# YouTube Shorts

> Render a vertical film of up to 3 minutes for YouTube Shorts, with the limits, an estimated safe zone and the vawe commands.

Canonical: https://vawe.dev/docs/youtube-shorts

At the end of this page you have a 1080 × 1920 film of 180 seconds or less that YouTube files as a Short. The same page can also make the 16:9 film: see [Vertical social](https://vawe.dev/docs/vertical-social) for the layout and [YouTube](https://vawe.dev/docs/youtube) for the wide upload.

## The limits

The sourced table is in [Video specs by platform](https://vawe.dev/docs/platforms). Read from YouTube Help on 2026-10-31:

* A video with a square or vertical aspect ratio, up to three minutes long, is a Short. YouTube states this for uploads from 2024-10-15.
* The maximum Shorts resolution is 1080p. YouTube publishes no pixel size, no frame rate and no file size for Shorts.
* YouTube states no loudness target.

The vawe 9:16 final is 1080 × 1920, which is inside the 1080p limit.

## Safe zone (estimate)

YouTube publishes no pixel values for the Shorts interface.

As an estimate, use the Meta numbers for Reels ads: 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% of each side kept free. They are a Meta suggestion for Instagram ads, not a YouTube rule. The pixel values for 1080 × 1920 are on [Instagram Reels](https://vawe.dev/docs/instagram-reels#safe-zone).

## Make the film

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Start a 9:16 page under 3 minutes

    ```bash
    bin/vawe new my-short --request "a 30 second tip about the product" --aspect 9:16 --length 30
    ```

    The verb writes `<meta name="aspect" content="9:16">` and `<meta name="duration" content="30">` into the page. Keep the duration at 180 or less.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Look at a vertical frame

    ```bash
    bin/vawe still films/my-short/page.html --at 3 --aspect 9:16
    ```

    Open the PNG in `out/still/` and check that the text sits inside the box above. Read [Aspect ratios](https://vawe.dev/docs/aspect-ratios): the page lays out with `--vw` and `--vh`, never with a crop.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Draft, then ship

    ```bash
    bin/vawe dev films/my-short/page.html --aspect 9:16
    bin/vawe ship films/my-short/page.html --aspect 9:16
    bin/vawe ship --status --wait
    ```

    `ship` needs a fresh critique and the owner approval. See [Ship](https://vawe.dev/docs/ship).
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Sound and captions

The moves `caption-karaoke` and `caption-editorial` in `prompts/moves/` are two caption styles for words on screen. YouTube gives no loudness target, so the default mix is a safe start: it lands near -20 LUFS. See [Loudness and the mix](https://vawe.dev/docs/loudness-and-the-mix).

## Limits

* A final is 60 fps. `ship` has no fps flag, and YouTube publishes no frame rate for Shorts.
* The Shorts upload help page says “vertical”. The newer three-minute page says “square or vertical”. This guide follows the newer page.
* A film of exactly 180 seconds is at the limit. Leave a margin.

  <Card title="Video specs by platform" href="/docs/platforms">
    All six platforms, with sources.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Vertical social" href="/docs/vertical-social">
    Lay out for 9:16.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Aspect ratios" href="/docs/aspect-ratios">
    One page, many aspects.
  </Card>

{/* sources (vawe 4d9a5acb4):
  Shorts rule and date: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/15424877 read 2026-10-31; 1080p and vertical: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/10059070
  14/35/6 safe zone: https://www.facebook.com/business/ads-guide/update/video/instagram-reels (Meta Ads Guide, ads only). Pixels: 0.14*1920=269, 0.35*1920=672, 0.06*1080=65
  commands: bin/vawe new|still|dev|ship --help
  caption moves: prompts/moves/caption-karaoke.md, caption-editorial.md
  about -20 LUFS: taste/build/limits.json sound-level lufs_target -20; AGENTS.md
  */}