Video Aspect Ratios: The Only Guide You Need

Videos account for over 80% of internet traffic.

Still, almost 90% of users stop watching a video within the first 10 seconds. One reason why they do so is that videos with wrong aspect ratios look distorted and don’t display properly. They make your audience hit the back button.

Using the appropriate video aspect ratio can help you avoid that and enjoy:

• Longer watch times.
• Increased engagement.
• A better return on your video creation efforts.

The aspect ratio is more than a bunch of numbers; they can actually shape your video's aesthetics, storytelling, and mood and have a significant impact on your viewer experience.

This blog post will show you everything you need to know about the ratio of a video, helping you:

• Understand the basics of selecting video aspect ratios.
• Learn what video aspect ratios are required on different social platforms.
• Discover a tool that quickly reframes videos into common aspect ratios to make your video fit where you publish it.

What is a video aspect ratio?

A video's aspect ratio simply describes the shape of the video in terms of its width and height. This number influences how the video will fit the viewing screen and its composition.

Written as X:Y, a video's aspect ratio reads “X by Y,” where X is the width, and Y is the height of the video frame.

The ratio of a video is independent of its size. For example, if a video is twice as wide as it is tall, its aspect ratio will always be 2:1.

It's important for a video to have an aspect ratio that fits the screen size to maximize the performance of your video.

If the aspect ratio doesn't fit the screen it can make your video look distorted and/or stretched - you might also see black bars at the top and bottom of the screen (letterboxing) or cut-off text.

These distortions can lead to a poor viewing experience, lower click-through rates, shorter average watch times, and an underperforming video.

Aspect ratio vs Video resolution: What's the difference?

Aspect ratio and resolution are different but connected. A video with a 1920 x 1080 resolution can have more than one of the standard aspect ratios, like:

• 4:3, a “fullscreen video”
• 16:9, a “widescreen video”

Common video aspect ratios and where to use them

Depending on the purpose of the video and the platform where you’ll upload it, you might need a different aspect ratio.

The following aspect ratios are also the most common aspect ratios for engaging videos:

16:9 (Widescreen)

The 16:9 aspect ratio was ideal for online videos until social media usage skyrocketed.

These days, it’s more common for longer videos, screenshares, or videos aiming for a more cinematic feel, and it's the correct aspect ratio for high-definition TVs and streaming platforms like YouTube, Netflix, or Vimeo. It’s also the common aspect ratio for most desktop screens.

9:16 (Vertical)

The 9:16 aspect ratio is common on phone apps because it’s usually the same or similar to a smartphone’s aspect ratio.

It recently became a popular aspect ratio as smartphone and social platform usage increased. And you’ll definitely spot it in YouTube Shorts and Instagram reels.

1:1 (Square)

The 1:1 aspect ratio was rocking back in the days of square TV sets.

Online, this aspect ratio was originally popularized by Instagram at a time when the social media platform was promoting square images and posts.

These days, while you can try to stand out with an Instagram square post, most of the videos uploaded on the platform are some kind of vertical.

So, if you’re considering using the 1:1 aspect ratio on platforms like Instagram or Facebook, know it’s more of a stylistic choice.

4:3 (Fullscreen)

The 4:3 aspect ratio was one of the earliest options, known as the Academy Ratio, or the standard aspect ratio for all videos globally.

With the rise of HD video and mobile devices with narrow screens and video capabilities, this aspect ratio became less and less popular.

The rare instances when a 4:3 aspect ratio might still work relate to:

• Archival footage of materials originally produced in the 4:3 aspect ratio — if you’re trying to prevent distortion or cropping of the original footage.
• Video content that primarily features single speakers, such as a lecture, where you might want a more focused frame.

21:9 (Cinematic Widescreen)

The 21:9 aspect ratio is commonly known as cinematic widescreen or ultra-widescreen, and as the name suggests, it's often used in cinema to enhance viewer immersion.

Modern films are often shot in wider aspect ratios and then their original aspect ratio is adjusted later when projected in cinemas.

There's even the anamorphic aspect ratio technique, where an image is intentionally distorted during recording and then stretched back to its normal aspect ratio during projection. The effect is similar to the 21:9 ratio, but it's actually a 21.5:9 or 2.39:1. This conversion of the anamorphic format depends on the cinematic technology and screen sizes available at each venue.

4:5 (Tall)

This aspect ratio is often used for filming videos in portrait-mode, and is widely used in social media because it makes use of a larger proportion of the screen of a mobile phone, which in theory can enhance engagement.

You’ll notice this vertical aspect ratio on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

5:4 (Wide)

The 5:4 aspect ratio is extremely wide, making it less likely to encounter this ratio in mainstream media production.

It can be used in specific, niche circumstances for artistic or experimental purposes. Or for broadcasting content on desktop monitors since many have a 5:4 aspect ratio.

Common video resolutions you should be using online

Video resolution is fundamental to video quality and viewer experience. Choosing a specific resolution should depend on:

• Your intended use
• The tech you have at hand
• Your creative vision
• Your target audience’s context (on what platforms and from what devices they’ll watch the video)

1920 x 1080 (Full HD)

This resolution is known as Full HD, and offers 1080p quality in a 16:9 aspect ratio.

It's commonly used for both cinematic content and everyday videos across a wide variety of viewing devices including high-definition TVs, laptops, smartphones, DSLRs, camcorders, computer monitors, and mobile devices.

It has a good balance between file size and video quality, which makes it a good choice for both creating and streaming content.

3840 x 2160 (UHD)

This resolution is known as Ultra-High Definition (UHD), or more commonly as 4K.

It offers four times the resolution of Full HD with 2160p quality in a 16:9 aspect ratio, so it's able to produce sharp and detailed images.

The downside is that this resolution requires significantly more processing power (although more and more devices can now handle it) and also more data, which makes it more expensive to stream.

Despite that, it's a resolution that significantly enhances the viewing experience, and you can increasingly see it in use online (for example on YouTube).

4096 x 2160 (4K UHD)

This resolution is known in professional video production as 4K UHD, and it's twice as wide as standard UHD, offering a cinematic viewing experience with 2160p quality in a 1.90:1 aspect ratio.

It's not very widely used although it is gaining some popularity amongst high-end video aficionados.

It's common to see letterboxing (the black bars at the top and bottom of the video) when watching a video with this resolution on more standard 16:9 devices in order to maintain a video's original aspect ratio without distortion.

What is the best aspect ratio for your video?

The use of standard aspect ratios isn't set in stone. There’s no right or wrong choice for the ratio of a video; there is no best aspect ratio other than the specific requirements of particular platforms, which we’ll discuss below.

So, when you're not fiddling with social media platforms, choosing the best aspect ratio is a matter of intention and how you want to make your audience feel while watching.

Best video aspect ratios for your social media videos

When it comes to social media and popular video streaming platforms, there is a platform and video format match you should aim for. Custom aspect ratios aren't welcome because they're more likely to affect the user experience.

The best aspect ratios in these instances are actually communicated by each video platform. In their terms and conditions, these websites tell you what aspect ratios they expect you to use. Following aspect ratio recommendations ensures your video displays correctly in their player, and you won’t be penalized.

TikTok aspect ratio

The TikTok algorithm favors videos and ads shot and uploaded in the 9:16 aspect ratio. This is the most common aspect ratio for TikTok videos because it's more likely to fill the whole screen and capture the viewer’s attention.

If a video is uploaded in any aspect ratio other than 9:16, it’ll automatically be cropped to fit the 9:16 frame and possibly lose important information or be displayed incorrectly.

Instagram video sizes

The recommended Instagram aspect ratio depends on the type of video you’re posting. Here are your options for Instagram videos and the differences between these posts:

YouTube

By length and format, YouTube videos can be regular or short. Regular videos on this streaming platform are under 10 minutes, medium videos are 10 to 30 minutes, and long videos are over 30 minutes.

The YouTube Shorts video format is under 60 seconds. These short, multiple videos appear in a dedicated Shorts feed on the YouTube app.

YouTube video dimensions

The recommended YouTube aspect ratio for regular videos is 16:9 because the videos on this platform can be viewed on a variety of devices, including televisions, computer monitors, and mobiles.

YouTube Shorts aspect ratio

The recommended aspect ratio for YouTube Shorts is 9:16 because the shorts will most likely be watched on smartphones in a vertical orientation.

Facebook

On Facebook, you can post:

• Regular videos or short Facebook stories your friends and followers will see in their feeds.
• Video ads targeting a specific audience based on demographics, interests, behaviors, etc.

Facebook feed video aspect ratio

The recommended aspect ratio for videos you upload to Facebook is between 16:9 and 9:16. These ratios take up more space on the Facebook News Feed, making your content more likely to be seen by viewers.

Facebook video ad dimensions

The recommended aspect ratio for ads is 9:16 because many people watch Facebook videos on their phones. A 9:16 ad will fill the entire phone screen, providing a more immersive experience and possibly converting better.

LinkedIn video dimensions

Like Facebook, LinkedIn supports videos that appear in the feed and video ads.

LinkedIn feed video aspect ratio

The videos in the feed can be anything from 3 seconds to 10 minutes long. The recommended LinkedIn aspect ratio for video posts is between 1:2.4 and 2.4:1.

LinkedIn video ad dimensions

The video ads can be anything from 3 seconds to 30 minutes long. The recommended LinkedIn aspect ratios for these ads are 4:5, 9:16, 16:9, and 1:1. However, the most commonly used ratios are 16:9 and 9:16 because they’re more attention-grabbing and more likely to be noticed by users.

Twitter video dimensions

The X platform, previously Twitter, lets you upload videos on your feed or in your ads account.

X/Twitter feed video aspect ratio

The recommended aspect ratios for X/Twitter videos are 16:9 (landscape) and 1:1 (square video).

X/Twitter video ad dimensions

For X/Twitter video ads, the recommended aspect ratio is 16:9, and ads can be between 15 seconds and 2:20. Carousel ads' best aspect ratios are 16:9 or 1:1.

Video aspect ratio during shooting vs editing

Both shooting and editing come with creative choices and technical considerations about the aspect ratio.

How to easily create videos with different aspect ratios

As a creator, it’s tough to keep up with different platform requirements because you have to change the aspect ratio of the same video:

• Without altering the quality
• Without spending extra resources

Synthesia allows video creators to edit any existing Synthesia video and change the aspect ratio for any social media video. Or they can directly generate a new video in a specific aspect ratio with just one click:

Create your next video in any aspect ratio you need

Creating videos that resonate with viewers and engage them comes down to keeping your audience in mind. And that’s what choosing the best video aspect ratio and resolution is all about!

Still, no matter what aspect ratio you choose, producing high-quality videos that look their best on any device is just as important.

Use Synthesia's free AI video maker to create professional-looking videos in any aspect ratio you need with just a few clicks.