YouTube Shorts specs
What makes a video a Short, the 3 minute limit, the 1080p upload cap, and the date rule that catches musicians on an Official Artist Channel.
Shorts are not a format you export to. They are a category YouTube applies to an ordinary upload, which is why so much advice about them is confused. Get the shape and the length right and YouTube does the rest.
The rules that make a video a Short
| Rule | YouTube's wording |
|---|---|
| Length | Up to three minutes in length |
| Shape | Square or vertical aspect ratio |
| Upload resolution | You can upload Short videos with a maximum resolution of 1080p |
The date rule that catches musicians
The three minute rule applies to videos uploaded after 15 October 2024 on an ordinary channel, but on an Official Artist Channel it starts with videos uploaded after 8 December 2025. Anything older stays classified the way it was. If you run an artist channel and an old vertical upload is not behaving like a Short, that is why, and re-uploading is the only thing that changes it.
What size should I actually export?
LimePulse exports vertical at 2160 x 3840, which is 9:16 and well above anything Shorts serves. YouTube caps Shorts uploads at 1080p, so the practical export is 1080 by 1920 if you want to match what it accepts exactly, and larger if the same file is also going somewhere that shows more. See export formats and sizes.
Keep the middle clear
Every vertical feed lays its own interface over your video: a title and description across the bottom, a column of buttons down the right. Titles, faces and logos belong in the middle of the frame, away from the bottom third and away from the right edge. The exact margins differ between apps and change without notice, so build to the middle rather than to a number.
Common questions
How long can a YouTube Short be?
Up to three minutes. For music, shorter is usually better: a hook, not a whole track.
Can I upload a Short in 4K?
YouTube states a maximum upload resolution of 1080p for Shorts. Export vertical at 1080 by 1920 for anything going straight to Shorts.
Why was my vertical video not made a Short?
Either it is longer than three minutes, or it was uploaded before the date rule applied to your channel type. Length and shape are the only two things that decide it.
Does a square video count as a Short?
Yes. Square or vertical both qualify, which surprises people who have been told 9:16 is mandatory.
Is a music visualizer allowed as a Short?
Yes. What matters is that your uploads are not near identical to each other. See visualizers and reused content.
Related
- Vertical video specs for Reels, Shorts and TikTok
- YouTube video specs for music
- How to make a vertical music visualizer
Last updated 2026-09-15
LimePulse is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by Spotify AB or Apple Inc. Product names are used only to describe what the software makes files for.