Can I add text outside the TikTok safe zone?

You can, but the text gets covered by TikTok's UI elements (tabs at top, caption at bottom, like/share buttons on the right). Text in those zones is invisible to most viewers. Keep important text inside the middle 60 percent vertically and 80 percent horizontally.

Does TikTok prefer videos shot in-app vs uploaded?

Algorithmic preference is minimal as of 2026. Earlier years showed a slight in-app bonus; today the algorithm weighs content quality and engagement signals more than recording method. Use whichever produces the highest-quality content for your workflow.

What is the difference between TikTok aspect ratio and Instagram Reels?

Both are 9:16 native. Same 1080x1920 pixel recommendation. The main difference is safe zone — Instagram Reels has slightly different UI element placement (story bar at top is shorter; right-side buttons are similar). Content shot for TikTok safe zone works on Reels with minor adjustments.

Does TikTok crop my video?

Only if it does not match 9:16. A 9:16 video uploads without cropping. A wider video (16:9 or 4:5) gets bordered, not cropped. A taller video (9:18 or longer) gets cropped to fit the 9:16 height. The cropping happens automatically and is rarely what you would choose manually.

How do I crop a video to 9:16 for TikTok?

Use a video editor — CapCut (free, made by TikTok's parent), InShot, or Final Cut. Set the canvas to 9:16 (1080x1920), position your video to fit, and export. CapCut has a one-tap 9:16 export option that handles the common cases automatically.

What aspect ratio works best on TikTok for product videos?

9:16 with the product centred in the safe zone. Product showcases benefit from full-screen presentation; letterboxed product videos look amateur. Pre-shoot the product for 9:16 framing rather than re-cropping from a 16:9 or 1:1 shoot.

Can I post a TikTok in a different aspect ratio for desktop viewing?

No — TikTok displays the same 9:16 aspect ratio across mobile and desktop. On desktop, the 9:16 video sits in the centre of the screen with black space on either side. There is no way to publish a separate desktop-optimised version.

Does aspect ratio affect TikTok algorithm?

Indirectly. The algorithm does not penalise non-9:16 ratios directly, but non-9:16 videos get worse completion rates (smaller visible area, weird borders), which the algorithm reads as weaker signal. Native 9:16 effectively wins because of completion rate, not because of the ratio itself.

The exact ratio

What Aspect Ratio Is TikTok?

9:16 is the only ratio that fills the TikTok screen — every other ratio gets letterboxed, bordered, or cropped in ways that hurt reach.

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The exact ratio

9:16, 1080x1920, no exceptions

TikTok's screen is 9:16 — taller than it is wide. 1080x1920 pixels is the recommended resolution. Anything else gets borders (if the video is too wide), gets cropped (if the video is too tall), or sits letterboxed in the middle of the screen (if the ratio is off). The 9:16 rule is non-negotiable for reach.

9:16 aspect ratio (vertical, taller than wide)

1080x1920 pixels — TikTok's recommended resolution

Other ratios get bordered, cropped, or letterboxed

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What TikTok does with other ratios

What happens with non-9:16 video

TikTok handles non-9:16 video in predictable but ugly ways. A 16:9 video (landscape) gets letterboxed with black bars top and bottom, taking only the middle of the screen. A 1:1 video (square) gets bordered top and bottom. A 4:5 video (Instagram-portrait) fits almost full-screen but with small bars. Each non-native ratio looks worse than re-cropping to 9:16.

16:9 landscape — letterboxed with prominent black bars

1:1 square — bordered top and bottom

4:5 portrait — small bars but still off-spec

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Safe zone for text and stickers

Where TikTok's UI covers your content

TikTok's interface covers parts of the screen with the username, caption, like buttons, and share buttons. Any text or sticker placed in those covered zones gets hidden behind the UI. The safe zone is roughly the middle 60 percent vertically and 80 percent horizontally — keep all CTAs, text, and important faces inside that area.

Bottom 200px — username, caption, sound info covers content

Right 100px — like, comment, share buttons cover content

Top 200px — Following/For You tabs cover content

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Get TikTok aspect ratio right in 4 steps

Record or export at 9:16 (1080x1920)

If recording in-app, TikTok defaults to 9:16. If recording externally, set your camera or app to 9:16 vertical before pressing record. Re-cropping later loses resolution and almost always crops out the parts you wanted.

Keep important content in the central safe zone

Faces, text overlays, products, and CTAs should sit in the middle 60 percent of the screen. Avoid placing important content in the top 200 pixels (covered by TikTok's tabs) or bottom 200 pixels (covered by caption and username).

Avoid borders or letterboxing

If your source video is not 9:16, re-crop in editing rather than uploading as-is. A 9:16 re-crop with smart framing always outperforms a letterboxed video, even if the re-crop loses some content. Black bars signal "wrong platform" to the algorithm.

Test the first 3 seconds on a phone

The first 3 seconds decide whether the video completes. Watch your video on a phone (not desktop preview) before publishing. The phone view shows what the algorithm and audience actually see, including how the safe zone affects readability.

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TikTok aspect ratio FAQ

Quick answers on dimensions, safe zone, and what happens with non-9:16.

What aspect ratio is TikTok?

TikTok's native aspect ratio is 9:16 (vertical, taller than wide). The recommended resolution is 1080x1920 pixels. Any other ratio gets either borders, letterboxing, or cropping when uploaded — none of which look as good as native 9:16.

What is the TikTok video size in pixels?

1080x1920 pixels at 9:16 aspect ratio. TikTok accepts higher resolutions (up to 1080x1920 is the recommended; 4K source video gets re-encoded). Lower resolution than 720x1280 (still 9:16) is accepted but visibly degraded.

Can I upload landscape (16:9) video to TikTok?

Yes, but it gets letterboxed with prominent black bars top and bottom. The video uses only the middle third of the screen. Landscape video on TikTok performs significantly worse than 9:16 native because the smaller visible area reduces stopping power in the feed.

What is the TikTok safe zone?

The central area of the screen that is not covered by TikTok's UI elements. Roughly the middle 60 percent vertically (between the top tabs and bottom caption) and 80 percent horizontally (between the right-side action buttons and the left edge). Keep all text, faces, and CTAs inside this zone.

What happens if I upload 1:1 square video to TikTok?

It displays bordered top and bottom, sitting in the middle of the screen with grey or black bars filling the space. Like 16:9, this performs worse than native 9:16 because the smaller visible content area reduces audience attention.

Should I record TikToks in the app or with an external camera?

External cameras give better quality but require you to manually crop to 9:16 and re-import. In-app recording defaults to 9:16 and gives access to TikTok's effects. For most creators, in-app recording is faster and good enough; for high-production content, external cameras with manual 9:16 cropping win.

What is the maximum video resolution TikTok supports?

1080x1920 (recommended). Uploading higher resolution like 4K causes TikTok to re-encode and downsample. The visual quality of a properly-shot 1080p video and a downsampled 4K video is almost identical, so 1080p is the practical maximum.

Why does my TikTok video have black bars?

Your source video is not 9:16. TikTok added the bars to fit the non-native ratio into the 9:16 frame. Re-crop in editing software (CapCut, InShot) to 9:16 before re-uploading. The bars cannot be removed via TikTok itself once uploaded.

Schedule 9:16 TikToks at peak hours

PostNext schedules TikTok video at 9:16 native ratio via TikTok's official API, with safe-zone-aware preview so you can verify text placement before publish. No more letterboxed surprises after the publish button.