The TikTok video size to use is vertical 9:16, at 540 × 960 px or larger. Square (1:1) starts at 640 × 640 px, and landscape (16:9) starts at 960 × 540 px. Those are minimums, so bigger is fine.
Which TikTok video size to use
If you are asking what size is a TikTok video, the short answer is that TikTok recommends vertical. The official page lists vertical 9:16 as the recommended format and gives a minimum of 540 × 960 px. It does not state a single exact size, only “this or larger.”
| Format | Ratio | Minimum size |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical (recommended) | 9:16 | 540 × 960 px |
| Square | 1:1 | 640 × 640 px |
| Horizontal | 16:9 | 960 × 540 px |
Vertical
Choose vertical for almost everything. It fills a phone screen, which is where most people watch. If you are unsure which size video for TikTok to export, start here.
Square
Square works if your footage was shot for other platforms and you do not want to re-crop it. It will not fill a phone screen the way vertical does, so expect empty space around it.
Landscape
Landscape is accepted, but it appears small on a phone held upright. Use it only when the content really needs the width, such as a wide demo or a gameplay clip.
What about 1080 by 1920?
You will see a larger vertical size recommended all over the web. The official TikTok page we checked does not state it. It gives only the minimum of 540 × 960 px. Exporting larger than the minimum at the same 9:16 ratio is a reasonable choice, but treat it as a habit, not an official rule.
File types and limits
These specs come from TikTok’s ad specifications.
- Accepted file types: MP4, MOV, MPEG, 3GP, AVI
- Max file size (non-Spark ads): 500 MB
- Max duration (non-Spark ads): 10 minutes (Spark Ads: no duration restriction). Spark Ads have no duration restriction.
- Minimum bitrate: 516 kbps
Limits for regular organic uploads are not confirmed here. Sources disagree on length and file size for normal posts, so check the upload screen in your app, since it can differ by version and region.
How TikTok displays your video
TikTok’s official page does not describe exactly how feed, profile grid or desktop views crop a video, so we will not guess at pixel values. What is safe to say: a video that matches the recommended vertical ratio fills the screen with the least cropping, and other ratios are shown with extra space or trimmed. Always preview your video before posting.
Safe zone and where to keep text
TikTok places buttons, the caption and the account name on top of the video. Its official page says the safe zone depends on the dimension, the ad caption length and any extra formats, and it gives the guide only as downloadable template files. We have no verified pixel margins, so we do not list any.
Practical advice without numbers:
- Keep key text away from the very edges.
- Leave room at the bottom for the caption and account name.
- Leave room on the right side for the action buttons.
- Check the preview in the app, then move text if anything is covered.
TikTok photo size, cover and green screen
People often search for TikTok photo size, TikTok cover photo size and TikTok green screen photo size. The data on this page covers video only. TikTok does not publish an official size for these that we could confirm, so we will not invent one. A safe approach is to use a vertical image in the 9:16 ratio, at or above 540 × 960 px, so it fills the screen like video does. Treat that as a sensible default, not an official photo rule.
For a cover, pick a frame from the video itself where the subject sits near the middle, since the grid may crop the edges.
How to resize an image to TikTok size with the tool on this page
The free resizer on this page works in your browser. Menus and labels can change as the tool is updated, but the steps are generally these:
- Open the resizer on this page.
- Add your image from your device.
- Pick the TikTok vertical preset, or enter a custom size at or above 540 × 960 px.
- Keep the 9:16 ratio and adjust the crop so the subject is centered.
- Preview the result and check that nothing important sits at the edges.
- Download the file and upload it to TikTok.
For other platforms, try the Social Media Image Resizer. If you also post vertical video on Instagram, see Instagram Reels size, or compare with Instagram story size.
Common mistakes
- Going below the minimum. A video smaller than 540 × 960 px may look soft or be rejected in ads.
- Posting landscape by default. It shows small on a phone. Re-frame for vertical when you can.
- Stretching to fit. Never change the ratio by dragging one side. Crop instead.
- Putting text at the edges. Buttons and captions can cover it.
- Using the wrong file type. Stick to MP4, MOV, MPEG, 3GP, AVI.
- Heavy compression. Exporting below 516 kbps can cause quality problems.
- Trusting random numbers. Many sites quote limits and sizes that TikTok does not publish. Check official sources.