Instagram Reels Safe Zone Checker

What does Meta say about the Reels safe zone?

Meta's Instagram Reels video specs say to leave at least 14 percent of the top, 35 percent of the bottom and 6 percent of each side free from text, logos and key creative elements. These are official figures, so the checker labels this preset "official figures".

Converted to a 1080x1920 frame and rounded to the nearest pixel:

Meta's page recommends a 1440x2560 canvas. The checker works on 1080x1920, and the percentages are the same at either size. Checked 12 Oct 2026.

Why is the bottom zone so large on Reels?

Meta's specs set the bottom margin at 35 percent but do not list what sits in each zone; the bottom of a Reels ad is where the caption and call-to-action area is drawn. At 672 px it is the joint-largest zone in the checker (Facebook Reels and Instagram Stories use the same figure), and larger than YouTube Shorts' 480 px bottom zone.

That changes how you frame a Reels ad. The natural "lower third" for subtitles and product names, roughly 1,280 to 1,600 px down, sits entirely inside the Reels bottom zone. Move that layer up into the band from about 1,000 to 1,240 px instead.

What changes when the ad has a disclaimer?

Meta's help article About text overlays and safe zones for ads in Stories and Reels adds one rule: if a Reels ad includes disclaimers, leave the bottom 40 percent free. On 1920 px, that moves the bottom edge of the safe area from 1,248 px up to 1,152 px.

The checker draws the standard 35 percent zone. For ads in regulated categories that carry disclaimers, treat anything below 1,152 px as covered. The same article says Ads Manager has a safe zone guardrail toggle that shows the zones while you build the ad.

Is Reels the same as Stories and Facebook Reels?

The Instagram Stories figures are the same; Facebook placements differ.

So one 9:16 cut that clears the Instagram Reels zone also clears Instagram Stories and Facebook Stories. Use the checker's platform buttons to confirm on your own frame.

Where should text and products sit on a Reels ad?

The Reels safe area is centred left to right, so text centred on the frame is also centred in the safe area. Vertically, its middle is about 758 px from the top, well above the frame's centre at 960 px.

• Hook text: start it just below 269 px. The first line people read sits right under the top zone.
• Face or product: keep the main subject between about 400 and 1,100 px down.
• Subtitles: set them so their lowest line ends above 1,248 px, or above 1,152 px if the ad carries a disclaimer.
• Sides: keep 65 px clear on both edges, so wide captions should stay under about 950 px.

For AI-generated shots, write the framing into the prompt, for example a medium close-up with the subject in the upper half of the frame. Then check the first frame of each clip here before you edit.

Worked example: a UGC-style talking-head frame

A 1080x1920 frame has the creator's face centred at 900 px, a product name in the lower third from 1,350 to 1,450 px, and a subtitle line from 1,500 to 1,560 px.

Load it and pick Instagram Reels:

1. The face at 900 px is inside the safe area. No change.
2. The product name at 1,350 px is in the bottom zone, which starts at 1,248 px. Move it to about 1,150 to 1,230 px.
3. The subtitle at 1,500 px is also in the bottom zone. Put it above the product name or shorten the shot so the face sits higher.

Then click Download PNG with overlay and send the frame to your editor.

Related checks

Check the same file for other placements on the safe zone checker. TikTok's zones, which are approximate, are on the TikTok safe zone page, and Google's official figures are on the YouTube Shorts safe zone page. Full Meta placement specs are on Instagram ad specs and Meta ad specs.

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