AI Video Aspect Ratios — 9:16 vs 1:1 vs 16:9 Guide

2026-05-31 · 4 min read

Picking the wrong aspect ratio wastes credits and crops out half your composition. Here's the simple rule for every surface in 2026.

The simple rule

9:16 vertical for TikTok, Reels, Shorts and Stories. 1:1 square for Instagram feed posts. 16:9 horizontal for YouTube long-form, web embeds and cinematic projects. Pick before you generate — re-rendering costs credits.

Why you can't just crop

AI models compose the shot for the frame you request. A 16:9 cinematic wide cropped to 9:16 loses the subject. Generate native to the surface or compose for the smallest crop you'll need.

When to generate multiple ratios

For paid campaigns running across surfaces, generate the same prompt in both 9:16 and 1:1 (or 9:16 and 16:9). Klixor's library keeps both takes alongside each other so you can compare cleanly.

Aspect ratio cheat sheet

TikTok → 9:16. Reels → 9:16. Shorts → 9:16. Instagram feed → 1:1 or 4:5. Instagram Stories → 9:16. YouTube long-form → 16:9. LinkedIn feed → 1:1 or 4:5. Twitter / X → 16:9 or 1:1.