Formats & specs
Safe zone: definition and examples
What is Safe zone?
A safe zone is a defined area within a video frame where text, logos, and key action are guaranteed to remain visible across different screens and platforms without being cropped. The title-safe area typically falls within the inner 80% of the frame, and the action-safe area within the outer 90%, though social platforms often publish their own recommended margins for on-screen graphics.
Reference: video sizes and safe zones by platform
When you'd use it
- 1When placing captions, headlines, or on-screen text that must stay fully readable on every device.
- 2When adding a logo or call-to-action overlay and need to keep it clear of platform UI elements.
- 3When a video will be displayed on a TV or connected screen where overscan may crop the edges.
- 4When designing a lower-third or title card in a template intended for multiple output formats.
- 5When a subtitle or caption at the bottom of a vertical video risks overlapping a platform's interface.
Example
A brand posts a vertical recipe video with the list of ingredients as a text overlay along the bottom third. After publishing, they notice the ingredient list is hidden behind TikTok's UI on most phones. Moving the overlay to the upper-center portion of the frame fixes the problem on the next video.
Use cases
- 1Placing a brand logo in the upper-left safe zone so it does not get hidden by a platform's profile badge.
- 2Keeping caption text inside the title-safe boundary so it stays legible on all screen sizes.
- 3Positioning a call-to-action text overlay away from the bottom edge where platform buttons appear.
FAQ
Is the safe zone the same on every platform?
No. Each platform has its own UI layout, so the areas to avoid differ. TikTok's button stack sits on the right side and the caption block at the bottom; YouTube Shorts places elements differently. Check each platform's current published overlay specs before placing graphics.
Make on-brand short-form video from the footage you already have.