How to Make Floating Text in CapCut: Step-by-Step Tutorial

Floating text is one of the most engaging effects used in short videos today. From TikTok and Instagram Reels to YouTube Shorts, floating text adds style, emphasis, and a cinematic touch to any video. With CapCut, creating floating text has never been easier — you don’t need advanced editing skills or expensive software.

In this guide, we’ll show you step-by-step how to create floating text in CapCut, plus pro tips, common mistakes to avoid, and trending ways to use this effect.

What Is Floating Text in CapCut?

Floating text is text that appears to hover or move dynamically over your video. Unlike static text, it can:

Drift slowly up or down
Bounce or float along a path
Sync with music beats
Appear and disappear smoothly
Have glow, shadow, or animated effects

It is often used to:

Highlight key points
Add commentary
Make aesthetic montages
Emphasize lyrics in music videos
Show captions for storytelling

Floating text adds movement and depth, making videos more engaging and watchable.

Step 1: Start a New Project in CapCut

Open CapCut on your mobile or tablet.
Tap New Project.
Select the video or image where you want to add floating text.
Tap Add.

Tip: Choose a background with space for text placement — the top or middle usually works best.

Step 2: Add Your Text

Tap Text at the bottom menu.
Tap Add Text.
Enter your text (e.g., “Floating Text Tutorial”).
Tap Done.

Now your text appears on the video as a new layer.

Step 3: Position and Style Your Text

Drag your text to the starting position.
Resize text using pinch gestures.
Choose fonts, colors, and style:
- Bold, modern, or handwritten fonts work best.
- Add shadow or outline for readability.
Optional: Add background highlights if the video is busy.

Tip: Keep your text readable — avoid small fonts or clashing colors.

Step 4: Animate the Text (Floating Motion)

There are two ways to animate floating text in CapCut:

A. Use CapCut’s Pre-made Animation

Select the text layer.
Tap Animation → In / Out / Combo.
Choose a floating animation like:
- Float – subtle vertical movement
- Rise – text moves upward
- Bounce – fun floating motion
Tap Apply.
Adjust duration for desired speed.

B. Use Keyframes for Custom Floating

Select text and tap the Keyframe icon (diamond).
Move the timeline forward (e.g., 1 second).
Drag text slightly up, down, or sideways.
Repeat keyframes for continuous floating motion.

Keyframes give you full control — you can make the text float, bounce, or follow wavy paths.

Step 5: Add Motion Path or Curves (Optional)

For advanced floating:

Drag the text along a custom path between keyframes.
Make diagonal, circular, or wavy motions.
Preview for smoothness — avoid jerky movements.

This technique is especially useful for aesthetic montages or storytelling videos.

Step 6: Enhance Floating Text With Effects

Floating text becomes more engaging with these enhancements:

Glow/Neon: Popular for aesthetic or cyberpunk edits.
Opacity Fade: Fade text in or out during floating.
Scale Animation: Slightly increase/decrease size for depth.
Shadow & Outline: Improves visibility on busy backgrounds.

Tip: Subtle effects usually look more professional than exaggerated ones.

Step 7: Sync Floating Text With Music

Floating text looks amazing when it moves to the rhythm of your background music:

Add music to your video.
Open the waveform in CapCut.
Place keyframes on the beat.
Adjust text movement to rise, fall, or bounce with the music.

Beat-synced floating text is perfect for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts trends.

Step 8: Add Multiple Floating Text Layers

Use multiple text boxes for different points or lyrics.
Stagger animations for a clean look.
Avoid overlapping text — keep spacing consistent.
Adjust timing to match beats, narration, or key video moments.

How to Use CapCut to Edit YouTube Videos

Step 9: Preview and Fine-Tune

Before exporting, check your video:

Is the floating motion smooth?
Is the text readable?
Do animations match music or content?
Are effects subtle and professional?

Make adjustments in duration, position, keyframes, or effects to perfect the final look.

Step 10: Export Your Video

Tap Export at the top-right corner.
Recommended settings:
- Resolution: 1080p
- FPS: 30 or 60
- Format: MP4
Tap Export.

Your video is ready to post on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube Shorts.

Pro Tips for Perfect Floating Text

Choose Readable Fonts: Bold or simple fonts work best.
Background Contrast: Use shadows or semi-transparent boxes to enhance visibility.
Small Movements Are Better: Subtle floating looks more professional.
Combine Effects: Glow, fade, and scale make text more dynamic.
Sync With Audio: Beat-synced motion improves engagement.
Layer Wisely: Stagger multiple texts to avoid clutter.
Preview Frequently: Small mistakes are easier to fix early.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Overusing heavy animations
Moving text too fast
Choosing unreadable fonts or colors
Overlapping multiple floating texts
Ignoring alignment with beats or video focus

Correcting these mistakes improves video aesthetics and watch time.

Trending Uses of Floating Text in 2025

Lyrics or Music Videos: Floating captions follow song lyrics.
Tutorials and Tips: Highlight key steps with moving text.
Aesthetic Montages: Floating text adds cinematic depth to travel or lifestyle videos.
Quotes and Messages: Inspirational or humorous text overlays.
Promotional Content: Highlight products in short ads.

Floating text adds a professional, polished touch that engages viewers instantly.

Conclusion

Creating floating text in CapCut is easy and extremely versatile. Whether you’re making TikTok trends, aesthetic edits, tutorials, or YouTube Shorts, floating text elevates your video quality. By using keyframes, motion paths, effects, and music sync, you can make text hover, bounce, or float in a professional, cinematic way.

With this guide, even beginners can produce eye-catching floating text videos that stand out on social media.