Video size
YouTube Shorts video size
YouTube classifies a video as a Short by aspect ratio and length. Upload a square or landscape file and it becomes a regular video no matter how short it is, which changes where it gets shown.
- Resolution
- 1080x1920
- Aspect ratio
- 9:16
- Also accepted
- Nothing else
File: MP4 or MOV, H.264 video, AAC-LC audio at 48 kHz.
Length: Up to 3 minutes, per YouTube. Uploads at a maximum resolution of 1080p.
Dimensions and ratios are stable. Length and file caps change often, these were checked in July 2026. Platform docs.
Crop calculator
Put in the size of the footage you have. You get the largest 9:16 crop that fits inside it, where to place it, and what to export.
- Crop box
- —
- Offset from top left
- —
- Trimmed away
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- Export at
- —
Shaded bands are where the YouTube interface sits. Keep text and faces out of them.
Do the crop on your phone
Cropzen crops, trims and resizes video to these ratios on Android. No watermark, no sign-up, exports up to 4K.
What to watch out for on YouTube
- The aspect ratio check is strict. 9:16 or it is not a Short.
- Exporting above 1080p is wasted upload time here, YouTube caps Shorts at 1080p.
- The title and channel row sit low on the frame, so leave the bottom quarter clean.
Questions people ask
What size should a YouTube Shorts video be?
1080 by 1920 pixels, an aspect ratio of 9:16. YouTube classifies a video as a Short by aspect ratio and length. Upload a square or landscape file and it becomes a regular video no matter how short it is, which changes where it gets shown.
Which aspect ratio does YouTube accept besides 9:16?
9:16 only. Anything else changes how the video is classified and where it gets shown.
Where does the YouTube interface cover the video?
Roughly the top 100 pixels, the bottom 280 pixels and the right 140 pixels at 1080x1920. Keep text and faces out of those bands.
How do I crop a video I already shot to this size?
Use the calculator on this page to get the exact crop box, then apply it in any editor. On Android, Cropzen does it in a few taps with no watermark and no sign-up.