What a safe zone is
TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts all play vertical video full screen and then draw their own interface on top of it: a bar of tabs or a search icon at the top, a column of like, comment and share buttons down the right, and the username, caption and sound name along the bottom. Anything you put under those areas, like on-screen text, a face or a product, can end up hidden. The safe zone is the part of the frame that stays clear.
This checker draws approximate versions of those areas over your own frame, so you can see what might be covered before you post. The template download gives you the same overlay as a transparent 1080×1920 PNG to drop on a guide layer in your editor.
Approximate UI areas on a 1080×1920 frame
None of the apps publishes one fixed set of margins that holds on every phone. The interface changes with screen shape, app version, caption length and whether the post is an ad. The figures below are approximate guides that the checker uses, rounded on the cautious side:
| App | Top | Bottom | Right buttons | Clear area left |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | ~160 px | ~480 px | ~140 px wide | ~880 × 1280 px |
| Instagram Reels | ~250 px | ~420 px | ~130 px wide | ~890 × 1250 px |
| YouTube Shorts | ~150 px | ~400 px | ~140 px wide | ~880 × 1370 px |
If you post the same video to all three, pick “All three” and the checker uses the largest margin on each side.
How to use it
- Export a still from your edit, or drop the video itself and scrub to the frame you want to check.
- Pick the app. Turn overlays on and off to see what each one covers.
- Move titles, captions and faces until they sit inside the green outline.
- Download the blank template and put it on the top track of your editor as a guide. Hide it before you export.
Tips for vertical video
- Keep burned-in captions in the middle third of the frame, above the app’s own caption area.
- Leave the bottom right corner empty. It’s covered on all three apps.
- Shoot or record at 1080×1920 so nothing gets cropped when the app scales it.
- Check on a real phone before a big post. The overlay is a guide, not a guarantee.
FAQ
What is the TikTok safe zone?
It’s the part of a 1080×1920 vertical video that the app’s interface doesn’t cover. Roughly, keep clear of about 160 px at the top, 480 px at the bottom and 140 px on the right. These are approximate guides, because the interface varies by phone and app version.
Is the Reels safe zone the same as TikTok and Shorts?
Close, but not the same. Reels tends to need more room at the top, TikTok more at the bottom. If you post everywhere, use the “All three” setting, which takes the largest margin on each side.
How do I use the safe zone template PNG?
Import it into your editor, put it on the top track over your vertical video at 1080×1920, and keep text and faces inside the green outline. Hide or delete that track before you export.
Is my video uploaded anywhere?
No. The image or video is read and drawn by your browser on your own computer. Nothing is sent to a server.