# Aspect ratio

Canonical URL: https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/aspect-ratio
Last updated: 2026-10-08

> Definition: Aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between a video's width and height, written as width:height. 16:9 is widescreen, 9:16 is vertical and 1:1 is square.

Aspect ratio is the shape of the frame. A 16:9 video is 16 units wide for every 9 units tall, the shape of a laptop screen. Flip it to 9:16 and you have a phone held upright. The ratio says nothing about quality or size; it just decides what fits in the picture and where on the screen it will play.

## What are the common video aspect ratios?

The common video aspect ratios today are 16:9, 9:16 and 1:1.

| Ratio | Shape | Common resolution | Where it's used |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16:9 | Widescreen | 1920 × 1080 | YouTube, websites, presentations |
| 9:16 | Vertical | 1080 × 1920 | Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Stories |
| 1:1 | Square | 1080 × 1080 | Feeds, LinkedIn, some Shorts |

YouTube describes 16:9 as the standard aspect ratio on a computer ([source](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1722171?hl=en)). Videos uploaded with a square or vertical ratio and up to three minutes long are classified as Shorts ([source](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/15424877?hl=en)). Meta's guide for Reels ads specifies 9:16 ([source](https://www.facebook.com/business/ads-guide/update/video/instagram-reels)).

## How do aspect ratios affect short-form, YouTube and product videos?

Aspect ratio decides your composition. In 16:9 there's room for a speaker and a screenshot side by side. In 9:16 the speaker fills most of the frame and graphics stack above or below, inside the [safe zone](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/safe-zone). Product demos recorded on a widescreen monitor are the hardest to adapt: a full-width screen recording becomes tiny in a vertical frame, so editors crop to the relevant area or place it in a card above the speaker.

## What's an example of reframing between aspect ratios?

A founder records a 16:9 launch video for YouTube. For Reels, the editor makes a 9:16 version: the speaker is cropped to fill the lower half in a rounded card, the product screen sits in the upper half, and captions move up out of the bottom interface area. Same footage, new shape.

## Which aspect ratios does Vidiyo support?

Vidiyo projects come in three shapes: 9:16 (the default), 16:9 and 1:1. You can change a project's shape and ask the assistant to reframe it, for example "make a vertical version with me in a card on the bottom half". Layers have boxes, crops and fit modes, so you can build split screens, picture-in-picture and cards for each shape. Vidiyo exports at 1080p for every shape (for example 1080 × 1920 for vertical). It doesn't offer 4:5 or other custom ratios.

## Frequently asked questions

### What aspect ratio should I use for YouTube?

16:9 for regular YouTube videos, which YouTube calls the standard for viewing on a computer. For Shorts, use vertical 9:16; square videos up to three minutes also count as Shorts.

### What is the difference between aspect ratio and resolution?

Aspect ratio is the shape; resolution is the number of pixels. 1920 × 1080 and 1280 × 720 are both 16:9 but at different resolutions. 1080 × 1920 is the same pixel count as 1920 × 1080, turned on its side.

### Can I change a video's aspect ratio after filming?

Yes, by reframing: cropping a 16:9 shot to 9:16 and keeping the subject centred, or placing the original inside the new frame with a background. Cropping loses resolution, so frame wide enough when you shoot.

## Related terms

- [Vertical video](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/vertical-video)
- [Safe zone](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/safe-zone)
- [Frame rate](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/frame-rate)
- [Bitrate](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/bitrate)

## Where Vidiyo does this

- [Video aspect ratios for social media](https://getvidiyo.app/blog/video-aspect-ratios-for-social-media)
- [How to repurpose one video for every platform](https://getvidiyo.app/blog/repurpose-one-video-for-every-platform)

## Sources

- [Recommended upload encoding settings (YouTube Help)](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1722171?hl=en) (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [Understand three-minute YouTube Shorts (YouTube Help)](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/15424877?hl=en) (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [Instagram Reels ads specifications (Meta Ads Guide)](https://www.facebook.com/business/ads-guide/update/video/instagram-reels) (accessed 2026-10-08)