Boneyard Tools

Common Video Resolutions and Aspect Ratios

A reference for the standard pixel sizes behind 16:9, 9:16, 4:3 and ultrawide, and how to scale between them without distortion.

Open the Aspect Ratio Resize Calculator →

What an aspect ratio really describes

An aspect ratio is the relationship between width and height, written as two numbers like 16:9. It says nothing about the actual pixel count, only the shape of the frame. That is why 1280 by 720, 1920 by 1080 and 3840 by 2160 all share the 16:9 ratio despite very different sizes. When you keep the ratio fixed and change one side, the other side is fully determined, which is exactly what this calculator solves for you.

The 16:9 family and its cousins

16:9 is the ratio behind almost all modern displays and streaming video, spanning 1280 by 720 (720p), 1920 by 1080 (1080p), 2560 by 1440 (1440p) and 3840 by 2160 (4K UHD). Rotate it and you get 9:16, the tall format used by phone video and short-form platforms, with sizes like 1080 by 1920. Older broadcast and many photos use 4:3, such as 640 by 480 and 1024 by 768. Cinema and ultrawide monitors push wider still, to 21:9 shapes like 2560 by 1080.

Scaling between sizes without distortion

To move from one resolution to another inside the same ratio, multiply both dimensions by the same factor. Going from 1920 by 1080 to a 1280 width means multiplying by 1280 divided by 1920, which is two thirds, and 1080 times two thirds is 720. If you instead fix the height, you multiply the width by the height factor. Rounding to whole pixels keeps the result usable while holding the shape as close to the original as pixels allow.

When you must change the ratio

Sometimes a target frame has a different shape than your source, for example fitting a 16:9 clip into a 1:1 social post. Simply forcing new dimensions would stretch faces and text, so the honest options are to letterbox with bars, or to crop away part of the frame before resizing. This calculator keeps the ratio locked so you never distort by accident; reshaping the frame is a separate, deliberate crop or pad step in your editor.

Frequently asked questions

Is 1080p always 1920 by 1080?

The 1080 refers to the number of vertical pixels. In the standard 16:9 format that pairs with 1920 wide, but a 1080-tall frame in a different ratio, such as ultrawide 2560 by 1080, is also valid. Always check both numbers rather than the shorthand alone.

Which ratio should I use for social video?

Vertical 9:16 (for example 1080 by 1920) suits phone-first feeds and stories, 1:1 squares work well in mixed feeds, and 16:9 remains the default for landscape players. Pick the ratio your platform recommends, then use this tool to hit the exact pixel size.