Tutorials · · 6 min read
Captions in Premiere Pro: Styling Readable Subtitles for Social Video
Line length, placement, and timing rules that make captions easy to read on phones, plus how to apply them consistently.
Most short-form video is watched without sound, so captions carry the message. Readability matters more than style.
Rules that hold up
- Keep lines short: roughly 3 to 6 words for vertical video
- Place captions above the platform UI, not at the very bottom
- Use a heavy weight and a subtle shadow or box for contrast
- Keep each caption on screen long enough to read twice
Apply it in one step
Add captions, max 5 words per line, bold white text with a soft shadow, centered in the lower third.