What is the YouTube Shorts safe zone?

The YouTube Shorts safe zone is the center area of a vertical video that is not covered by the title, channel label, description or right-side action buttons.

Where does YouTube cover a Short?

On a 1080 × 1920 Short, the title and channel details sit along the bottom-left, while like, dislike, comment, share and remix buttons run down the right. The guide above shades those areas.

Where should text go on a YouTube Short?

Place hook text and captions in the center of the frame, clear of the bottom 20% and the right-side button stack. Keep product details and faces away from those same edges.

Is the Shorts safe zone different from TikTok?

Yes. All three short-form apps cover the bottom and right side, but YouTube’s title and channel information make the bottom-left especially crowded. Check each platform before reusing one export everywhere.

What size should a YouTube Short be?

Use 1080 × 1920 pixels, a 9:16 vertical aspect ratio. Shorts can be up to 3 minutes long, and the same size also works for TikTok and Reels.

YouTube Shorts Safe Zone Guide

A frame guide for where YouTube titles, channel labels and action buttons cover your 9:16 Short.

Format

Safe

9:16

App UI covers the shaded edges. Keep content inside the dashed area.

Resolution: 1080 × 1920
Aspect ratio: 9:16
Max duration: 3 minutes (raised from 60s in Oct 2024)
Max file size: No Shorts-specific cap (platform max ~256 GB)
File types: MP4, MOV, WebM
Frame rate: 30 or 60 fps

The title, channel name and description sit bottom-left; like / dislike / comment / share / remix run down the right. Keep content clear of the bottom ~20% and right ~12%.

Resolutions and aspect ratios are stable; durations, file-size limits, crops and safe-zone margins reflect the major social platforms as of June 2026 and shift over time. Confirm in-app before a high-stakes upload.

Frequently asked

What is the YouTube Shorts safe zone?: The YouTube Shorts safe zone is the center area of a vertical video that is not covered by the title, channel label, description or right-side action buttons.
Where does YouTube cover a Short?: On a 1080 × 1920 Short, the title and channel details sit along the bottom-left, while like, dislike, comment, share and remix buttons run down the right. The guide above shades those areas.
Where should text go on a YouTube Short?: Place hook text and captions in the center of the frame, clear of the bottom 20% and the right-side button stack. Keep product details and faces away from those same edges.
Is the Shorts safe zone different from TikTok?: Yes. All three short-form apps cover the bottom and right side, but YouTube’s title and channel information make the bottom-left especially crowded. Check each platform before reusing one export everywhere.
What size should a YouTube Short be?: Use 1080 × 1920 pixels, a 9:16 vertical aspect ratio. Shorts can be up to 3 minutes long, and the same size also works for TikTok and Reels.

Bevyl keeps Shorts captions, hooks and product shots clear of the app UI while exporting to spec.

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