# Video Aspect Ratio

Change video display aspect ratio (DAR) without resizing the video

> Canonical page: https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/video-aspect-ratio

- **Category:** Media

- **Keywords:** video, aspect, ratio, dar, widescreen, letterbox

## Overview

Quickly change the display aspect ratio (DAR) of your video files without resizing the actual video stream or undergoing a lengthy re-encoding process. This tool allows you to adjust the container metadata of your video to correct stretched playback or prepare clips for specific display formats.

## Inputs

- **Video File** (file): Select a video file
- **Aspect Ratio** (select): Select aspect ratio
- **Custom Width** (number): e.g., 16
- **Custom Height** (number): e.g., 9
- **Output Format** (select)

## When to use

- When a video displays with incorrect stretching or squishing due to a mismatched display aspect ratio metadata flag.
- When you need to quickly change the container aspect ratio to standard presets like 16:9, 4:3, or 1:1 without altering the raw pixel dimensions.
- When preparing video files for specialized media players or digital signage that require a specific display aspect ratio metadata header.

## How it works

- Upload your video file (up to 500 MB) using the file input field.
- Select your target display aspect ratio from the presets, or choose 'Custom' to manually input your desired width and height values.
- Choose your preferred output format (MP4, WebM, MKV, or keep original) and process the file to update the metadata instantly.

## Use cases

- Correcting old analog video digitizations that incorrectly display in 16:9 widescreen instead of their native 4:3 format.
- Adjusting camera footage metadata to display correctly on ultrawide 21:9 monitors without rendering times.
- Setting a 9:16 vertical display aspect ratio metadata flag for mobile-first video previews.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does this tool re-encode or compress my video?

No, it only updates the display aspect ratio (DAR) metadata flag in the video container, preserving your original video quality.

### What video formats are supported for output?

You can export your video as MP4, WebM, MKV, or choose to keep the original container format.

### Will changing the aspect ratio crop my video?

No, this tool does not crop or cut any pixels; it only changes how the video player stretches or scales the video during playback.

### How do I set a non-standard aspect ratio?

Select the 'Custom' option in the Aspect Ratio dropdown and enter your specific custom width and height values.

### What is the maximum file size allowed?

You can upload and process video files up to 500 MB in size.

## Related tools

- [Video Resolution Changer](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/video-resolution-changer): Change video resolution with preset sizes or custom dimensions, with optional aspect ratio preservation
- [Batch Video Resize](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/video-batch-resize): Resize multiple video files using resolution presets or custom dimensions, with optional aspect ratio preservation
- [Video Audio Replace](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/video-audio-replace): Replace the audio track in a video file with a new audio file while keeping the original video
- [Video Audio Volume](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/video-audio-volume): Adjust the audio volume in a video file by increasing, decreasing, or normalizing sound levels
- [Video Speed Changer](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/video-speed-changer): Change video playback speed (faster or slower) while maintaining audio pitch
- [Stream Passthrough Trimmer](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/stream-passthrough-trimmer): Stream-copy trimming.
- [Video Brightness](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/video-brightness): Adjust video brightness level
- [Video Color Grading](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/video-color-grading): Professional color grading for video with brightness, contrast, saturation, and gamma adjustments

## Samples

- [Video Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/video-samples): Sample video files in different formats and orientations
- [Video AV1 Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/video-av1-samples): Sample video files encoded in AV1 format
- [Video H.264 Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/video-h264-samples): Sample video files encoded in H.264 (AVC) format
- [Video H.265 Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/video-h265-samples): Sample video files encoded in H.265 (HEVC) format