Trim a Video for YouTube Shorts (Under 60 s, 9:16) — Free
YouTube Shorts requires a 9:16 vertical clip under 60 seconds. This guide trims, reframes, and exports to the right size — all in the browser.
Step-by-step
Trim to under 60 seconds
Open the Video Trimmer, drop in your clip, and pick the most engaging 50–55 seconds. Keep a small buffer in case the platform truncates.
Reframe to 9:16 vertical
Open the Video Crop tool, choose the 9:16 preset, and slide the crop window to keep the subject centered.
Resize to 1080×1920 and export
Resize to the official Shorts spec (1080×1920) so YouTube does not upscale or recompress aggressively.
Recommended settings
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 (vertical) |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 × 1920 |
| Max duration | 60 s (use 55 s for safety) |
| Frame rate | Match source (24/30/60 fps) |
| Codec / format | H.264 in MP4 |
Check before you publish
- Check the duration reads under 60 seconds in the file properties, not in the editor. A clip that exports at 60.04 s is rejected, which is why 55 s is the number to aim for.
- Confirm the frame is 1080 x 1920 and nothing important sits in the top or bottom 15% — that is where the title, the channel handle and the Subscribe button land.
- Play the last second. A Short loops, so a hard cut back to the first frame is the most common reason one feels unfinished.
Tools you may also need
FAQ
Why does YouTube reject my Shorts?
The most common reasons: clip is over 60 seconds, aspect ratio is not 9:16, or the file uses HEVC/H.265 which YouTube re-encodes (often poorly). Trim to 55 s, reframe to 9:16, and export H.264 MP4 to avoid all three.
Should I export at 60 fps?
Only if your source is already 60 fps. Up-converting from 30 fps does not add smoothness and just doubles the file size.
Does this run in my browser?
Yes — every step in this guide uses an in-browser FFmpeg WebAssembly tool. Your video never uploads to a server and never leaves your device.