from the top and bottom interface areas. A technically correct canvas can still lose information beneath captions, buttons and profile controls.
Instagram Stories
- Recommended canvas: 1080 × 1920 px
- Aspect ratio: 9:16
Use Stories for announcements, behind-the-scenes clips, countdowns, customer proof and direct calls to action. Keep the primary message centered and avoid placing critical text directly against the edges.
Instagram Feed Posts
- Portrait: 1080 × 1350 px, 4:5
- Square: 1080 × 1080 px, 1:1
- Landscape: 1080 × 566 px, approximately 1.91:1
Portrait posts occupy more vertical screen space than square posts and are often a strong choice for product photography, campaign graphics and educational carousels.
TikTok Video Specifications
TikTok is designed around vertical, full-screen creative. Use a 9:16 canvas and build the edit for mobile viewing from the beginning rather than placing a horizontal video inside a vertical frame.
Recommended TikTok export
- Canvas: 1080 × 1920 px
- Aspect ratio: 9:16
- Format: MP4
- Video codec: H.264 when available
- Audio: AAC when available
- Frame rate: match the source footage; 30 FPS is a dependable default
TikTok's official advertising specifications support vertical, square and horizontal formats, but vertical is consistently recommended for TikTok placement. Keep key messages inside the central safe area because interface elements vary by device and placement.
YouTube Video and Thumbnail Sizes
Standard YouTube video
- Recommended HD canvas: 1920 × 1080 px
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
YouTube's standard computer-player ratio is 16:9, and the platform automatically adapts when a video uses another ratio. Do not add permanent black bars; allow the player to handle display changes.
YouTube Shorts
- Recommended canvas: 1080 × 1920 px
- Aspect ratio: 9:16
Build Shorts from the same vertical master used for Reels and TikTok, then adjust captions, timing and calls to action for YouTube's audience.
YouTube custom thumbnails
- YouTube's current recommendation: 3840 × 2160 px
- Minimum width: 640 px
- Preferred aspect ratio: 16:9
- Accepted formats include JPG, GIF and PNG
YouTube notes that custom thumbnails for Shorts work differently from long-form videos. Creators select a frame for certain Shorts surfaces instead of uploading a traditional custom thumbnail in the same way.
LinkedIn Image and Video Sizes
LinkedIn images
LinkedIn allows photo ratios from 3:1 through 4:5 and recommends an image width of 1080 pixels. For a strong mobile-first post, use 1080 × 1350 pixels.
- Portrait: 1080 × 1350 px
- Square: 1080 × 1080 px
- Landscape: 1200 × 627 px or 1920 × 1080 px
LinkedIn video
LinkedIn supports a broad resolution range from 256 × 144 through 4096 × 2304 and aspect ratios from 1:2.4 through 2.4:1. Its help documentation recommends keeping edges clear of essential text and logos because platform controls can overlap the video.
- Landscape: 1920 × 1080 px
- Square: 1080 × 1080 px
- Portrait: 1080 × 1350 px
- Vertical: 1080 × 1920 px
One Campaign, Four Exports
A practical campaign workflow starts with one high-quality master and creates four deliverables:
- Vertical 9:16: Reels, Stories, TikTok and Shorts
- Portrait 4:5: Instagram and LinkedIn feed posts
- Square 1:1: Flexible feed graphics and product cards
- Landscape 16:9: YouTube, website embeds and presentation screens
Do not simply crop at the end. Design flexible compositions with extra background room, centered subjects and separate text layers.
Social Media Safe-Zone Checklist
- Keep faces and products away from extreme edges.
- Keep captions and prices inside the central area.
- Do not place the only logo at the bottom-right corner.
- Preview every export on a phone before publishing.
- Check that subtitles do not cover product details.
- Use large, high-contrast type.
- Export without watermarks when repurposing across platforms.
- Leave room for platform captions and interface buttons.
File Export Checklist
- Use the correct aspect ratio before editing begins.
- Export video as MP4 unless the platform or workflow requires another format.
- Use high-resolution source footage.
- Check audio levels on headphones and phone speakers.
- Add burned-in captions only when they fit the safe zone.
- Keep a clean master without platform logos.
- Name files by campaign, platform, ratio and version.
- Archive project files for future edits.
Build a Repeatable Content System
The goal is not to create four completely separate campaigns. It is to create one strong idea with a production system that can adapt it without weakening the message.
Explore the ii syndicate LLC Social Media Content Creation Service for professional video, photography and platform-ready campaign content.
For deeper visual identity, positioning and content direction, explore the Creator Branding Collaboration Package.
Creators and business owners building their own systems can also use The Entrepreneur Resource Vault™ for content planning, branding and business guidance.
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