Platform-specific safe zone
YouTube Shorts Safe Zone Guide for 9:16 Video
Preview a YouTube Shorts frame with representative controls and keep titles, channel prompts, faces and product details inside a resilient composition area.
Safe Zone Previewer
Upload an image to preview a centered 9:16 crop with platform safe zones.
Choose how strongly risk areas are highlighted in the analysis preview.
Platforms keep the full 9:16 image but may place buttons, captions, and controls over these regions. The default is 60%. This choice affects only the analysis preview and never changes the clean export.
Upload to preview
Interface context
Designing around YouTube Shorts interface areas
YouTube Shorts uses a right-side action column while channel, title and audio information occupy the lower portion of the viewing experience. Top navigation and device controls can also compete with edge-aligned artwork, especially when a frame contains small labels or a dense thumbnail-style layout.
These percentages describe the conservative overlay used by Display Lab, not a permanent platform specification. Interfaces can change by app version, device and account context.
Practical review checklist
- Keep small labels and subjects away from the action column.
- Leave lower-frame breathing room for channel and title information.
- Inspect the first and final frames as well as the main composition.
- Perform a final check in the Shorts viewer after upload.
Design tip
Use the upper-middle portion of the frame for the primary message and avoid placing a second call to action where YouTube already presents channel or engagement controls.