9:16 Aspect Ratio
9:16 is the vertical (portrait) counterpart of 16:9 widescreen. It perfectly fills a smartphone screen held upright — making it the dominant format for short-form social video. TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Snapchat all use 9:16 as their primary canvas.
Open 9:16 Calculator →Common 9:16 Dimensions
| Name | Width | Height | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| SD Mobile | 540 | 960 | Low-resolution mobile, older devices |
| HD Mobile | 720 | 1,280 | Standard mobile quality |
| Full HD (1080p) | 1,080 | 1,920 | TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts — recommended |
| QHD Mobile | 1,440 | 2,560 | High-end smartphone recording |
Where is 9:16 Used?
- →TikTok videos
- →Instagram Reels and Stories
- →YouTube Shorts
- →Snapchat videos
- →Facebook Reels and Stories
- →Pinterest video pins
- →Mobile-first advertising
Frequently Asked Questions
What resolution should I use for TikTok?+
TikTok recommends 1080×1920 pixels (9:16 ratio) for the best quality. This is Full HD vertical video. Using a lower resolution may result in compression artifacts after upload.
Is 9:16 the same as portrait mode?+
Yes. 9:16 is the standard portrait (vertical) video ratio, equivalent to flipping a 16:9 widescreen frame on its side. It matches the natural orientation of a smartphone held in one hand.
Can I post a 9:16 video on YouTube?+
Yes — YouTube Shorts is specifically designed for 9:16 vertical videos. Regular YouTube uploads also accept 9:16, but they will display with black bars (pillarboxing) on desktop when embedded in a 16:9 player.
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