TikTok video size: the specs that matter
The best TikTok video size is vertical 9:16 at 1080×1920 pixels. Keep captions and faces away from the bottom and right edges, where the app places its text and buttons, and your video will fill the screen cleanly on any phone.
Step by step
- 1
Set the canvas to 9:16
Start every TikTok project at 1080 pixels wide by 1920 tall. That is the vertical full-screen format TikTok is built around.
- 2
Reframe horizontal footage
If your source is a 16:9 stream or gameplay clip, crop it into the vertical frame or split it into a facecam panel and a gameplay panel instead of leaving black bars.
- 3
Keep text inside the safe zone
Place captions and important details in the center area of the screen, clear of the caption, username and button overlays at the bottom and on the right.
- 4
Export as MP4 and upload
Export a vertical MP4 in HD and upload it. StreamClip exports 9:16 only, so every video already matches the TikTok video size.
TikTok video size and aspect ratio
TikTok is a vertical, full-screen app, so the ideal video size is a 9:16 aspect ratio. The standard resolution is 1080×1920 pixels: 1080 wide and 1920 tall. Exporting at that size gives you a sharp image that fills a phone screen from top to bottom without bars or awkward zoom.
TikTok will accept other shapes, such as square 1:1 or horizontal 16:9, but they show up with empty space around them and look smaller in the feed. 720×1280 is also 9:16 and will work, but 1080×1920 is the safer choice because it holds up better after TikTok compresses your upload.
Safe zones: where to put captions and faces
Not all of the 1080×1920 frame is free. TikTok overlays your username, caption, hashtags and sound name along the bottom, and stacks the like, comment, share and profile buttons on the right side. Anything important placed in those areas can get covered on many phones.
A simple rule: keep captions and key text roughly in the middle of the screen, a bit above the bottom fifth, and leave some margin on the right edge. Faces and the main action belong in the center too. Preview your video on a phone before posting to check that nothing gets hidden.
Length, format and frame rate
TikTok supports videos well beyond one minute, but for clips from streams and gaming, shorter usually works better: one clear moment, cut tight, often under a minute. Upload MP4 or MOV files, which are the most widely supported formats on the platform.
Standard frame rates like 30 or 60 frames per second both work. If your gameplay was recorded at 60 fps, keeping it can make fast action look smoother. What matters most is exporting at full HD in 9:16, so TikTok has a clean, correctly sized file to work with.
Resizing stream clips to the right size with StreamClip
Stream and gameplay clips are almost always 16:9, so the hard part is not knowing the size but reframing for it. StreamClip's editor works only in 9:16, and its layouts split your facecam and gameplay into stacked panels, with the facecam detected automatically. You can still crop, zoom and trim by hand.
Paste a Twitch, Kick or YouTube link or upload a file, add AI captions in one of about 90 animated styles, and export in HD from your browser. Free exports carry a small watermark. Pro, at USD $15 a month, removes it and lets you publish or schedule straight to TikTok.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best video size for TikTok?
Vertical 9:16 at 1080×1920 pixels. It fills the whole phone screen and stays sharp after TikTok compresses the upload.
What aspect ratio does TikTok use?
TikTok is built for 9:16, which is vertical full screen. Square and horizontal videos are accepted but display with empty space around them.
Where should I put captions on a TikTok video?
Near the middle of the screen, above the bottom area and away from the right edge. Those edges are covered by the caption text, username and action buttons.
Can I upload a horizontal video to TikTok?
Yes, but it will appear small with bars above and below. Reframing it to 9:16, for example with a facecam and gameplay split, makes it fill the screen.
Does StreamClip export at the right TikTok size?
Yes. The editor is vertical 9:16 only and exports in HD, so videos are ready for TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Reels without resizing.
Get the size right on every clip
Turn a horizontal stream clip into a 1080×1920 video with captions placed where people can read them.
Resize a clip free