# YouTube Shorts safe zone: where to keep text

> For Shorts ads, Google provides a transparent PNG with a red Safe Zone box on a 1080 x 1920 frame. How to use it, when buttons appear and how platforms differ.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-05
- **Category**: Ad specs
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-guides/youtube-shorts-safe-zone

---

Google gives Shorts advertisers a transparent PNG template with a red "Safe Zone" box on a 1080 x 1920 frame (checked 3 Nov 2026). Keep your logo, product and text inside it.

## What Google gives you

Google's help page on video ad specs links transparent PNG templates. The vertical 1080 x 1920 template shows the red rectangle. Google's text gives no percentages or pixel margins, so the template is the only measure. Google lists 1080 x 1920 as the recommended Shorts ad size.

Source: Google's [video ad specs page](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/13547298). For sizes and lengths, see [YouTube Shorts ad specs](/guides/youtube-shorts-ad-specs).

## Use the template

1. Download the vertical PNG from Google's help page.
2. Place it as the top layer of a 1080 x 1920 project.
3. Move your logo, product and text inside the red rectangle.
4. Hide the layer and export.
5. Play the file on a phone and check each text line.

## Buttons and timing

Google's best-practice notes say text overlays are welcome in Shorts ads. The call-to-action button appears at 3 seconds for Performance Max, App and Demand Gen campaigns. It appears at 10 seconds for Video view and Video reach campaigns.

A search summary of Google's Shorts ad help says action buttons sit on top of the creative on mobile. On tablet and desktop they do not overlay. We could not confirm which page carries that sentence, so check it in your campaign preview.

## How platforms differ

| Platform | How the safe zone is given |
|---|---|
| Meta Reels and Stories | Percentages: about 14% top, 35% bottom, 6% each side |
| TikTok | Downloadable template images |
| YouTube Shorts ads | Transparent PNG templates |
| LinkedIn | No safe-zone guidance on its spec page |

So a cut for several platforms must pass each platform's own test. Compare the [Reels safe zone](/guides/instagram-reels-safe-zone) and the [TikTok safe zone](/guides/tiktok-safe-zone).

## Normal Shorts

The template above is for ads. We found no safe-zone figure for normal Shorts in Google's help pages. If you reuse an organic Short as an ad, check it against the template first.

[Marxx's AI video editor](/features/ai-video-editor) has safe-zone overlays for Shorts and exports MP4 (H.264) up to 1080p. We make Marxx. For file settings, see [YouTube Shorts export settings](/guides/export-settings-for-youtube-shorts).

## FAQ

### What is the YouTube Shorts safe zone?

The area where buttons and text from the app will not cover your creative. For ads, Google shows it as a red rectangle on a PNG template.

### How many pixels is the Shorts safe zone?

Google gives no pixel margins in its text. Use the 1080 x 1920 template image.

### Does the safe zone apply to normal Shorts?

Google's template is for ads. We found no separate figure for normal Shorts.

---
- [More Ad specs articles](https://marxx.ai/library-guides/category/ad-specs)
- [All articles](https://marxx.ai/library-guides)