TikTok safe zones: where to put text so nothing gets covered
Every TikTok is shown with the interface on top: the caption and sound at the bottom, the like, comment and share buttons down the right, and tabs at the top. Text or faces placed there get hidden on most phones.
The areas to keep clear
Bottom: roughly the lowest fifth of the frame holds the username, caption and sound name, and grows when the caption is long. Right edge: a column of buttons runs from about the middle to the bottom. Top: the Following and For You tabs and the search icon.
That leaves a central area, slightly above the middle, as the safest place for on-screen text and for the most important part of the picture.
Size and placement of text
Keep text short, large and inside the centre area, with some margin from the left edge too. Two lines of five or six words read far better than a paragraph.
If you add text in TikTok's own editor, the app shows guide lines while you drag; text placed outside them is likely to be covered.
Check before posting
Export a test version and watch it in the app on a phone, scrolling as a viewer would. Look at the frame where your text first appears and when the caption is expanded.
Keep a transparent PNG overlay of the safe zone in your editing app and switch it on while placing text, then turn it off before export.
Different phones, different crops
Tall phones show more of the frame top and bottom; shorter screens crop or overlap more. Designing for the central area means the video works on all of them.
Frequently asked questions
Which parts of the TikTok frame get covered by the interface?
Roughly the bottom fifth holds the username, caption and sound, a column of buttons runs down the right edge, and tabs and search sit at the top.
Where is the safest place for on-screen text?
The central area, slightly above the middle, with some margin from the left edge too. Keep text short and large, such as two lines of five or six words.
How can I check text placement before posting?
Export a test version and watch it in the app on a phone, including when the caption is expanded. A transparent safe-zone overlay in your editor also helps while placing text.