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. Using the wrong dimensions can lead to awkward cropping, text cut-offs, and an overall amateur look that causes users to scroll right past. Pre-planning your visuals with the correct aspect ratio in mind — rather than fixing it in post — saves time and ensures your images and videos are displayed exactly as intended.
What is Aspect Ratio?
Aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between the width and height of a video, image, or display screen, 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; a higher second number means it's taller than it is wide. This shape determines how your content displays across everything from a wide-screen TV to a smartphone held vertically — the latter being how most people will ultimately view your content.
Square images are in the 1:1 ratio, which is common for on-the-grid Instagram content
Quick Reference: Aspect Ratio by Platform
| Platform / Format | Aspect Ratio | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube (standard video) | 16:9 | 1920 x 1080px |
| YouTube Shorts | 9:16 | 1080 x 1920px |
| Instagram Feed Photos (square) | 1:1 | 1080 x 1080px |
| Instagram Feed Photos (portrait, best visibility) | 4:5 | 1080 x 1350px |
| Instagram Feed Photos (landscape) | 1.91:1 | 1080 x 566px |
| Instagram Feed Videos | 4:5 | 1080 x 1350px |
| Instagram Reels & Stories | 9:16 | 1080 x 1920px |
| TikTok | 9:16 | 1080 x 1920px |
When in doubt, shoot in 9:16 and crop down — you'll always have more flexibility than if you shoot too wide.
YouTube: 16:9 for Standard Video, 9:16 for Shorts
This image is presented in the 16:9 horizontal aspect ratio
For standard YouTube video content watched primarily on desktops and televisions, 16:9 is the industry standard and matches the native widescreen display of YouTube's player and most monitors and TVs — uploading anything else will result in pillarboxing or letterboxing. For mobile-first YouTube Shorts, the correct format is the vertical 9:16, identical to TikTok and Instagram Reels. Creating both a horizontal and a vertical version of your content is the most effective way to maximise visibility across the whole platform. If you're cross-posting the same vertical clip to Shorts, TikTok, and Reels, shooting in 9:16 from the start covers all three at once.
Instagram: 1:1 or 4:5 for Feed, 9:16 for Reels and Stories
The vertical 9:16 aspect ratio is the most common for Instagram Reels
For on-the-grid feed photos and videos, the classic square 1:1 (1080 x 1080px) remains the safest choice and displays neatly on your profile grid. Portrait 4:5 (1080 x 1350px) is the largest vertical size Instagram allows in the feed, and is widely considered the best-performing format there since it occupies more screen space and tends to drive better engagement before a user scrolls past. Landscape 1.91:1 is supported but displays smallest in the feed, so it's rarely the best choice unless the shot genuinely demands it.
For Reels and Stories, always use the full-screen vertical 9:16 (1080 x 1920px) — it's optimised for mobile viewing and fills the entire screen. Avoid posting horizontal 16:9 video to Reels specifically; it gets heavily cropped and letterboxed, which meaningfully reduces its impact. If you're managing a brand account, our guide to using Instagram for business covers how to use the right formats for maximum reach.
What Is the 1080×1350 (4:5) Format, Specifically?
1080×1350px is Instagram's 4:5 aspect ratio — a portrait format slightly taller than square, and the largest vertical size the feed allows. Because it occupies more vertical space than a 1:1 square or a 16:9 landscape post, a 4:5 post naturally draws more attention as users scroll, which is why it's a strategically valuable default for creators and brands. It suits portrait photography, product shots, and talking-head clips repurposed from longer video particularly well. If you're shooting specifically for feed performance, frame with a 4:5 crop in mind from the start — most modern mirrorless cameras and smartphones let you set this as an in-camera overlay guide.
What About 5:4 Video — Is It Worth Using?
The 5:4 ratio (e.g. 1280 x 1024px) occasionally appears in camera menus and older display specifications, but it has no meaningful home on any major social platform in 2026. Instagram's feed maximum is 4:5 (1080 x 1350px), which is slightly taller and a better fit for portrait content. TikTok, Reels, and Shorts all require 9:16. If your camera offers 5:4 as a shooting option, treat it the same way you would 4:3 — as a native sensor format to be cropped in post rather than a social-ready output. For feed photos specifically, set your target as 4:5 instead; it occupies the same portrait-leaning space and is natively supported by every Instagram surface without any cropping penalty.
TikTok: 9:16, No Exceptions
The 4:5 aspect ratio is great for photography, but not optimised for social platforms
TikTok is built entirely around vertical video, making aspect ratio one of the most important settings to get right before you hit record. The recommended (and effectively required) aspect ratio is 9:16, shot ideally at 1080 x 1920px for the sharpest result. TikTok will technically accept horizontal or square video, but both are heavily penalised in the algorithm and display with distracting black bars. Keep key visual elements and any on-screen text centred and away from the top and bottom edges, where TikTok's UI overlays — captions, buttons, username — will otherwise obscure your content. If you're shooting TikTok content on a smartphone, our tips for shooting video on your phone will help you get the most from your device.
Are YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels the Same Size?
Yes — YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikTok all use the identical 9:16 aspect ratio at 1080 x 1920px. So are Reels 9:16? Absolutely, and that's no coincidence: all three platforms are competing for the same vertical, full-screen mobile viewing experience. In practical terms, a single clip shot in 9:16 can be uploaded to all three platforms without any resizing or cropping. The differences between them are in content style, caption placement, and UI overlays — not the frame dimensions themselves. The one thing to watch: safe zones differ slightly between platforms, so keep text and faces centred and away from the top and bottom 15% of the frame to avoid being obscured by buttons and captions on any of them.
Gear vs. Post-Production: Where Aspect Ratio Actually Gets Decided
Achieving the right aspect ratio often comes down to your camera. Many modern cameras, especially mirrorless models, offer dedicated settings to shoot directly in YouTube- and social-friendly ratios like 16:9 or 9:16 in-camera. Older or more basic cameras may only shoot in a wider native format like 3:2 or 4:3, which means cropping and resizing in post-production to hit your target ratio without black bars appearing.
The most efficient approach is setting the ratio correctly before you record, rather than cropping afterward and losing resolution. On most mirrorless and DSLR cameras, this is under Menu > Image Quality / Video Settings > Aspect Ratio. For vertical social content, simply rotate the camera to portrait orientation and shoot in 9:16 directly where it's supported, or shoot 16:9 landscape and reframe vertically in editing — a camera with a flip or articulating screen makes vertical shooting far more comfortable either way. If you're unsure which camera suits social content creation best, browse our range at Ted's Cameras or speak with our in-store team.
Recommended YouTube-Friendly Cameras
Mirrorless Cameras
These cameras are ideal for high-quality production, with dedicated video controls and interchangeable lenses so you can choose your own 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 the YouTube Shorts workflow seamless. It shoots standard 16:9 4K footage as its default.
Fujifilm X-S20
Best for: Hybrid shooters who need exceptional photo and video quality.
Key Feature: The Fujifilm X-S20 delivers excellent 16:9 image quality up to 6.2K, with strong colour science and genuinely robust video-specific features.
Panasonic Lumix GH7
Best For: Advanced video and maximum post-production flexibility.
Key Feature: The Panasonic Lumix GH7's Open Gate recording captures footage using the entire sensor, giving you maximum source resolution to crop perfectly to both 16:9 and 9:16 in editing without sacrificing quality.
Digital Compact Cameras
Their compact size and built-in lenses make these ideal for run-and-gun shooting, travel, and maximum portability.
Sony ZV-1 II
Best For: Premium pocket-sized vlogging.
Key Feature: The 1-inch sensor shoots standard 16:9 4K video, with a wide-angle lens, fast autofocus, and a form factor that's easy to hold and turn for quick 9:16 vertical shots.
DJI Osmo Pocket 3
Best For: Simple, stabilised, mobile content creation.
Key Feature: A handheld gimbal with a built-in camera whose screen and lens physically rotate instantly between 16:9 and 9:16 at the push of a button — the most seamless option available for mixed-format content.
Master Your Aspect Ratios for Social Media Success
With these ratios in your toolkit, you're ready to create perfectly framed content in-camera, across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok alike. But the technical details don't stop at aspect ratio — 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, and our video lighting guide for YouTube and content creators to make sure your footage looks as polished as its framing. If you're new to mirrorless systems generally, our complete guide to how mirrorless cameras work covers what to look for when choosing one specifically for video.
For more vlogging tips and to explore our full range of mirrorless and video cameras, visit your local Ted's Cameras store or shop online.
Top Cameras for Every Aspect Ratio
