What Aspect Ratio To Use for YouTube Videos, Instagram Reels and More

In the fast-paced world of social media, your content has only a split second to grab a user's attention. As well as creating engaging content, and using the best high-quality microphone for great YouTube vlogs, one of the most critical, yet often overlooked, factors in making your posts stand out is using the correct aspect ratio. The aspect ratio determines how much screen space your content commands. Using the wrong dimensions can lead to awkward cropping, text cut-offs, and an overall amateur look that causes users to scroll right past. While most social platforms offer video editing tools to adjust your content later, pre-planning your visuals with the correct aspect ratio in mind is the most efficient strategy. Knowing the ideal specifications from the start prevents frustrating re-editing, saves valuable time, and ensures your images and videos are displayed exactly as intended, instantly boosting their impact and professional polish.

Here’s everything you need to know about what aspect ratio to use for YouTube Videos, Instagram Reels and other online content.

Before diving into specifications, it helps to understand exactly what aspect ratio is. Simply put, the aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between the width and the height of a video image or a display screen. It is expressed as two numbers separated by a colon (e.g., 16:9). A higher first number means the image is wider than it is tall, while a higher second number means it's taller than it is wide. This ratio dictates the shape of your final video and how it will display on different screens, from a wide-screen TV to a smartphone held vertically, the latter if which is how most people will ultimately be viewing your online content.

For traditional, standard YouTube video content (videos watched primarily on desktops and televisions), the 16:9 aspect ratio is the industry standard and the best choice. This wide-screen format perfectly fills the YouTube player on most devices. However, for mobile-first content like YouTube Shorts, the standard is a vertical ratio: 9:16. Creating both horizontal (16:9) and vertical (9:16) versions of your content is the most effective way to maximise visibility across the entire YouTube platform.

For on-the-grid content like photos and standard videos, the traditional square format (1:1) remains a staple on Instagram, displaying neatly on your profile grid. However, to maximise screen real estate in the user's main feed, the vertical portrait format (4:5) is highly recommended, as it occupies more space and tends to drive better engagement. For dynamic, full-screen video content, such as Reels, the best aspect ratio is the full-screen vertical (9:16), which is optimised for mobile viewing and provides the most immersive experience.

The process of achieving the correct aspect ratio often depends on your camera. While many modern cameras, especially mirrorless cameras, offer specific settings to shoot in YouTube-friendly ratios like 16:9 or even 9:16 directly in-camera, older or more basic models may only shoot in a wider format like 3:2 or 4:3. In these cases, you will need to perform cropping and resizing during the post-production editing phase to ensure your final export meets YouTube's required ratio without black bars appearing.

Mirrorless Cameras

These cameras are ideal for high-quality production and offer dedicated video controls, as well as interchangeable lenses, allowing you to choose your own specific focal length.

Sony ZV-E10:

Best For: Vlogging and beginners.

Key Feature: The Sony ZV-E10 automatically detects and saves 9:16 vertical video when the camera is turned on its side, making YouTube Shorts workflow seamless. One of our favourite cameras for vlogging, the ZV-E10 shoots standard 16:9 4K footage.

Fujifilm X-S20:

Best for: Hybrid shooters who require exceptional photo and video quality.

Key Feature: The Fujifilm X-S20 provides excellent image quality for 16:9 (up to 6.2K) with strong colour science and robust video-specific features.

Panasonic Lumix GH7:

Best For: Advanced video and maximum post-production flexibility.

Key Feature: The Panasonic Lumix GH7 offers Open Gate recording, which means it captures footage using the entire sensor. This provides maximum source resolution, allowing you to crop perfectly to both 16:9 and 9:16 in editing without sacrificing quality.

Digital Compact Cameras

Due to their more compact stature and built-in camera lenses, digital compact cameras are perfect for run-and-gun shooting, travel, and maximum portability.

Sony ZV-1 II:

Best For: Premium pocket-sized vlogging.

Key Feature: Using its 1-inch sensor, the ZV-1 II shoots standard 16:9 4K video. It features a wide-angle lens, fast autofocus, and a form factor that is easy to hold and turn for quick 9:16 vertical shots.

DJI Osmo Pocket 3:

Best For: Simple, stabilised, mobile content creation.

Key Feature: The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is a handheld gimbal with a built-in camera, which features a screen and lens that can physically rotate instantly between 16:9 and 9:16 aspect ratios with the push of a button. This makes it the most seamless option for mixed-format content.

With these aspect ratio rules in your toolkit, you're ready to create perfectly framed content, in-camera. That means now you know what aspect ratio to use for YouTube Videos and Instagram Reels. But the technical details don't stop there, if you want to further craft the look of your vlogs and truly master your video's visual style, be sure to check out Ted's essential guide to focal lengths next.