Whether you’re a social media manager, influencer, or simply enjoy sharing moments with your followers, understanding Instagram’s image and video size requirements is key to making your content look its best. Instagram isn’t just about stunning visuals—it’s about using the right dimensions to ensure nothing gets cut off, compressed, or distorted. From traditional posts to Stories, Reels, and Ads, each format has its own specifications. In this comprehensive guide, we break down all the image and video sizes for every Instagram format so your content is always optimized and professional-looking.
Instagram Feed Posts
Feed posts can include square, portrait, and landscape images or videos. Selecting the right aspect ratio ensures your visuals appear exactly how you want them to in the feed.
- Square Posts (1:1 ratio): 1080 x 1080 pixels
- Portrait Posts (4:5 ratio): 1080 x 1350 pixels
- Landscape Posts (1.91:1 ratio): 1080 x 566 pixels
It’s worth noting that while Instagram compresses images, uploading in the highest resolution available within these aspect ratios helps retain image quality. Portrait posts often take up more screen real estate, making them a popular choice for gaining user attention.
Instagram Video Posts
Just like images, videos in the feed can be square, landscape, or portrait. However, there are length restrictions and size considerations to keep in mind:
- Aspect Ratios: Square (1:1), Landscape (1.91:1), Portrait (4:5)
- Resolution: Minimum of 600 x 315 pixels (for landscape)
- Length: 3 seconds to 10 minutes (up to 60 minutes if you upload from desktop)
- File Size: Max 4GB
- Format: MP4 is recommended, using H.264 codec and AAC audio
Instagram feed videos auto-play without sound, so adding subtitles or overlay text can be extremely helpful for engagement.
Instagram Reels
Instagram Reels, a direct competitor to TikTok, continue to explode in popularity. They are displayed in full-screen vertical format and are designed for mobile-first consumption.
- Aspect Ratio: 9:16 (full portrait)
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Length: Up to 90 seconds (this can vary based on account activity)
- File Size: Max 4GB
- Format: MP4 with H.264 codec and AAC audio
Keep your subject in the center, as Instagram may crop parts depending on how the Reel is displayed in the feed vs. the Reels tab. Also, stay mindful of the “safe zone” in the vertical format to avoid elements being covered by captions or CTA buttons.
Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories are another vertical-first content format great for sharing temporary content, promotions, or updates. They appear for 24 hours and support both images and videos.
- Aspect Ratio: 9:16
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels is ideal (minimum size: 600 x 1067)
- Length: Images display for 5 seconds, each video clip can be up to 15 seconds
- File Size: Max 30MB for images and 4GB for videos
- Format: JPG and PNG for images, MP4 for videos
Because Stories often include stickers, text overlays, and interactive elements, it’s best to leave space at the top and bottom of your visuals. Adding covers or templates can help maintain a cohesive look throughout your Story content.
Instagram Carousel Posts
Carousel posts allow you to share up to 10 images or videos in a single post. All carousel items must maintain the same aspect ratio, so choose your orientation (square, portrait, or landscape) before uploading.
- Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels
- Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels
- Landscape: 1080 x 566 pixels
This format is ideal for tutorials, before-and-after comparisons, or just telling a story through multiple visuals. Consistency across the carousel slides ensures a polished appearance.
Instagram Ads
Instagram ads can appear in the feed, Stories, Reels, Explore tab, and as carousel ads. Each type has specific requirements to ensure your advertisement looks professional and works effectively.
Feed Ads
- Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels
- Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels
- Landscape: 1080 x 566 pixels
- Text: Avoid too much text on images—Facebook recommends less than 20% text area
Story Ads
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Aspect Ratio: 9:16
- Length: Up to 15 seconds per slide (multiple slides possible)
Reels Ads
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Length: Up to 30 seconds for most placements
When placing ads, aim for a native look that blends well with user-generated content to avoid being skipped. Focus on high visual quality, engaging music, and a clear call to action.
Best Practices for Optimizing Instagram Media
Now that you know the technical specs, let’s look at a few creative and strategic tips to ensure your Instagram visuals make an impact:
- Design with mobile in mind: Most Instagram content is consumed on phones, so clarity, simplicity, and vertical formats are key.
- Use safe zones: Especially important for Reels and Stories, where interface elements can block content.
- Edit outside the app: Use tools like Canva, Adobe Express, or Lightroom to enhance and resize content professionally.
- Maintain brand consistency: Use similar color palettes, fonts, and templates across your feed to strengthen your visual identity.
- Captions and hashtags: Don’t forget about text—engaging captions and relevant hashtags can improve reach and engagement.
Conclusion
From Feed Posts to Reels, Stories, and Ads, Instagram offers a variety of formats to creatively connect with your audience. But to truly captivate and convert, you need your visuals to be pixel-perfect. Knowing the correct image and video sizes isn’t just about meeting technical requirements—it’s about delivering a seamless, scroll-stopping experience. Use this guide as your go-to reference to ensure every post, story, or reel is working as hard as it possibly can for your brand or message. So next time you’re curating content for Instagram, you’ll have all the dimensions at your fingertips—and your visuals will shine because of it.
