Instagram image and video sizes
Instagram posts are 1080 pixels wide between 4:5 and 1.91:1. Reels and Stories are 1080 by 1920 (9:16). The sizes that avoid cropping, and how to fit a file to them.
Last updated
In short: Instagram feed posts display 1080 pixels wide, from 4:5 portrait to 1.91:1 landscape. Reels and Stories are vertical 9:16 at 1080 by 1920, and Reels can run up to three minutes.
Instagram at a glance
| Feed post, portrait | 1080 × 1350 (4:5), the tallest the feed allows |
|---|---|
| Feed post, square | 1080 × 1080 (1:1) |
| Feed post, landscape | 1080 × 566 (1.91:1) |
| Reels and Stories | 1080 × 1920 (9:16) |
| Reel length | Up to three minutes |
| Video format | MP4 with H.264 video and AAC sound |
Last checked against Instagram's own documentation on . Limits change; if something here is out of date, the tool will still tell you exactly what your file is.
Why photos get cropped
Anything taller than 4:5 is cropped to 4:5 in the feed, and anything wider than 1.91:1 is cropped to that. A phone photo is 3:4, slightly taller than 4:5, so the top and bottom are trimmed unless you crop it yourself first.
Why video looks soft
Instagram re-compresses every upload. Starting from a clean 1080p H.264 file at a sensible bitrate gives its encoder the least to damage; uploading 4K or HEVC gives it more to throw away.
Questions
What is the best size for an Instagram post?
1080 × 1350 (4:5). It takes up the most room in the feed and is not cropped.
How long can an Instagram Reel be?
Up to three minutes.