Master 4:5 and 9:16 Aspect Ratios for Social Media Ads

In digital marketing, screen space equals attention. If your slideshow ad does not fill the maximum available area on a mobile phone, your competitors will instantly steal the click.

For Pakistani entrepreneurs relying on Facebook and Instagram (where over 80% of views are on mobile), mastering aspect ratios is non-negotiable for success.

This guide simplifies the most critical technical detail: understanding and correctly using the 4:5 Vertical and 9:16 Full Screen formats.

Professional tools like Movavi and Ashampoo make this easy, but knowing why they matter is the key to maximizing your ROI.

Key Takeaways

To dominate mobile screen space and boost conversions, prioritize these actions:

Use 4:5 for Feed: Always use the 4:5 vertical ratio for all ads appearing in the main Facebook/Instagram feed to gain 20% more screen space than a square ad.
Use 9:16 for Stories: Use the 9:16 full vertical ratio for Stories and Reels. This is the only way to fill the entire mobile screen for maximum impact.
Don’t Crop: Never use a single square ad and crop it for other placements. This ruins the composition and wastes valuable space.
Software Automation: Utilize the aspect ratio presets in your licensed software to ensure perfect export settings every time.

Why High-Converting Slideshow Ads Are the Smart Choice for SME Marketing in Pakistan

High-converting slideshow ads are a game-changer for Pakistani entrepreneurs, balancing visual appeal with cost-effective production.

Cost-Effective Advertising Without Sacrificing Quality

Avoid High Video Costs: Traditional video costs PKR 50,000 to PKR 200,000 for a single ad. Slideshow advertising eliminates these high fees.
Low Software Cost: Licensed software like Movavi Slideshow Maker offers professional tools for under PKR 15,000—a fraction of production costs.
Better ROI: You can create dozens of ads without extra costs, ensuring your visual marketing ROI is superior to traditional methods.

Why Screen Space is Your #1 Conversion Factor

The amount of mobile screen your ad occupies is the primary predictor of engagement. More screen space means higher pattern interruption and fewer distractions.

The Power of the 4:5 Vertical Feed Ad

The 4:5 ratio is the best compromise between viewability and filling the primary scrolling feed.

Conquer Square Ads: While 1:1 square ads are common, the 4:5 ratio uses the same width but extends vertically, immediately making your ad appear larger.
Increased Stopping Power: The vertical extension forces the user to pause their scroll, providing crucial extra milliseconds for your message to register.
Balanced UX: It fills the screen effectively without being so aggressive as to interrupt the platform’s core user experience, balancing brand presence with user tolerance.

The Necessity of the 9:16 Full Screen Story Ad

Stories, Reels, and TikTok require a completely different approach for maximum visibility.

Zero Distractions: The 9:16 ratio eliminates all background noise, making your ad a pure, full-screen takeover that commands 100% of the user’s attention.
Mobile Default: This ratio mirrors the default way users hold their phone, making the ad feel native and highly immersive.
Higher Sound-On Rate: Story placement sees higher sound-on rates, making the music and professional audio from your slideshow makers crucial for maximum impact.

How to Optimize Your Images Using Professional Tools

Creating images that look perfect in both 4:5 and 9:16 requires planning during the design phase, not just relying on a crop tool.

Designing for Multi-Ratio Compatibility

The best practice is to design one main image that can be safely used in both vertical formats.

Safety Zone: Place all critical elements (product, logo, main text) in the center of the image to ensure they are visible in both the 4:5 (inner area) and 9:16 (full area).
Contextual Background: Use simple, ambient, or decorative elements around the edges of the image. This content will be revealed in the 9:16 ratio without hiding crucial information.
Use Licensed Software: Tools like Movavi or Ashampoo allow you to set the output ratio before you start designing, providing you with a visual guide on where to place key elements.

Step-by-Step Implementation with Aspect Ratio Presets

The process of exporting the correct ratio is simplified by modern licensed software.

Finalize 9:16 Master: Create and save your ad using the 9:16 full-screen aspect ratio as your primary version.
Duplicate and Crop: Duplicate the project file. In the duplicate, change the project settings to the 4:5 ratio. The software will automatically crop the edges but keep the center intact.
Export Separately: Export both the 4:5 MP4 and the 9:16 MP4. Upload these as separate creative assets in your Facebook Ads Manager campaign.

What is NOT Right and Correct for Beginners (Expert Advice)

Avoiding these four mistakes will save money and ensure your ads are not filtered out by platform algorithms.

Relying on the Square (1:1) Ratio Only

Mistake: Using a single square ad for all placements (Feed, Stories, Reels).
Consequence: You lose significant screen space in the Feed (4:5 is better) and look unprofessional in Stories (9:16 is required).
Correction: Commit to creating both a 4:5 vertical ad and a 9:16 full-screen ad for every campaign. Review our execution guide for placement details.

Cropping Text Out of the Safety Zone

Mistake: Placing essential text or a logo too close to the top or bottom edge of a wide photo.
Consequence: When the image is automatically cropped to the 4:5 ratio, the text is cut off, making the ad incoherent and unprofessional.
Correction: Treat the center 70% of the screen as the “safety zone” for all critical elements in your slideshow makers software.

Ignoring Image Resolution Requirements

Mistake: Using low-resolution or blurry source images that are stretched to fill the required 9:16 space.
Consequence: The ad looks pixelated on modern HD phones, instantly signaling low quality and distrust to the viewer.
Correction: Always start with images that are at least 1080 pixels on the short side (e.g., 1080×1920 for 9:16).

Treating Stories and Reels as Passive Placements

Mistake: Using the same subtle music and composition in a Story ad as you would in a passive Feed ad.
Consequence: You waste the powerful opportunity of the full-screen takeover.
Correction: Use more high-contrast visuals and a more immediate call-to-action in the 9:16 format. Ensure your licensed music starts strong.

Conclusion

Mastering the 4:5 and 9:16 aspect ratios is the simplest, most effective way to improve the performance of your slideshow ads in Pakistan. Screen space is competitive, and by optimizing your visuals to fill the mobile display, you instantly interrupt scrolling and increase your chances of securing a high-value click.

You now have the technical blueprint to succeed.

Action Time: Check out our slideshow makers collection to find the best tool that provides these essential aspect ratio presets for clean, professional exports.

FAQ: Quick Answers for Your Slideshow Campaign

Q: Why not just use the 1:1 square ratio for simplicity?

A: The 1:1 ratio wastes valuable screen real estate. The 4:5 vertical ratio is the required modern standard for Feed ads because it occupies approximately 20% more mobile screen space.

Q: Does the 4:5 ratio work on Instagram and Facebook?

A: Yes, the 4:5 ratio is the maximum vertical dimension allowed for image and video ads in both the Facebook and Instagram Feeds, making it your primary choice.

Q: What exact pixel dimensions are best for 9:16?

A: The best pixel dimensions for 9:16 are 1080×1920 pixels. This ensures the ad is Full HD and will look sharp on any modern smartphone.

Q: Can I use the same ad in both 4:5 and 9:16 formats?

A: You should use the same core content but export two separate files. Uploading the 9:16 file to the Feed will cause it to be partially cropped or have poor display.

Q: What is the “safety zone” for text placement?

A: The safety zone is the central area of your image that will not be cropped regardless of the platform. Keep essential logos and text away from the very edges.

Q: Does the 4:5 ratio load slower than 1:1 in Pakistan?

A: No, the loading time difference is negligible. The length of the ad (under 15 seconds) and the file size (under 30MB) have a much greater impact on load speed than the aspect ratio.

Q: Do I need separate budgets for Feed and Stories?

A: While you can run them in the same campaign, expert advertisers usually separate them to ensure the 9:16 Story ad (which often has a higher immediate reach) doesn’t overspend the budget intended for the 4:5 Feed ad.

Q: What happens if I upload a horizontal (16:9) ad?

A: The platform will either automatically place black bars above and below the ad (known as “letterboxing”) or aggressively crop the sides, making the ad look small, low-quality, and unprofessional.

Q: Do I need a separate ad for Facebook Reels?

A: Yes, Facebook Reels uses the 9:16 vertical format. You should use the same 9:16 ad you created for Stories in your Reels placement.

Q: Should the images I use already be in 9:16?

A: It helps, but your slideshow makers software can adapt them. Start with high-resolution photos so the software can crop or slightly zoom them without losing quality.

Q: Does the ad copy need to be different for 4:5 and 9:16?

A: Yes. The 9:16 Story ad often has no primary text box, so all text must be overlaid on the image. The 4:5 Feed ad allows for extensive headline and body text below the visual.

Q: What is the risk of using a 5:4 ratio instead of 4:5?

A: There is no risk. 5:4 is simply an inverted 4:5. The crucial element is that the ad is taller than it is wide, filling more screen space than the traditional 1:1 square.

Mastering 4:5 and 9:16 Aspect Ratios for Social Media Ads in Pakistan