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Size of Videos on YouTube
Choose a YouTube format and get the right aspect ratio, resolution and export settings for videos, Shorts and square posts.
YOUTUBE VIDEO SIZE
Choose the right video dimensions
Recommended working preset for a 1080p landscape upload.
Size of videos on YouTube: quick reference
| Format | Aspect ratio | Working resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Standard video | 16:9 | 1920 × 1080 |
| 4K standard video | 16:9 | 3840 × 2160 |
| Vertical Short | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 |
| Square video | 1:1 | 1080 × 1080 |
| Vertical feed video | 4:5 | 1080 × 1350 |
These are practical editing presets rather than upload limits. YouTube’s player can adapt to vertical, square and other native aspect ratios.
YouTube aspect ratio and export settings
YouTube identifies 16:9 as the standard aspect ratio on a computer and recommends uploading at the same frame rate used during recording. Its current encoding guidance lists MP4, H.264 video and AAC-LC or Opus audio among the recommended settings.
For Shorts uploaded through YouTube’s mobile workflow, YouTube accepts square or vertical videos. Confirm current requirements in the official upload encoding guide and Shorts upload guide.
YouTube video dimensions and resolutions
Standard YouTube video is 16:9. Upload at the highest resolution you actually shot — YouTube generates the lower ones automatically, so there is no reason to downscale first.
- 2160p (4K): 3840 × 2160
- 1440p (2K): 2560 × 1440
- 1080p (Full HD): 1920 × 1080
- 720p (HD): 1280 × 720
- 480p: 854 × 480
- 360p: 640 × 360
These are the YouTube video measurements the player serves; the one you control is the source file. A clean 1080p upload beats a soft, upscaled 4K one every time.
YouTube aspect ratio: 16:9 and 9:16
The player is built around 16:9. Anything else gets letterboxed — bars at the sides for a 4:3 or 1:1 video, bars above and below for a wide cinematic crop.
9:16 vertical is the exception. A video uploaded at 1080 × 1920 and under three minutes is treated as a Short and gets the full-screen vertical player. That single choice decides which surface your video appears on, so pick the ratio before you shoot rather than cropping afterwards.
Choosing the right size before you record
Deciding the frame first saves the compromise later. Cropping 16:9 footage to vertical throws away half the image and usually cuts off heads.
- Long-form: shoot 16:9 at 1080p or higher.
- Shorts and Reels: shoot 9:16 natively.
- Both from one take: shoot 16:9 wide, frame your subject centrally, and leave headroom so a vertical crop still works.
The thumbnail is a separate asset at 1280 × 720, the same 16:9 ratio.
YouTube video size FAQ
What is the best size to upload to YouTube?
1920 × 1080 at 16:9 covers almost every case. Go to 2560 × 1440 or 3840 × 2160 only if you genuinely filmed at that resolution.
Why does my video have black bars?
The source ratio does not match 16:9, so the player pads it. Shooting or exporting at 16:9 removes them.
What is the standard YouTube aspect ratio?
The standard desktop player ratio is 16:9. YouTube also adapts its player for vertical and square uploads.
Should I add black bars before uploading?
No. YouTube recommends using the video’s native aspect ratio rather than adding letterboxing or pillarboxing bars.
What frame rate should I export?
Keep the same frame rate used for recording. Common rates include 24, 25, 30, 48, 50 and 60 frames per second.