Watermarks and safe zones for TikTok, Reels and Shorts
Where to put watermarks, captions and faces so app buttons never cover them, plus size, opacity and file rules for brand watermarks.
Updated · 6 min read
Key takeaways
- Keep text, faces and watermarks out of the bottom fifth and the right edge of a 9:16 frame, where each app draws its buttons and caption.
- A good watermark is visible on every frame without pulling attention: small, semi-transparent and in the top third.
- Export watermarks as transparent PNGs at least 400 pixels wide so they stay sharp on every phone.
Why placement matters
Every short-form app draws its own interface over your video: likes, comments, share, the caption and the sound name. Anything under that interface is effectively invisible. A watermark hidden behind the share button does not count for a brand, and a caption under the description cannot be read.
Safe zones by platform
The values below are for a 1080 by 1920 frame. App layouts move with updates, so treat them as a guide and check one clip on your own phone.
| Platform | Keep clear at the bottom | Keep clear on the right | Keep clear at the top |
|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | About 400 px | About 140 px | About 130 px |
| Instagram Reels | About 420 px | About 120 px | About 220 px |
| YouTube Shorts | About 380 px | About 140 px | About 120 px |
Size and opacity
- Width: 12 to 18 percent of the frame width is visible without dominating.
- Opacity: 60 to 80 percent reads clearly while letting the footage show through.
- Contrast: add a soft shadow or a subtle backing so the mark reads on both light and dark scenes.
Light and dark footage
Ask for two versions of the mark, one light and one dark, and use the one that contrasts with each clip. A white mark on a snowy scene disappears.
When the watermark should show
For brand campaigns the mark should stay on screen for the whole clip. A watermark that only appears at the end is missed by everyone who swiped early, which is most people.
File requirements for brands
- Transparent PNG, at least 400 px wide
- A light and a dark version
- No extra padding around the artwork
- A short note on placement: top left, top right or top centre
Watermark checklist
- The mark sits in the top third
- It is 12 to 18 percent of the frame width
- Opacity is between 60 and 80 percent
- It shows for the whole clip
- Captions sit above the bottom app controls
- You checked one clip on a real phone
Frequently asked questions
- Where is the safe zone on TikTok?
- Keep important content out of roughly the bottom 400 pixels and the right 140 pixels of a 1080 by 1920 frame, where TikTok draws its buttons and caption.
- Where should a watermark go on a short video?
- In the top third of the frame, away from the right edge, so no app interface covers it.
- What file format should a watermark be?
- A transparent PNG at least 400 pixels wide, in a light and a dark version.
Cut, caption and export vertical clips in the browser.