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Add Black Bars to Video
Change your video's aspect ratio with clean black bars — fit 16:9, 4:3, 9:16 or 1:1 without cropping anything. Free, no watermark.
Drop a video here
MP4, WebM, MOV, MKV — anything your browser can decode.
PRIVATE BY DESIGN — PRIVATE BY DESIGN — decoding, processing and encoding all run in your browser's engine. No server sees your file.
How to Add Black Bars to a Video
Drop your video, pick the target ratio, and export. Your footage is scaled to fit inside the frame — nothing is cropped, black bars fill the rest.
Tip: use 9:16 with black bars when posting landscape clips to TikTok or Reels — no cropping, full frame visible.
PLATFORM GUIDE
Black bars for your platform
TikTok / Reels
Post landscape clips as 9:16 with black bars instead of cropping — the whole frame stays visible and looks intentional.
YouTube
YouTube letterboxes automatically — use 16:9 source for the cleanest result, or 4:3 for a retro look.
Feed posts shine at 1:1 or 4:5 — adding black bars keeps your whole clip instead of forcing a crop.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is Add Black Bars to Video really free?
Yes — completely free, with no hidden fees, no premium tier and no signup required. The tool runs entirely in your browser.
Do I need to install anything to use Add Black Bars to Video?
No. Add Black Bars to Video works directly in your browser. There is no software to install, no app to download and no plugin required.
Is my video uploaded to a server when I use Add Black Bars to Video?
Never. All processing happens locally on your device. Your file never leaves your computer, which is why there is no upload wait and no privacy risk.
Which video formats does Add Black Bars to Video support?
It outputs H.264 MP4 at exactly 1280×720 (16:9), 1280×960 (4:3), 720×1280 (9:16) or 720×720 (1:1) — your footage scaled to fit, black bars filling the rest.
What happens to my file after processing?
Nothing is stored anywhere. Once you close the tab, everything is gone. We have no server, no storage and no access to your files.
Will my video have a watermark?
No — every download is 100% watermark-free. EditVideo never adds logos, branding or watermarks to your files.
Does adding black bars crop my video?
No — your video is scaled down to fit inside the frame, so 100% of your footage stays visible. The black bars only fill the empty space.
Can I remove black bars from a video instead?
Yes — use our free Video Crop tool to trim the black bars away and keep the full-resolution picture underneath.
Can I add white bars instead of black?
This tool adds classic black letterbox bars — the standard look every platform accepts. White bars aren't available yet.
Can I add black bars to a photo?
This tool works with video files. For photos, use our free Photo Slideshow Maker — it fits photos into 16:9, 4:3, 9:16 or 1:1 with black bars built in.