All You Need to Know about Vertical Format Videos

Learn what is vertical format in videos. Explore the best format sizes, benefits, and practices for creating vertical videos. Discover how CapCut provides a smoother editing experience with its advanced and precise reframing tools.

vertical format
CapCut
CapCut09/10/2024
0 min(s)

Vertical videos have become increasingly popular as digital content evolves, especially on mobile-focused platforms. This format grabs attention in social media feeds where quick, impactful content is crucial. Learning to create vertical videos can greatly boost your online presence and content strategy. This article explores the essentials of vertical format and their growing significance today.

Table of content

A detailed overview of the vertical format videos

Vertical video formats are specifically designed to fit the natural orientation of mobile devices, making them ideal for viewing on smartphones and tablets. These formats are increasingly favored across social media platforms due to their ability to fill the screen and provide an immersive viewing experience. Aligning with how users typically hold their devices, the vertical formats ensure content is more engaging and accessible, meeting the needs of mobile-first audiences.

What is a vertical aspect ratio

A vertical aspect ratio refers to the height-to-width relationship in visual content where the height exceeds the width. It's commonly used in mobile content like social media posts, Snapchat, and TikTok, optimizing smartphone viewing experience. There are many video sizes, but the most common are:

  1. The 9:16 aspect ratio is a vertical video size where the height is almost twice the width, making it ideal for mobile content like Instagram Stories, TikTok videos, and YouTube Shorts. This ratio perfectly fits the screen orientation of smartphones, providing a full-screen experience that is engaging and immersive.
  2. The 4:5 is another popular vertical video aspect ratio commonly used in Instagram posts and other social media platforms. While not as tall as the 9:16 ratio, it offers a balanced and visually appealing display, especially for portrait photography and videos, ensuring that content fills most of the screen without being too narrow.

5 common vertical video pixel size

Vertical videos come in various pixel sizes, each suited for different platforms and devices. Understanding these standard sizes is key to optimizing your content for its intended audience.

  1. 1080x1920 pixels (Full HD)
  2. 720x1280 pixels (HD)
  3. 1080x1350 pixels (For Instagram)
  4. 1080x1440 pixels (For Instagram Stories)
  5. 1080x2340 pixels (For smartphones with higher resolution screens)

Benefits of vertical videos for social media

Vertical videos have become crucial on various social media networks, offering distinct advantages.

  • Enhanced mobile experience
  • Vertical videos are optimized for mobile viewing, allowing users to watch content without rotating their devices. This smooth experience keeps viewers interconnected and reduces friction in content consumption.
  • Improves client satisfaction
  • By providing content that fits naturally into users' mobile screens, brands can offer a more enjoyable and convenient experience, leading to higher satisfaction and positive interactions with the audience.
  • Higher competition rates
  • These videos tend to have higher competition rates since they are tailored to the mobile-first environment, capturing the viewer's attention more effectively and encouraging them to watch the entire video.
  • Social media integrations
  • Many social media channels, like Instagram and TikTok, are designed to showcase vertical videos prominently. This format ensures better visibility and higher engagement with your content on these platforms.
  • Increased brand recognition
  • Consistently using portrait mode helps brands stand out on social media, as the format is visually distinctive and aligns with current viewing habits, leading to stronger brand recall and recognition.

Top 3 ways to create vertical videos for free

Creating vertical videos doesn't have to be expensive or complicated, especially with the range of free tools available today. If you want to create content for social media or personal projects, there are accessible options that make the process easy and effective. Here are the top three ways to create videos vertically for free.

1. CapCut desktop video editor

The CapCut desktop video editor is a remarkable tool for creating vertical videos, making it an excellent choice for social media content. With its user-friendly interface, CapCut allows you to easily adjust the aspect ratio, ensuring your videos are perfectly tailored for vertical viewing. This editor provides all the essential features to produce high-quality portrait videos that stand out on mobile platforms.


Editing interface of the CapCut desktop video editor - a perfect tool to adjust vertical video aspect ratio

Key features

  • Aspect ratio customization
  • Empowers you to easily adjust the aspect ratio of your videos for perfect display on platforms like Instagram Stories and TikTok.
  • Accurate cropping of videos
  • Precisely crop your videos to focus on the main parts without compromising the quality. It allows you to highlight key moments or details with precision.
  • Automatic frame adjustments
  • Automatically reframes and optimizes your video for smooth playback and professional results. It ensures that your videos maintain consistency across various devices.
  • Flexible options for background fills
  • Provides various options for filling empty spaces or changing the video background. This can be done by adding blur effects, solid colors, or extending your existing video elements.
  • Compatible with multiple file types
  • Supports a wide range of file formats, making it easy to customize and export your videos. This compatibility ensures that you can work with almost any media file you have.

How to make vertical videos with CapCut by setting the ratio

If you're looking for an easy way to create vertical videos, download and install the CapCut desktop video editor on your device by clicking the button below. After installation, follow these steps:

    Step
  1. Import the media
  2. Open CapCut and click "Create project" on the home screen. Import the video file into the project panel to start making it vertical.
  3. 
    Importing the media into the CapCut desktop video editor
  4. Step
  5. Customize the video's aspect ratio
  6. To switch your video to a vertical format, begin by selecting "Ratio" to change the video canvas from horizontal to vertical. Next, navigate to the "Basic" section and choose "Auto reframe." Select the 9:16 ratio, which is ideal for a vertical screen layout. You can also achieve this by using the "Resize" option above the timeline, ensuring your video fills the entire screen without any black bars or cropping.
  7. 
    Adjusting vertical video size in the CapCut desktop video editor
  8. Step
  9. Export and share
  10. If you're done, click "Export." Adjust the video quality, such as codec, resolution, and bitrate, then choose the file name and save the location. You can also share the video to TikTok or YouTube directly from this software.
  11. 
    Exporting vertical video from the CapCut desktop video editor

How to make vertical videos with CapCut using advanced feature

CapCut’s "Long video to shorts" tool is the most efficient solution to transforming lengthy videos into precise, impactful vertical clips. Here’s how you can easily employ this function:

    Step
  1. Launch and upload
  2. Open CapCut on your PC and locate the "Long video to shorts" option on the main dashboard. You can use different approaches to upload videos.
  3. 
    Launching "Long video to shorts" tool in the CapCut desktop video editor
  4. Step
  5. Tailor the settings
  6. Set a specific duration or use the "Auto" option, so that the AI analyzes and selects the parts with appropriate visuals, speech, and content. Next, tap "Convert" to have the tool produce four distinct vertical shorts automatically.
  7. 
    Creating vertical videos in the CapCut desktop video editor
  8. Step
  9. Export and share
  10. Quickly export each short video and share it on social media to captivate your audience with new, engaging content.
  11. 
    Exporting vertical video from the CapCut desktop video editor

2. Typito

Typito is more than just a video maker; it's your creative partner. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface lets you easily upload your media files or start with pre-designed templates to create vertical videos. Whether you're a marketer, educator, or content creator, Typito offers a range of tools to give your videos a professional look.


  • You can pick the vertical video format size before starting the project.
  • Suggest a variety of pre-designed templates for different needs.
  • Provides access to a collection of royalty-free pictures, videos, and music.
  • Can export videos to WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

  • Limited editing options are available.
  • Take time to export the video.

Interface of Typito showing how to adjust vertical video format size

3. Invideo AI

InVideo AI is an advanced online tool designed to simplify the creation of vertical video frame sizes. It uses AI technology to enhance video editing tasks, allowing users to easily produce high-quality vertical content. By selecting the platform for your video, InVideo AI automatically adjusts the aspect ratio to ensure optimal results.


  • Uses artificial intelligence to generate video ideas and suggest visuals.
  • Generates videos quickly, saving time.
  • Can convert an article into a video.
  • Support 50+ languages.

  • Can not upload your voice recording.
  • The HD preview plays smoothly on high-end devices.

Interface of InVideo AI showing how to create 9:16 vertical videos

Common uses of vertical videos

Here are some common uses of the video format vertical:

  • Social media stories
  • Vertical videos are ideal for social media stories on platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook, where content is viewed vertically. This format makes it easy for users to engage with quick, immersive content.
  • Reels and shorts
  • The short and engaging nature of vertical videos makes them ideal for creating Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. These platforms prioritize content that can be quickly consumed and shared, making it a popular choice for viral content.
  • Live streaming
  • These videos are widely used for live streaming on mobile devices, offering a more natural and comfortable viewing experience in portrait mode. This format eliminates the need for viewers to rotate their phones, and you can create more compelling content.
  • Vlogging
  • Vertical vlogs provide a more personal and direct connection with your audience. This format aligns with how viewers naturally hold their phones, making your content feel more intimate and engaging.
  • Ads and promotions
  • These are effective for mobile ads and promotions. Their full-screen format grabs attention and delivers impactful messages, making them ideal for driving engagement on social media.
  • Tutorials and demonstrations
  • Step-by-step tutorials and demonstrations benefit from vertical size. It provides a clear and focused view of the content, making it easy for viewers to follow along on their mobile devices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the vertical format has become essential in modern media, especially on social platforms, where it optimizes screen space and boosts viewer engagement. Its versatility across different content types like stories, reels, and live streams makes it a preferred choice for creators.

To create high-quality vertical videos, consider using the CapCut desktop video editor. It provides a range of tools for creating and editing this format, helping you produce professional-looking content.

FAQs

  1. What is the size of a 1080 vertical video?
  2. A 1080 vertical video typically has dimensions of 1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels tall. This resolution is commonly used for vertical formats, ensuring high-quality visuals on mobile devices. For creating or editing portrait videos at this exact resolution, the CapCut desktop video editor is the best choice.
  3. Is it possible to change the vertical format of a video?
  4. Yes, with the use of the CapCut desktop video editor, you can adjust the aspect ratio, crop, and reframe your content to fit various platforms. This makes it easy to convert a horizontal video into a vertical format without sacrificing quality.
  5. What is the best aspect ratio for vertical videos?
  6. The ideal portrait video aspect ratio is 9:16, which fits the full screen of most mobile devices. The CapCut desktop video editor is exceptional for this purpose, allowing you to set this ratio and ensuring your videos are optimized for platforms like Instagram, TikTok, etc.
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