How to Make a Horizontal Video Vertical for Instagram

Shooting a fantastic video in landscape mode only to realize Instagram demands a vertical format can feel like a major setback. But don't scrap that great footage. Repurposing horizontal video for Reels, Stories, and the main feed is easier than you think, and it doesn't require reshooting anything. This guide will walk you through several methods for transforming your landscape content into engaging, high-performing vertical videos.

Why Going Vertical for Instagram is a Non-Negotiable

Before jumping into the "how," let's quickly touch on the "why." Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok are designed for a mobile-first experience. People hold their phones vertically 94% of the time, and the user interface is built around that reality. Vertical video fills the entire screen, creating an immersive experience that commands a user's full attention. A tiny horizontal video floating in a sea of black bars simply can't compete.

• Maximized Screen Real Estate: Vertical video (using a 9:16 aspect ratio) uses every pixel of the phone screen, making your content feel bigger, bolder, and more engaging.
• Increased Watch Time: An immersive format encourages viewers to stick around longer. The fewer distractions on screen, the more likely they are to focus on your message.
• Platform Algorithm Preference: Instagram’s algorithm prioritizes content that provides a good user experience. Natively formatted vertical videos for Reels and Stories are favored and often see better reach and engagement than awkwardly formatted horizontal clips.

In short, fitting the format isn't just about aesthetics, it's about giving your content the best possible chance to succeed.

3 Creative Ways to Edit a Horizontal Video for a Vertical Frame

There isn’t just one way to solve this problem. Depending on your video's content and the look you’re going for, you can choose from a few effective techniques. Here are the three most common methods, ranging from a quick fix to a more professional polish.

Method 1: The Simple Crop & Reframe (The Quick Fix)

This is the most straightforward approach. You simply "punch in" on your horizontal footage, cropping the sides to fit a vertical 9:16 frame. You then position the video to keep your main subject in the center of the new frame.

When to use it:

• When you filmed in high resolution (like 4K), which gives you plenty of pixels to crop without losing quality.
• When your subject is already relatively centered in the original horizontal shot.
• When you need a fast and easy solution without much editing wizardry.

What to watch out for:

The biggest downside is that you lose the left and right sides of your original video. If there’s important action happening on the edges of the frame, this method won’t work. For example, if you filmed two people talking on opposite ends of a couch, cropping will inevitably cut one person out. But if you have a single person speaking, hiking, or unboxing a product in the center, a simple crop is perfect.

Method 2: The Blurred Background Pillarbox (The Professional Look)

This is arguably the most popular and polished technique. You keep your full horizontal video in the center of the vertical frame. Then, to fill the empty space above and below it, you use a duplicated, scaled-up, and blurred version of the same video as a background.

When to use it:

• When you need to preserve the full width and composition of your original horizontal shot.
• When a simple crop would cut out important context or subjects.
• When you want a sophisticated, professional look that’s common on news clips and repurposed documentaries.

What to watch out for:

This method works for nearly any situation. The only real consideration is stylistic. The blurred background is visually pleasing and focuses the viewer’s eye on the main action in the center frame, but make sure the blur isn’t so subtle that it becomes distracting.

Method 3: The Stacked "Split-Screen" (Creative and Dynamic)

A more creative option is to split your screen into two or more horizontal sections within the vertical frame. You can place one clip on top and another on the bottom. These can be the same clip anachronistically (showing the reaction after the action), or two different clips entirely.

When to use it:

• For “before and after” style videos where you can show both states at once.
• During interviews or conversations, where you can show the speaker in one frame and what they’re talking about in another.
• When you want to show two different angles or parts of an action simultaneously.

What to watch out for:

This requires more thought and editing time. You need to ensure both clips work together and don't make the screen feel too busy or confusing. It's a powerful storytelling tool but might be overkill for a simple clip.

Step-by-Step Guide: Your Editing Workflow

Now, let's turn theory into action. Here's how to apply these methods using common editing software on both mobile and desktop.

How to Make a Horizontal Video Vertical on Mobile (using CapCut)

Mobile editing apps like CapCut, InShot, and Splice make this process very simple. We'll use CapCut as our example because it's free and incredibly powerful.

Steps for the Blurred Background Method in CapCut:

1. Start a New Project: Open CapCut and tap "New Project." Select your horizontal video clip from your camera roll and tap "Add."
2. Set the Correct Aspect Ratio: Along the bottom toolbar, scroll and find the "Ratio" icon. Tap it and select 9:16 (the TikTok icon). You'll see your horizontal video now sits in the middle of a vertical frame with black bars.
3. Create the Blurred Background: Look for the "Canvas" option in the bottom toolbar. Tap it, then tap "Blur." CapCut will automatically generate four different levels of blur using your video as the source. Select the one you like best.
4. Resize the Main Video (Optional): Your main video is now sitting on top of a blurred background. You can use two fingers to pinch and zoom the main video clip, making it slightly smaller or larger to achieve the perfect composition.
5. Export: Once you're happy with the look, tap the export icon in the top-right corner to save your new vertical video to your phone.

For the Simple Crop Method in CapCut:

After setting your aspect ratio to 9:16 in Step 2, simply select your video clip in the timeline. Use two fingers to pinch-and-zoom directly on the preview window. Scale up your video until it fills the entire 9:16 frame, and drag it left or right to keep your subject centered. That's it!

How to Make a Horizontal Video Vertical on Desktop (using Adobe Premiere Pro)

For those using professional desktop software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or DaVinci Resolve, the process gives you more granular control. We'll use Premiere Pro as the example.

Steps for the Blurred Background Method in Premiere Pro:

1. Create a Vertical Sequence: Go to File >, New >, Sequence. In the "Settings" tab, change the Frame Size to 1080 horizontal and 1920 vertical. This creates your 9:16 canvas.
2. Import and Stack Your Clips: Drag your horizontal video clip from your project bin onto the timeline. Place it on the track labeled V2 (Video Track 2). Then, hold down the Alt (or Option on Mac) key, click on the clip, and drag it straight down to V1. You should now have two identical clips stacked perfectly on top of one another.
3. Scale the Background Clip: Select the bottom clip on track V1. Go to the "Effect Controls" panel. In the "Motion" section, increase the "Scale" value until the video fills the entire height and width of the vertical frame. It will look blown-up and pixelated, but that’s okay.
4. Add Blur to the Background: Go to the "Effects" panel and search for "Gaussian Blur." Drag this effect onto the bottom clip on track V1. Back in the "Effect Controls" panel, increase the "Blurriness" value to your desired level (a value between 30 and 50 usually works well).
5. Finish and Export: Your main video on track V2 should now be playing perfectly over a nicely blurred background. You can add a subtle drop shadow to the top layer for more separation if you like. Export a high-quality H.264 file, and you’re ready to post.

Quick Tips for Filming Horizontal You Plan to Repurpose

The best way to get a great vertical video is to shoot vertically. But if you have to shoot horizontally, keeping a few things in mind during filming can save you a ton of editing headaches later.

• Shoot in the Highest Resolution Possible: Filming in 4K gives you a ton of extra pixels, which means you have more flexibility to crop and reframe without the footage looking soft or blurry.
• Keep Your Main Subject Centered: Try to frame your main subject in the center third of the horizontal frame. This "safe zone" ensures they won't get accidentally cropped out when you convert to a vertical 9:16 aspect ratio.
• Avoid Fast Panning Shots: A slow, sweeping landscape shot can be difficult to reframe because the subject of interest changes. If you know you'll need a vertical cut, opt for static shots or follow a central subject smoothly.

Final Thoughts

Transforming your horizontal video for Instagram isn't about compromising your vision, it's about adapting your content to perform its best on the platform where your audience lives. Whether you choose a simple crop, a creative split-screen, or a professional blurred background, you now have the tools and techniques to make your footage shine in a vertical world.

Once you’ve perfectly formatted your video content for every platform, the real work is getting everything planned, scheduled, and published without the chaos of jumping between apps. That's why we built Postbase from the ground up for today's short-form video formats. Our visual calendar and rock-solid schedulers for Reels, TikToks, and Shorts ensure your content engine runs smoothly, so you can spend less time uploading and more time creating.