Social media size guide for frame overlays

Fast reference

Use these dimensions as practical production defaults. Platform recommendations can change, but these sizes are widely supported and give editors clean, predictable canvases.

• Instagram feed: 1080x1080 square or 1080x1350 portrait.
• Instagram Stories / Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts: 1080x1920 vertical.
• YouTube long-form: 1920x1080 or 3840x2160 widescreen.
• LinkedIn and X feed: 1080x1080 square or 1920x1080 widescreen.

Instagram and Reels

Instagram is easiest when you separate feed posts from Reels. Use 4:5 for feed reach and 9:16 for full-screen Reels. When adding a cinematic overlay, generate the matte for the final canvas rather than scaling a 16:9 overlay afterward.

TikTok and Shorts

Short-form platforms reward vertical video, but widescreen footage can still work if you deliberately frame it with letterbox bars or film borders. Keep text away from the lower UI area.

• Use 1080x1920 for the project, overlay, and final export.
• Place important faces and captions in the center safe area.
• If source footage is landscape, use letterbox instead of stretching.

YouTube and client delivery

For long-form YouTube and most client reviews, 16:9 remains the default. Use 1920x1080 for speed, 3840x2160 for high-quality masters, and 5120x1080 only when the style calls for an ultra-wide strip.

• YouTube long-form: 1920x1080 or 3840x2160.
• YouTube Shorts: 1080x1920.
• Ultra-wide trend exports: 5120x1080, then place within social layouts when needed.

Cross-posting workflow

Do not make one export and hope every platform crops it well. Build a master edit, then create platform-specific overlays and exports from the same source timeline.

• Master once at the highest practical resolution.
• Duplicate the sequence for 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, and 4:5 exports.
• Generate a separate FrameGen overlay for each final canvas.