YouTube Shorts Dimensions: 1080 × 1920 at 9:16

Updated September 2026 · By Joseph Pugliese, founder of Linklay

Last verified: September 7, 2026

A 1080 × 1920 pixel vertical file at 9:16 is the standard production target for YouTube Shorts. YouTube classifies square or vertical videos of the eligible duration as Shorts, so 1080 × 1920 is a practical format rather than a published hard pixel requirement.

Quick answer

Create YouTube Shorts at 1080 × 1920 px with a 9:16 vertical aspect ratio for a full-screen mobile presentation. YouTube currently treats eligible square or vertical uploads as Shorts, and its upload guidance says square or vertical videos up to 3 minutes can be uploaded as Shorts.

At a glance

SpecValue
Recommended production size1080 × 1920 px
Recommended ratio9:16 vertical
Other eligible orientationSquare or vertical
Current Shorts duration ruleUp to 3 minutes for square or vertical uploads
Important note1080 × 1920 is a production target, not a hard pixel minimum published by YouTube

What should you use?

The reason 1080 × 1920 is the safest working size is simple: it fills a vertical 9:16 phone screen without requiring letterboxing. YouTube can still accept other vertical and square frames, but a full-height 9:16 export gives creators predictable composition for text, faces and product shots.

How YouTube handles this

Keep important visual elements away from the extreme top and bottom because Shorts adds interface elements over the video. Do not permanently place controls, captions or branding in the outermost edge of the frame if it must remain visible in every playback context.

Practical guidance

Do not confuse Shorts dimensions with Shorts length. Dimensions describe the frame. Length determines whether the upload is eligible for the Shorts format. Linklay already has a separate canonical guide for YouTube Shorts length, so this page should link to that guide rather than repeat or compete with it.

Sources and verification

Verified against YouTube Help on September 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best dimensions for YouTube Shorts?

1080 × 1920 pixels at 9:16 is the standard full-screen vertical production target.

Can a YouTube Short be square?

Yes. YouTube says eligible square or vertical videos can be uploaded as Shorts.

Is 1080 × 1920 required by YouTube?

No. It is a practical recommended production size, not a hard pixel rule published by YouTube.

Are Shorts dimensions and Shorts length the same topic?

No. Dimensions are the frame size; length is the video duration. Keep the two intents on separate canonical pages.

Sources

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