Video Aspect Ratios Explained: Social Media Video Sizes 2026 | solo16
Updated: September 2026
Choosing the right video aspect ratio in 2026 can make the difference between content that looks professionally produced and content that simply looks like it has been cropped for social media.
From traditional 16:9 corporate films and YouTube videos to vertical 9:16 Reels, TikToks and Shorts, today’s video content needs to work across a growing number of platforms and screens.
The good news is that you don’t necessarily need to create a completely separate production for every platform.
With the right planning during filming, a single production can be edited into multiple versions, giving you landscape, square, 4:5 and vertical content from the same shoot.
This guide explains the most useful video aspect ratios, recommended resolutions and social media video formats for 2026 — and, importantly, how to plan your production so your footage can be repurposed effectively.
What is a video aspect ratio?
A video aspect ratio describes the relationship between the width and height of an image.
It is normally written as two numbers separated by a colon.
For example:
16:9 — widescreen landscape
9:16 — vertical
1:1 — square
4:5 — vertical portrait
4:3 — traditional television and older video formats
The aspect ratio is not the same thing as resolution.
For example:
1920 × 1080 and 1280 × 720 are both 16:9.
Likewise:
1080 × 1920 is 9:16.
The resolution describes the number of pixels in the image, while the aspect ratio describes its shape.
The most common video aspect ratios
Aspect ratio | Typical resolution | Common uses |
16:9 | 1920 × 1080 | YouTube, corporate video, presentations, websites, television |
9:16 | 1080 × 1920 | Instagram Reels, Facebook Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Stories |
4:5 | 1080 × 1350 | Instagram feed, LinkedIn and social advertising |
1:1 | 1080 × 1080 | Social media feeds and some advertising |
4:3 | 1440 × 1080 | Legacy video and specialist applications |
For most modern productions, 16:9 and 9:16 are the two most important formats to consider, with 4:5 becoming increasingly useful for social-media feeds.
Social media video sizes at a glance
If you’re preparing video for several platforms, this is a useful starting point:
Platform | Recommended format | Recommended resolution |
YouTube | 16:9 | 1920 × 1080 |
YouTube Shorts | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 |
Instagram Reels | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 |
Instagram Stories | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 |
Instagram Feed | 4:5 | 1080 × 1350 |
Facebook Reels | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 |
Facebook Feed | 16:9 / 1:1 / 4:5 | 1920 × 1080 / 1080 × 1080 / 1080 × 1350 |
TikTok | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 |
16:9 / 4:5 / 1:1 / 9:16 | 1920 × 1080 / 1080 × 1350 / 1080 × 1080 / 1080 × 1920 | |
X | 16:9 / 1:1 / 9:16 | 1920 × 1080 / 1080 × 1080 / 1080 × 1920 |
These are practical production recommendations rather than a list of every technical upload limit. Social platforms regularly change their specifications, so it is generally better to design your production around the correct aspect ratio and resolution than to build your workflow around a particular file-size or duration limit.
Instagram video sizes
Instagram is now heavily focused on vertical video, particularly Reels and Stories.
Instagram Reels
Recommended aspect ratio: 9:16
Recommended resolution: 1080 × 1920
Reels are designed around a full-screen vertical viewing experience.
If you’re producing video specifically for Instagram Reels, shoot and edit with the vertical frame in mind rather than simply cropping a landscape video afterwards.
Keep important graphics, captions, logos and other information away from the areas where Instagram’s interface can appear.
Recommended format
1080 × 1920 — 9:16
Instagram Stories
Recommended aspect ratio: 9:16
Recommended resolution: 1080 × 1920
Stories are also designed primarily for full-screen vertical viewing.
If you’re creating a campaign involving both Reels and Stories, a single 9:16 master can often be adapted for both.
The important consideration is where you place text and graphics. Don’t put essential information right against the top or bottom of the frame where platform interface elements may appear.
Instagram Feed
For portrait feed video, 4:5 is an excellent format.
Recommended resolution: 1080 × 1350
Aspect ratio: 4:5
A 4:5 video occupies significantly more vertical space on a phone screen than a traditional 16:9 video.
For some campaigns, therefore, 4:5 can be a particularly effective compromise between landscape and full-screen vertical video.
Facebook video sizes
Facebook supports several video formats, so there isn’t one single aspect ratio that works for every situation.
Facebook Reels
Recommended aspect ratio: 9:16
Recommended resolution: 1080 × 1920
Facebook Reels are designed for vertical, full-screen viewing.
If you’re creating a campaign for both Facebook and Instagram Reels, a 9:16 master can generally provide a strong starting point for both platforms.
Meta specifically recommends vertical 9:16 video with important creative elements kept within the safe zone for Reels advertising. (Facebook)
Facebook Feed
For conventional Facebook feed video, useful formats include:
16:9 — 1920 × 1080
1:1 — 1080 × 1080
4:5 — 1080 × 1350
The best option depends on the campaign and where the video is intended to appear.
For corporate and branded content, 16:9 remains an excellent master format because it can also be used across websites, presentations, YouTube and other platforms.
TikTok video sizes
TikTok is primarily a vertical video platform.
Recommended aspect ratio: 9:16
Recommended resolution: 1080 × 1920
A vertical 9:16 composition allows the video to fill the smartphone screen.
When creating TikTok content professionally, remember that the platform interface occupies part of the screen. Captions, logos, calls to action and other important graphics should therefore be positioned within a suitable safe area.
Recommended format: 1080 × 1920 — 9:16
TikTok’s requirements can vary depending on whether you’re producing organic content, advertising creative or content for specific placements. For a general production workflow, 1080 × 1920 is a sensible vertical master.
YouTube video sizes
YouTube remains one of the most important platforms for conventional widescreen video.
Standard YouTube video
Recommended aspect ratio: 16:9
Recommended resolution: 1920 × 1080
This is the standard widescreen format used for:
Corporate films
Interviews
Event videos
Product videos
Training videos
Documentaries
Promotional films
Presentations
Live-stream recordings
If you’re producing a professional video that needs to work on a website, YouTube, corporate presentation or large screen, 16:9 remains the safest master format.
YouTube Shorts
Recommended aspect ratio: 9:16
Recommended resolution: 1080 × 1920
Maximum duration: 3 minutes
YouTube categorises square and vertical videos up to three minutes as Shorts, subject to YouTube’s current rules. (Google Help)
For a full-screen mobile experience, 9:16 remains the most natural format.
Recommended format: 1080 × 1920 — 9:16
This makes YouTube Shorts another important reason to consider vertical shooting or vertical-safe framing when planning a production.
LinkedIn video sizes
LinkedIn is particularly important for B2B, corporate communications and professional video.
The platform supports a range of aspect ratios, including:
16:9 landscape
4:5 portrait
1:1 square
9:16 vertical
LinkedIn’s current video advertising specifications support all four formats. (LinkedIn Business Solutions)
Recommended formats: 16:9 — 1920 × 1080
Ideal for:
Corporate films
Interviews
Event coverage
Thought-leadership videos
Case studies
4:5 — 1080 × 1350
A particularly useful format for LinkedIn feed content where you want the video to occupy more vertical screen space.
1:1 — 1080 × 1080
Useful for certain feed campaigns and situations where a square format provides greater flexibility.
9:16 — 1080 × 1920
Useful for vertical social content and campaigns designed around mobile viewing.
LinkedIn recommends MP4 and a frame rate of 30fps for video advertising, with 4:5, 9:16, 16:9 and 1:1 supported. (LinkedIn Business Solutions)
X video sizes
X supports landscape, square and vertical video.
Useful production formats include:
16:9 — 1920 × 1080
1:1 — 1080 × 1080
9:16 — 1080 × 1920
If your video is being produced for several social platforms, it is usually more efficient to create the appropriate version from a planned master edit rather than attempting to make one file work everywhere.
4:5 video: the format that’s easy to overlook
The 4:5 aspect ratio deserves more attention than it often receives.
At 1080 × 1350, a 4:5 video is taller than traditional 16:9 content while remaining less extreme than a full-screen 9:16 video.
It can work particularly well for:
Instagram feed content
LinkedIn
Facebook feeds
Paid social campaigns
Corporate social-media content
For organisations that want their video to occupy more screen space without committing entirely to vertical production, 4:5 can be a very useful format.
One production, multiple formats
This is where professional video production becomes particularly valuable.
Imagine you’re filming a corporate interview.
Your primary requirement might be a 16:9 film for your website and YouTube.
But you also want:
A 9:16 Reel
A 9:16 TikTok
A 9:16 YouTube Short
A 4:5 LinkedIn video
Short social-media clips
Square versions for specific campaigns
Simply cropping the finished 16:9 film isn’t always going to produce the best result.
The better approach is to consider the intended formats before the cameras start rolling.
Don’t simply crop your landscape video
A common mistake is to produce a finished 16:9 video and then automatically crop it into 9:16.
Sometimes that works - Often it doesn’t.
A landscape shot might have two people positioned towards opposite sides of the frame. Crop it vertically and one person may disappear.
A presentation graphic designed for 16:9 may become unreadable.
A logo positioned in the corner may be lost.
A person’s face may suddenly be too close to the edge of the frame.
Professional multi-format production considers these issues during filming.
That can mean:
Adjusting camera composition
Keeping important subjects within a flexible area
Allowing additional space around presenters
Shooting suitable alternative angles
Designing graphics that can be reformatted
Capturing additional B-roll
Planning interviews with vertical crops in mind
Creating dedicated vertical shots where necessary
The result is content that feels deliberately produced for each platform rather than simply resized.
What is a safe zone?
A safe zone is an area of the video frame where important information can be positioned without being obscured by platform controls, captions or other interface elements.
This is particularly important for vertical video.
When creating:
Titles
Subtitles
Logos
Calls to action
Website addresses
Names and job titles
Promotional messages
it’s important to consider where those elements will appear on the final platform.
The exact interface can change, but the principle remains the same:
Don’t put critical information right against the edges of your video.
Shoot once, create multiple versions
One of the biggest advantages of professional video production from solo16 is the ability to create a library of content from a single production.
For example, a corporate event could generate:
Master film
16:9 — 1920 × 1080
For your website, YouTube and internal communications.
Social clips
9:16 — 1080 × 1920
For Instagram Reels, Facebook Reels, TikTok and YouTube Shorts.
Feed versions
4:5 — 1080 × 1350
For LinkedIn, Instagram and other social feeds.
Square versions
1:1 — 1080 × 1080
For campaigns where a square format is appropriate.
The footage is captured once, but the edit is tailored to each destination.
Why aspect ratio should be considered before filming
The earlier you consider your final deliverables, the more options you have.
Before a production begins, it is worth asking:
Where will this video be used?
Will it appear on:
YouTube?
LinkedIn?
Instagram?
TikTok?
Facebook?
A corporate website?
Internal communications?
Microsoft Teams?
A presentation?
Digital signage?
A television broadcast?
The answer can influence how the production is filmed.
If you know from the outset that you need both landscape and vertical versions, the camera team can take that into account when composing shots.
This is particularly important for interviews, presentations, product demonstrations and events where you cannot simply recreate the moment later.
Video production for multiple platforms
At solo16, we regularly work with organisations that need video content to do more than simply sit on a website.
A single production can become a complete content package.
For example:
One interview
→ Full-length corporate film
→ LinkedIn video
→ Instagram Reel
→ TikTok
→ YouTube Short
→ Website content
→ Internal communications clip
→ Event highlights film
→ Speaker interviews
→ Social clips
→ Vertical Reels
→ LinkedIn content
→ Behind-the-scenes footage
→ Promotional content for the next event
The important thing is to think about the final content strategy before production begins.
One shoot. Multiple formats.
A good example of this approach is taking the same production and deliberately creating versions for different aspect ratios.
Rather than treating vertical video as an afterthought, the edit can be designed around the intended viewing environment.
That means the 16:9 version can be optimised for widescreen viewing while the 9:16 version is composed specifically for a smartphone.
The story remains the same.
The presentation changes to suit the platform.
EXAMPLES
Here is the same film we filmed and edited to fit the most common aspect ratios.
9:16 (vertical)
1:1 (Square)
16:9 (Landscape)
Read more on a food series we filmed here in various aspect ratios.
Which video aspect ratio should you use?
As a general rule:
Use 16:9 when:
Producing corporate films
Creating YouTube videos
Filming presentations
Producing website videos
Creating event films
Delivering content for large screens
Producing television or broadcast content
Use 9:16 when:
Creating Instagram Reels
Creating Facebook Reels
Producing TikTok videos
Creating YouTube Shorts
Producing Stories
Creating mobile-first social content
Use 4:5 when:
Creating Instagram feed content
Producing LinkedIn content
Creating social advertising
You want a taller feed format without going fully vertical
Use 1:1 when:
A square social format is specifically required
You need a flexible feed asset
A campaign calls for square creative
Don’t let the platform dictate your production
The best approach isn’t necessarily to shoot a separate video for every social network.
Instead, plan the production around the content you actually need.
A well-planned shoot can give you a high-quality master film alongside a collection of shorter, platform-specific edits.
This can dramatically increase the amount of useful content generated from a single production.
And importantly, it means your social content doesn’t have to look like an afterthought.
Need video content for multiple platforms?
At solo16, we can help you plan, film and edit video content with different aspect ratios and platforms in mind.
From corporate interviews and event filming to promotional films, live events and social-media content, we can build a production around the way your audience will actually watch it.
Whether you need a 16:9 corporate film, a series of 9:16 social clips, LinkedIn content or a complete multi-platform video package, we can help you get more from every production.
One shoot can give your business a complete library of content — from a 16:9 corporate film to vertical Reels, TikToks and Shorts — without having to organise separate productions for every platform.
Talk to solo16 about your next video production.
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