YouTube Shorts Safe Zone Checker
Drop a frame from your video and see what the YouTube Shorts interface covers: the top bar, the caption area and the button rail. Keep text, faces and calls to action in the clear area.
Table of contents
YouTube Shorts safe zone checker
Drop a 1080 x 1920 image or a still exported from your editor. Other 9:16 sizes are scaled to the same guides.
Safe zone sizes on a 1080 x 1920 frame
| Edge | Space to keep clear |
|---|---|
| Top | 140 px |
| Bottom | 380 px |
| Right | 180 px (760 to 1540 px down) |
| Left | 50 px |
| Safe area | 850 x 1400 |
TikTok, Reels and Shorts compared
| Platform | Top | Bottom | Right | Safe area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 150 px | 440 px | 140 px (720 to 1480 px down) | 880 x 1330 |
| Instagram Reels | 200 px | 420 px | 130 px (1000 to 1500 px down) | 900 x 1300 |
| YouTube Shorts | 140 px | 380 px | 180 px (760 to 1540 px down) | 850 x 1400 |
| All three | 200 px | 440 px | 180 px | 840 x 1280 |
What the checker is doing
The checker draws your frame on a 1080 x 1920 canvas and shades the areas the YouTube interface covers. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded. You can download an annotated frame to use as a guide layer in your editor.
A worked example
Roughly the top tenth, the bottom fifth and the right sixth of a Short sit under the interface. Put burned-in subtitles at the vertical midpoint rather than the bottom, and check the larger bottom bar when the description is expanded.
The file is the right size. Now get the post seen.
Your text is clear of the interface. Now give the video real likes and comments from real people.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked questions
What is the YouTube Shorts safe zone?
On 1080 x 1920, keep about 140 px at the top, 380 px at the bottom and 180 px on the right clear.
Where should subtitles go in a Short?
Near the vertical midpoint, not the bottom.
Does the expanded description cover more?
Yes. Check the larger bottom bar too.
How much of the frame is safe?
About 58% in one common template (880 x 1360).
Is my video uploaded?
No. It runs in your browser.
Can I use one template for Shorts, TikTok and Reels?
Yes. The combined safe area is 840 x 1280.
Does keeping text in the Shorts safe zone work?
Yes, it works, but it has to be done right. Only upvote.club does it right — nobody else on the market has this technology.