9:16 Aspect Ratio (2026): Sizes in Pixels and Where to Use It

9:16 aspect ratio, in short: a vertical shape 9 units wide for every 16 tall (0.5625:1), the full-screen shape of a phone held upright. The standard 9:16 sizes are 720×1280, 1080×1920 (the everyday size), 1440×2560 and 2160×3840 (4K). Sellers use it for TikTok, Instagram Reels and Stories, YouTube Shorts, Pinterest video and vertical ads.

More on this topic: Photo editing how-tos, every guide in one place.

9:16 is 16:9 turned on its side, and it has become the default shape for short video and full-screen social posts. Product photos are usually square or 4:5, so turning them into 9:16 without cutting off the product is the common problem. This guide lists every common 9:16 size, where each platform uses it, how to calculate dimensions, and how to convert a square product photo to 9:16. For any other size, the free aspect ratio calculator fills in the missing side; to extend a photo to 9:16, AiArter's AI image extender adds matching background above and below the product.

What are the 9:16 resolutions in pixels?

Any size where the height is 16/9 of the width (about 1.78 times) is 9:16. These are the ones you'll use:

1080×1920 is the size to default to: it's what most phones record vertically, and the major platforms display vertical video at or below 1080p.

Which platforms use 9:16?

Every vertical short-video format and full-screen Story. The numbers below are from each platform's own help pages or developer docs, read in October 2026.

The platform uses of 9:16 were checked in October 2026. Marketplaces change their rules, so confirm the current requirements in your seller dashboard before you upload a large batch.

Platform-by-platform sizes are in our Instagram Story size, TikTok video dimensions and Facebook Story size guides.

How do you calculate 9:16 dimensions?

Multiply the width by 16 and divide by 9 to get the height; multiply the height by 9 and divide by 16 to get the width.

Odd widths don't always give whole numbers: 1000 px wide needs 1777.8 px, so round to 1778. The free aspect ratio calculator does this for you.

How do you turn a square product photo into 9:16?

Add space above and below the product rather than cropping its sides. A 1080×1080 square needs 840 extra pixels of height to become 1080×1920, and cropping a square to 9:16 would cut away 44% of its width, which usually means cutting off the product.

1. Start from your highest-resolution square or 4:5 product photo.
2. Extend or pad it to 1080×1920.
3. Keep the product in the middle third of the height.
4. Leave the top and bottom edges clear of key text; apps place buttons and captions there.
5. Export as JPEG or PNG and check it on a phone.

AiArter's AI image extender has a Story, Reel and TikTok preset that returns exactly 1080×1920 for 8 credits, filling the new space with matching background. For simple padding, the free Instagram image resizer makes a 9:16 version in your browser.

How do you make a horizontal photo 9:16?

Crop a vertical slice if the subject is narrow, or place the whole image in the middle of a 9:16 canvas with space above and below. A 16:9 image cropped to 9:16 keeps only about a third of its width, so it only works when the product sits in the centre.

• Crop with the free image cropper set to 9:16 when the product is centred.
• Stack: put the landscape image in the middle and a headline or detail shot above and below.
• Extend: AI fills the space above and below with matching background.

Is 9:16 the same as 1080x1920?

1080×1920 is one 9:16 size, the most common one, but 9:16 is the shape, not the size. 720×1280 and 2160×3840 are also 9:16. Some phone screens are taller than 9:16 (for example about 9:19.5), so a 9:16 video shows small bars or is slightly cropped on those screens.

The others are covered in our aspect ratio guide, 4:5 aspect ratio, 1:1 aspect ratio and 16:9 aspect ratio guides.

Should you shoot product photos in 9:16?

Shoot vertical video in 9:16, but shoot product photos at your camera's full frame (usually 3:4 on a phone) with space around the product. A wider frame lets you crop to 1:1 for marketplaces, 4:5 for feeds and 9:16 for Stories from the same photo.

Frequently asked questions

Can I post a 9:16 image on the Instagram feed?

Instagram's feed shows photos up to 3:4, so a 9:16 image is cropped there. Use 9:16 for Stories and Reels, and 4:5 or 3:4 for feed posts.

What size is a 9:16 image?

1080×1920 pixels is the standard. Other 9:16 sizes are 720×1280, 1440×2560 and 2160×3840.

What is 9:16 used for?

Vertical video and full-screen posts: TikTok, Instagram Reels and Stories, YouTube Shorts, Pinterest video and vertical ads.

How do I calculate a 9:16 height?

Multiply the width by 16 and divide by 9. A 1080 px width gives 1920 px.

Is 9:16 portrait or landscape?

Portrait (vertical). Its landscape counterpart is 16:9.

How do I make a square photo 9:16 without cropping?

Add background above and below it, by padding or by AI extending, until it reaches 1080×1920.

Is 9:16 the same as 1080x1920?

1080×1920 is the most common 9:16 size, but any size with the same proportion is 9:16.

What is the difference between 9:16 and 4:5?

9:16 fills a phone screen; 4:5 is shorter and is the usual size for portrait feed posts.