TikTok safe zone (2026): the pixel guide for posts, In-Feed ads and Spark Ads
By Cormac Moore. Updated 26 October 2026. 2 minute read.
The short answer
On a 1080 × 1920 TikTok, keep important content out of the top 170 px (the Following / For You tabs), the right 160 px (like, comment, save, share) and the left 64 px.
At the bottom, keep 440 px clear for organic posts (486 px with a two-line caption), or 560 px for In-Feed and Spark Ads (606 px with two lines), because the ad button sits on top of the caption.
Why TikTok doesn’t have one safe zone number
TikTok doesn’t publish a single figure. It publishes downloadable templates, and its help centre says the safe area depends on the video’s shape, your caption length and any add-ons. TikTok’s safe zone has a feature most safe zones don’t: it gets smaller the more you talk.
The numbers here are AhCrop’s conservative reading of the current app and TikTok’s templates. They’re deliberately on the cautious side, because a slightly tight layout costs nothing and a covered offer costs a re-edit.
TikTok safe zone in pixels
| Edge | Organic post | In-Feed ad | Spark Ad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top | 170 px | 170 px | 170 px |
| Bottom (1-line caption) | 440 px | 560 px | 560 px |
| Bottom (2-line caption) | 486 px | 606 px | 606 px |
| Left | 64 px | 64 px | 64 px |
| Right | 160 px | 160 px | 160 px |
Spark Ads boost an organic post, so they show its caption, up to four lines. Every extra line takes about 46 px more from the bottom.
What covers each edge
- Top: LIVE, Following, For You and search. Small, but always there.
- Right: your avatar, like, comment, save, share and the spinning record. TikTok’s right-hand side belongs to the buttons now. It’s been annexed.
- Bottom: username, caption, sound, and on ads a “Sponsored” label and a CTA button. Write a long caption and TikTok will happily lay it across your product. Bold, as editorial choices go.
Does TikTok crop vertical video?
On tall phones TikTok fills the screen from the top down to the navigation bar, which trims a little off the left and right of a 9:16 video. Keep text off the very edges and you’ll never notice. Horizontal and square videos are letterboxed with black bars, which nobody has ever described as a vibe.
A quick checklist
- Export 1080 × 1920 at 9:16.
- Put supers and offers in the centre-left of the frame, away from the button rail.
- On ads, keep your call to action above roughly the 70% line.
- Preview with your real caption length, not the one you wish you’d written.
Questions people ask
What size is a TikTok video?
1080 × 1920 pixels at 9:16 is the standard. TikTok accepts smaller, down to 540 × 960, but it looks soft.
Is the TikTok safe zone different for ads?
Yes. In-Feed and Spark Ads add a CTA button and a Sponsored label at the bottom, so keep about 560 px clear instead of 440 px.
Does caption length really matter?
Yes. TikTok grows the caption block upwards, roughly 46 px per extra line, so longer captions cover more of your video.
Where should I put text on a TikTok?
In the centre of the frame, slightly left of middle, between about 170 px from the top and 560 px from the bottom.
Sources
- TikTok Ads Help: Auction In-Feed Ads, safe zone templates that shrink as captions get longer
Numbers are for a 1080 × 1920 frame and were last checked 26 October 2026. Platforms change their apps often, so check AhCrop for the current version.