Short-form video · Global

YouTube Shorts export settings and upload specs.

What YouTube Shorts publishes about youtube shorts uploads, with a link to each source, and the settings we would export with.

Recommended export

Official

1080 x 1920 · 30 fps · H.264 High level 4.0 · 8 Mbps VBR · keyframe every 0.5 s · AAC 384 kbps 48 kHz · Rec. 709 (BT.709), 8-bit 4:2:0, limited (TV) range

YouTube's published upload bitrate for this resolution and frame rate.

Change resolution, fps or HDR in the generator

YouTube Shorts upload limits

Each value links to where it was published.

Aspect ratio

Square or vertical. Use a wider format such as 16:9 to avoid Shorts classification Understand three-minute YouTube Shorts, checked 2026-10-25

Resolution

Not officially published. Community-tested: 1080 x 1920 (9:16) Community-tested YouTube recommended upload encoding settings, checked 2026-10-25

Frame rate

Same as uploads: keep recorded frame rate (24-60 common) YouTube recommended upload encoding settings, checked 2026-10-25

Video codec

Same as long-form: H.264 High Profile, progressive, 4:2:0 YouTube recommended upload encoding settings, checked 2026-10-25

Container

MP4 (moov atom at front) YouTube recommended upload encoding settings, checked 2026-10-25

Bitrate

Use the upload table by resolution: 1080p 8 Mbps (24-30 fps) / 12 Mbps (48-60 fps) YouTube recommended upload encoding settings, checked 2026-10-25

Max length

Up to 3 minutes (for standard channels, uploads on or after 15 Oct 2024) Understand three-minute YouTube Shorts, checked 2026-10-25

Audio

AAC-LC, 48 kHz, 384 kbps stereo YouTube recommended upload encoding settings, checked 2026-10-25

Good to know about YouTube Shorts

Most Shorts Audio Library songs can be used for up to 90 seconds; some only 60 or 30.
Official Artist Channels: 3-minute rule applies to uploads from 8 Dec 2025.
YouTube Studio desktop can upload up to 15 Shorts at once.

YouTube Shorts export settings by editing app

Other YouTube formats

Frequently asked questions

What are the best export settings for YouTube Shorts?

1080 x 1920, 30 fps, H.264 High, 8 Mbps VBR, AAC 384 kbps at 48 kHz, in an MP4. YouTube's published upload bitrate for this resolution and frame rate.

How long can a YouTube Shorts video be?

Up to 3 minutes (for standard channels, uploads on or after 15 Oct 2024).

What aspect ratio does YouTube Shorts use?

Square or vertical. Use a wider format such as 16:9 to avoid Shorts classification.

Shinel Studios

Rather send the footage and get YouTube Shorts-ready edits back?

Our editors cut, caption, colour and export to each platform's spec, with 2 revision rounds. Shorts come back in 48-72 hours, long videos in 5-10 days.

See video editing Prices