TikTok Dimensions and Aspect Ratio: The Right Video Size for 2026
Want your TikToks to look sharp, fill the screen, and hold attention? It starts with the right dimensions.
TikTok is built for full-screen vertical video on a phone. If you upload the wrong size, you can end up with black bars, awkward framing, or text hidden behind buttons. None of that helps your watch time.
This guide covers the right TikTok video size, aspect ratio, and resolution, where to keep your key visuals, and how TikTok compares to Instagram Reels so one video can work on both.
What are the correct dimensions for TikTok videos?
The recommended TikTok video dimensions are 1080 x 1920 pixels at a 9:16 aspect ratio, filmed vertically.
At this size your video fills the whole phone screen, and that’s how most people watch TikTok. Uploading at 1080 x 1920 keeps your video crisp and gives TikTok’s compression a clean file to work with.
| Spec | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 1080 x 1920 px |
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 |
| Orientation | Vertical |
| Minimum resolution | 720 x 1280 px |
| File type | MP4 or MOV |
| Video length | Up to 60 minutes when uploaded from a computer |
| Max file size | Up to 10 GB on desktop, about 287 MB on iPhone, about 72 MB on Android |
What aspect ratio does TikTok use?
TikTok’s main aspect ratio is 9:16. That means your video is taller than it is wide, so it fills the screen as people scroll the For You feed.
TikTok also accepts other ratios:
- 1:1 (square)
- 4:5 (portrait)
- 16:9 (horizontal)
These will upload, but they won’t fill the screen. TikTok usually adds black bars above and below the video to make up the difference. It works, but it feels less native, and viewers notice.
For the best results, export in 9:16.
What is the maximum file size for TikTok videos?
It depends on where you upload from:
| Upload from | Max file size |
|---|---|
| Desktop (TikTok Studio) | Up to 10 GB, with videos up to 60 minutes |
| iPhone and iPad | About 287 MB |
| Android | About 72 MB |
If your file is bigger than your phone allows, upload it from a computer instead. That’s also the better route for long videos.
TikTok safe zones: where to put text and key visuals
Even at the right size, part of your video sits behind TikTok’s interface. Your caption, username, and sound sit along the bottom, and the like, comment, and share buttons run down the right side.
On a 1080 x 1920 canvas, keep important text and faces clear of roughly:
| Edge | Keep clear | What sits there |
|---|---|---|
| Top | ~150 px | Following and For You tabs |
| Bottom | ~400 px | Caption, username, and sound |
| Right side | ~140 px | Like, comment, share, and save buttons |
| Left side | ~60 px | Screen edge |
These are approximate. The interface shifts slightly between devices and when captions run long, so give yourself some breathing room. Keep your key visuals in the center and you’ll be safe on almost any phone.
Are TikTok and Instagram Reels dimensions the same?
Yes. TikTok videos and Instagram Reels use the same dimensions: 1080 x 1920 pixels at a 9:16 aspect ratio. That means one video can usually work on both platforms without resizing.
The difference is how Instagram previews your Reel outside of full-screen playback:
| Platform | Recommended size | How it previews |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 1080 x 1920 (9:16) | Plays full screen |
| Instagram Reels | 1080 x 1920 (9:16) | Cover cropped to 3:4 (1080 x 1440) on your profile grid |
Because of that crop, keep your subject and any on-screen text near the center of the frame. Then your video looks good in the TikTok feed, the Reels tab, and your Instagram grid. For the full Instagram specs, see our guide to Instagram Reel size.
Other TikTok image sizes
| Asset | Recommended size |
|---|---|
| Photo posts and carousels | 1080 x 1920 px (9:16) |
| Profile photo | 200 x 200 px minimum, displayed as a circle |
| Video cover | Picked from a frame of your video, or uploaded at 1080 x 1920 px |
For photo posts, 9:16 fills the screen just like video. Square or landscape images will show with bars.
What happens if you upload the wrong size to TikTok?
Your video will still upload, but it may not look or perform the way you want.
Black bars. Square and horizontal videos get empty space above and below them, so less of the screen shows your content.
Awkward zoom or framing. Videos that are close to 9:16 but not exact may be scaled to fill the screen, which can trim the edges of your shot.
Hidden text. Captions or graphics placed too close to the edges can end up behind TikTok’s buttons and caption area.
Lower engagement. Videos that don’t fill the screen feel less native to the platform, and that can cost you watch time.
Tips for TikTok videos that fit perfectly
Film vertically from the start. Cropping a horizontal clip later loses detail and often cuts out part of your subject.
Keep key elements in the center. Faces, products, and text should sit well inside the safe zone.
Leave room at the bottom. Your caption and sound label live there. Place on-screen text in the upper-middle part of the frame.
Export at 1080 x 1920. It’s the standard TikTok is built around, and it keeps your video sharp after compression. Going higher rarely makes a visible difference once it’s in the app.
Check it on your phone. Watch a draft on a real phone before you post. It’s the quickest way to spot text hiding behind buttons.
Schedule TikToks and Reels together
Since TikTok and Instagram Reels share the same 9:16 format, one video can do double duty. The hard part is remembering to post it twice, at the right time, on both platforms.
With Hopper HQ’s TikTok scheduler, you can:
- Schedule TikTok videos and Instagram Reels from one place
- See both platforms side by side in one content calendar
- Auto-publish posts so you don’t have to be online when they go live
- Use your analytics to find the best times to post on TikTok for your audience
Upload once, plan both, and get back to making your next video.
Try Hopper HQ free for 14 days and plan a week of short-form video in one sitting.
Quick summary
- The correct TikTok video size is 1080 x 1920 pixels
- TikTok uses a 9:16 vertical aspect ratio
- Keep text and faces inside the safe zone, away from the bottom and right edge
- TikTok and Instagram Reels use the same dimensions
- Uploading the wrong size means black bars, awkward framing, or hidden text
Get the dimensions right and your videos will look polished on TikTok and Reels.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a TikTok video?
The recommended TikTok video size is 1080 x 1920 pixels. That's full HD in a vertical 9:16 format.
What is the TikTok aspect ratio?
TikTok uses a 9:16 aspect ratio. It also accepts 1:1 and 16:9, but those display with black bars.
Can I post a horizontal video on TikTok?
Yes, but it will show with black bars above and below it. For the best viewing experience, reframe it to 9:16 before you upload.
Are TikTok and Instagram Reels the same size?
Yes. Both use 1080 x 1920 pixels at 9:16, so one video usually works on both. Keep key visuals centered, because Instagram crops Reel covers to 3:4 on your profile grid.
What is the maximum file size for a TikTok video?
Up to 10 GB when you upload from a computer through TikTok Studio. Uploads from the app are much smaller, at about 287 MB on iPhone and about 72 MB on Android.
What is the TikTok safe zone?
It's the area of your video that stays clear of TikTok's buttons and captions. On a 1080 x 1920 video, keep important content about 150 px from the top, 400 px from the bottom, and 140 px from the right edge.
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