TikTok, Reels and Shorts safe zone checker
See which parts of a vertical video the TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts interface covers. Preview your own video or image, adjust the zones, or download a free transparent safe zone template for CapCut, Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve.
Runs in your browser. Your files are not uploaded. Videos play locally from your device.
Media
No media yet. You can still adjust the zones and export an empty template.
Platform
Caption height grows with longer captions and when a product link or sound label is shown.
Export
1080 × 1920 PNG with a transparent background. Place it as the top layer in your video editor. It uses the zones and display settings below.
Overlay zones
tabs, live, search
Adjust position and size
pxpxpxpxprofile, like, comment, save, share
Adjust position and size
pxpxpxpxAdjust position and size
pxpxpxpxAdjust position and size
pxpxpxpxAdjust position and size
pxpxpxpx
Display
Drop a vertical video or image
MP4, WebM or MOV video, or an image. Nothing is uploaded.
Safe area
940 × 1280 px
Top margin
160 px (8.3%)
Bottom margin
480 px (25%)
Side margins
0 px / 140 px
Estimates, not official specifications. Zone sizes are approximations of typical TikTok layouts on current phones. Real positions change with app updates, device size, language, caption length and ads. Leave extra margin for anything critical.
Free safe zone templates (transparent PNG, 1080 × 1920)
No upload needed. Each template marks the estimated interface zones and the clear area in a transparent 1080 × 1920 PNG. To change a zone first, use the checker above and its Download transparent template button.
TikTok template
Top tabs, the action buttons on the right, caption and sound line, bottom navigation.
Instagram Reels template
Reels header, like/comment/share column, username and caption, bottom navigation.
YouTube Shorts template
Search bar, action buttons, title and channel row with subscribe, bottom navigation.
Combined: TikTok, Reels and Shorts
The largest version of each zone across the three apps, for one video posted everywhere. Approximate.
Using the overlay in your editor
CapCut
Start a 9:16 project, add the PNG as an overlay above your video (Overlay on mobile; a track above the video on desktop) and stretch it to the full frame. Delete or hide it before exporting.
Premiere Pro
Use a 1080 × 1920 sequence, place the PNG on V2 above your footage and scale it to the frame. Turn off the track’s output (eye icon) before you export.
DaVinci Resolve
Set the timeline to 1080 × 1920 (vertical), put the PNG on Video 2 and disable the clip or the track before rendering.
How to check a vertical video against TikTok, Reels and Shorts safe zones
- Drop a video (MP4, WebM or MOV) or an image. You can also skip this and export an empty template.
- Choose TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts or “All 3”. Shaded areas show where the interface usually sits.
- Turn zones on or off and open Adjust position and size to fine-tune any of them. The dashed outline is the area clear of every zone.
- Play or scrub the video and check that faces, text and products stay inside the safe area. Download the transparent template or the current frame with the overlay.
Frequently asked questions
Are these the official safe zones?
No. They are estimates based on how each app typically lays out its interface on current phones. The apps change their layouts regularly, and the exact position depends on the device, the app version, your language, the caption length, and whether the post is an ad.
Treat the zones as a guide and leave some extra room for anything that must be seen. You can adjust every zone to match what you see.
How do I use the template in my editor?
Download the transparent PNG (1080 × 1920) and place it as the top layer in CapCut, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro or any other editor with a 1080 × 1920 timeline. Hide or delete the layer before you export the video. The template section has steps for each editor.
Why won’t my video play?
Browsers only play certain formats. MP4 with H.264 video and WebM play almost everywhere. iPhone videos recorded in HEVC (H.265) and ProRes files often only play in Safari. Re-export as H.264 MP4, or upload a screenshot of the frame instead.
My video isn’t 9:16. What happens?
Choose Fill to see how the app would crop it to fill the screen, or Fit to see it with bars. Most apps fill the screen for vertical videos that are close to 9:16 and show bars for other shapes.
Is my video uploaded?
No. The browser plays the file directly from your device. Nothing is sent anywhere; see the privacy policy.
What each app puts on top of your video
Short-form apps draw their controls over the video itself, so text and faces near the edges can end up hidden. The zones below are typical layouts on current phones, measured as estimates. They are not official specifications: they change with app updates, screen sizes, caption length, language and ads.
TikTok
Tabs and search across the top, a column of profile, like, comment, save and share buttons on the right, and the username, caption and sound line at the bottom.
Instagram Reels
The Reels header at the top, like, comment, share and audio buttons on the right, and a caption area that can grow upwards at the bottom.
YouTube Shorts
Search and menu at the top, like, dislike, comment, share and remix buttons on the right, and the title, channel and subscribe button at the bottom.
One video, all three apps
Choose “All 3” to see the area that stays clear on every app at once: the largest version of each zone across the three. It is approximate, like the individual estimates.
Thumbnails and covers
Making a 1080 × 1920 cover from a screenshot? The screenshot beautifier has a YouTube Shorts size.
Estimated safe areas in a 1080 × 1920 frame
The default zones used by the checker. They are estimates of typical phone layouts, not official platform specifications; captions, ads and app updates change them.
| Platform | Keep clear at top | Keep clear at bottom | Keep clear on the right | Safe area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 160 px | 480 px | 140 px | 940 × 1280 |
| Instagram Reels | 250 px | 600 px | 150 px | 930 × 1070 |
| YouTube Shorts | 180 px | 540 px | 160 px | 920 × 1200 |
| TikTok + Reels + Shorts | 250 px | 600 px | 160 px | 920 × 1070 |