What is a safe zone?
A safe zone is the part of a vertical video that no interface element covers. On every short-video app, the username and caption sit at the bottom, the like, comment and share buttons run down the right edge, and tabs or a search bar sit at the top. Anything important in those areas, like a face, a punchline or text on screen, will be hidden for most viewers.
Safe zones by platform
These are the margins this checker uses on a 1080 × 1920 frame. They are rounded and slightly generous, because each app moves its buttons a little between phone sizes and updates.
| Platform | Top | Bottom | Left | Right |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 130 px | 400 px | 60 px | 150 px |
| Instagram Reels | 220 px | 420 px | 60 px | 120 px |
| YouTube Shorts | 140 px | 360 px | 60 px | 170 px |
How to keep your video safe
- Frame the subject in the middle. When you write the prompt, ask for the subject centered in the frame. The Kling and Veo 3 prompt generators add vertical framing for you.
- Leave the bottom fifth quiet. That is where your caption goes. Avoid putting the payoff of a CCTV or GoPro trend in the bottom corner.
- Start vertical. A horizontal photo squeezed into 9:16 leaves tiny content in the middle. Fit it properly with the photo to 9:16 converter.