· Updated · 5 min read · By the OptimaClip team
Vertical Video Safe Zones for TikTok, Reels and Shorts (2026)
A 9:16 clip is not fully visible on any platform — the interface covers the edges with buttons, captions, usernames, and calls to action. Content placed in those zones gets obscured.
Rough guidance: keep essential text and faces out of the bottom ~15% (caption text, progress bar, username, description) and the right ~10% (like, comment, share, follow buttons). The top ~10% can carry a search bar or 'following/for you' tabs. TikTok's right-side stack and bottom text area are the most aggressive; Reels is similar; Shorts covers slightly less but still hides the bottom strip.
Practical rule: compose your important visual and your burned-in captions in the center 70% of the frame vertically, and slightly left of center horizontally.
Test by posting an unlisted or trial version and viewing it in the actual app, not just the editor preview — the preview rarely shows the real UI overlay.
OptimaClip positions burned-in captions inside the cross-platform safe area by default, so the same clip stays readable whether it lands on TikTok, Reels, or Shorts.
Safe zones by platform (1080×1920)
TikTok: keep text and faces out of roughly the bottom 20% (caption, username, sounds) and the right-hand 15% (like, comment, share, profile buttons). The top ~10% can be covered by the Following/For You tabs.
Instagram Reels: similar layout, with the caption and audio info at the bottom and buttons on the right; the bottom area is a little taller when captions are long.
YouTube Shorts: title and channel at the bottom, buttons on the right, and a subscribe button near the bottom left. Keep the lower ~25% clear of key text.
Rule of thumb that works everywhere: keep important text and faces in the center area, roughly the middle 60% of the height and the left 80% of the width.
Where to put captions
Place burned-in captions in the middle third of the frame, slightly below center. That keeps them away from the bottom caption area and the right-hand buttons on every app, so one export works everywhere.
Checking your clips
Preview on a phone before posting, or overlay a safe-zone template in your editor. OptimaClip's default caption position and Brand Templates are set inside these safe areas, so clips work on TikTok, Reels and Shorts without repositioning. See the social video specs for sizes and lengths.
Frequently asked questions
What is the TikTok safe zone?
The area of a 9:16 video not covered by TikTok's interface: avoid the bottom ~20% and right ~15% for text and faces.
Where should captions go on vertical video?
In the middle third of the frame, slightly below center, away from bottom captions and right-side buttons.
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