What is the safe zone?
The safe zone, or safe area, is the part of a video the app interface leaves uncovered. On Reels, TikTok and Shorts, the top bar, the buttons on the right and the profile and caption strip at the bottom sit on top of the image. Captions, titles and logos need to stay inside the safe zone to be seen.
Also called: safe area, title safe
Margins at 1080 x 1920
How much the interface covers on each side, in pixels, on a 9:16 video. If the video goes to all three, use the strictest margin.
| App | Top | Bottom | Right | Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reels | 250 px | 420 px | 130 px | 60 px |
| TikTok | 130 px | 484 px | 140 px | 44 px |
| Shorts | 180 px | 390 px | 120 px | 60 px |
Why the safe zone matters
A caption hidden behind the post description is a lost caption. In a clip that relies on text for people watching without sound, placing it outside the safe zone is the most expensive mistake and the easiest to avoid.
Margins change from app to app and over time. Checking with a frame from your own video is safer than memorizing numbers.
Safe zone in FilmScribe
In clips, caption placement is free: you drag and resize right in the preview, in any format, and what you see is what you get. To check what each app covers, the free tool overlays the Reels, TikTok, Shorts and feed safe zones on a frame of your video.
Reels, TikTok and Shorts safe zone Load a frame of your video, pick the platform and format and see where text stays visible. Download the PNG. Check the safe zone →Checking the safe zone before you post
- 01
Test on a phone before posting
Before the real post, publish to a private or test account, open it on a phone and see what the buttons and description cover. It is the only check that reflects the app's current layout.
- 02
Expect a crowded bottom
The bottom overlay holds your handle, the description and often a music or location label, and it can take more room than you expect. Keep key text clearly above it.
- 03
Move logos off the corners
Corners are the first thing the interface covers. If you need a brand mark, keep it small and inside the safe zone, or put it in the title card instead.
Related terms
See all terms →Frequently asked questions
Where should captions go on Reels?
In the middle third or slightly lower, but above the description strip and away from the button column on the right. At 1080 x 1920, stay above the bottom 420 px.
Is the safe zone the same on TikTok and Reels?
No. TikTok covers more at the bottom; Reels covers more at the top. To post on both, use the strictest margin on each side.
Is there a safe zone in the Instagram feed?
Yes: in the profile grid, the video is cropped at the edges. Keep what matters in the center.
Captions, clips and paper edits. All in one place.
Upload a video or paste a YouTube link. We transcribe every word with its timing, and you take the result to social media or to your editor.
See the result on your own recording before adding a card.