Canva's 9:16 format is built for vertical video on phones and social platforms

Canva lets you resize any video to 9:16 aspect ratio — the tall, narrow format used by Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and most phone screens. The process takes about two minutes and works whether you're starting from scratch or converting something you've already made in a different size.

The key is that Canva doesn't actually change your video file itself. Instead, it creates a new canvas in 9:16 dimensions and lets you place your existing video inside it. If your original video is wider (like 16:9 from a phone camera or 1:1 from Instagram), Canva will either letterbox it (add black bars) or let you crop and zoom to fill the frame.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Canva, search for "9:16" in the template or custom size section, and create a new design at that dimension.
  • Upload your video or use one from Canva's library, then drag it onto the canvas and resize it to fill the frame or fit your preference.
  • If your original video is wider than 9:16, you can crop it, zoom in, or add background elements to fill empty space.
  • Export as an MP4 file when you're done, which works on all social platforms and video players.

Creating a new 9:16 canvas in Canva

Start by logging into Canva on the web or opening the mobile app. Click the "Create a design" button and search for "9:16" in the search bar. Canva will show you preset templates at that size — pick any one, or click "Custom size" and type 1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels tall (the standard 9:16 dimensions).

If you're using the mobile app, tap the plus icon to create a new design, then tap "Custom size" and enter those same numbers. The app will create a blank vertical canvas ready for your video.

Uploading and placing your video on the canvas

Once your canvas is open, click the "Uploads" tab on the left sidebar and select "Upload a file" to add your video from your computer or phone. Canva accepts MP4, MOV, WebM, and several other common video formats. Wait for the upload to finish — this can take a minute or two depending on file size.

Drag the video thumbnail onto your canvas. It will appear as a video element you can move and resize. If your original video is wider than 9:16 (for example, a 16:9 landscape video from a camera), it will have black bars on the sides. You can leave those bars, crop the video to remove them, or add background elements behind it.

Adjusting the video to fit your 9:16 frame

Click on the video once it's on the canvas to select it. You'll see resize handles around the edges. Drag these handles to make the video larger or smaller. If you want the video to fill the entire frame without black bars, drag a corner handle outward until the video covers the whole canvas — this will crop the edges of your original video.

Alternatively, right-click the video (or long-press on mobile) and look for a "Crop" option. This lets you manually choose which parts of the video to keep and which to remove. If you want to keep the full video but have empty space, you can add a solid color background, a gradient, or another image behind it by clicking "Background" in the left toolbar.

Adding text, graphics, or effects before exporting

Canva's editing tools work the same way on a 9:16 canvas as on any other size. Click "Text" to add captions or titles, "Elements" to add shapes and icons, or "Uploads" to layer in additional images. All of these sit on top of your video in the timeline.

If you want to add music, click "Audio" and search for a track. Canva's library includes thousands of royalty-free songs and sound effects. You can also upload your own audio file. The audio will play alongside your video when you export.

Exporting your 9:16 video

When you're ready, click the "Download" button in the top right. Canva will ask you to choose a file type — select "MP4" for a video file that works everywhere. The export usually takes 30 seconds to a few minutes depending on video length and your internet speed.

Once the download finishes, you'll have an MP4 file in 9:16 format ready to upload to Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, or any other platform. The file will be named something like "design.mp4" — you can rename it before uploading if you want.

Handling videos that don't fit the 9:16 frame perfectly

If your original video is 16:9 (landscape, like from a phone camera held sideways), you have three main options. First, crop it to 9:16 by dragging the resize handles inward, which removes the left and right edges. Second, zoom in by dragging outward, which removes the top and bottom but keeps the center of the frame. Third, add a solid color or blurred background behind it, which keeps the whole video visible but adds empty space on the sides.

If your video is already 1:1 (square, like from Instagram), it will have black bars on the top and bottom when you place it in a 9:16 frame. You can fill those bars with a background color, a gradient, or a still image that matches your video's theme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I convert a video that's already in Canva to 9:16?

Yes. Open the design, click "File" or the menu icon, select "Change size", and choose 9:16. Canva will ask how you want to handle the resize — you can scale everything proportionally or fit it to the new dimensions. Your video will adjust accordingly.

What if my video is too short to fill the whole 9:16 canvas?

You can loop the video by right-clicking it and selecting "Loop", add multiple copies of the same video stacked end-to-end, or fill the empty space with a background color or image. Canva also lets you add text, graphics, or music to make the design feel complete even if the video doesn't cover the whole frame.

Does exporting as 9:16 reduce video quality?

No. Canva exports at the resolution you set — 1080 by 1920 pixels is standard for vertical video and looks sharp on phones and most platforms. The quality depends on your original video file, not the aspect ratio change.

Can I use Canva's 9:16 format for platforms other than TikTok and Instagram Reels?

Yes. 9:16 works on YouTube Shorts, Pinterest Pins, Snapchat, and any platform that accepts vertical video. It's also the standard format for mobile phone screens, so it's useful for any vertical content.