Why Instagram Post Dimensions Matter
Upload the wrong size and Instagram will either crop your image automatically (often cutting off faces or key content) or compress the quality. Using the right dimensions from the start means your content looks exactly how you intended — on every device.
Instagram Feed Post Sizes
Square (1:1)
- Recommended: 1080 × 1080 px
- Display size: 1080 × 1080 px on desktop, scales on mobile
- Best for: Most content — works consistently on all devices, looks clean on your profile grid
Portrait (4:5) — Recommended
- Recommended: 1080 × 1350 px
- Aspect ratio: 4:5
- Best for: Most feed posts — portrait takes up more screen space in the feed, increasing visibility and engagement
- Note: This is the maximum portrait ratio Instagram allows for feed posts
Landscape (1.91:1)
- Recommended: 1080 × 566 px
- Best for: Scenic photos, wide shots, cinematic content
- Note: Landscape takes up the least feed space and performs worse on mobile — use sparingly
Recommendation: Default to 4:5 portrait (1080 × 1350 px) for most feed posts. It occupies the most vertical space in the feed, which tends to increase engagement.
Instagram Reels Size
- Recommended: 1080 × 1920 px
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 (full vertical)
- Minimum resolution: 500 × 888 px
- Maximum file size: 1 GB
- Maximum length: 90 seconds
- Safe zone: Keep text and key elements within the center 1080 × 1420 px — Instagram's UI overlays (profile info, buttons, captions) cover the top and bottom portions
Reels shot in horizontal (16:9) will be shown with black bars or cropped — always shoot and edit vertically for Reels.
Instagram Stories Size
- Recommended: 1080 × 1920 px
- Aspect ratio: 9:16
- Safe zone for text and stickers: Center 1080 × 1420 px
- Max video length per Story card: 60 seconds (longer videos are automatically split)
- Photo display time: 7 seconds
Stories and Reels use the same dimensions (9:16), so content created for one works for the other — with minor adjustments for safe zones.
Instagram Carousel Post Size
Carousels (multiple images/videos swiped in sequence) follow the same rules as individual feed posts, with one important consideration:
- Use the same aspect ratio for every slide — Instagram sets the aspect ratio based on the first image. If your first image is 4:5, all subsequent images will be cropped to 4:5.
- Recommended: 1080 × 1350 px (4:5) for all slides, or 1080 × 1080 px (1:1) for a cleaner look
- Max slides: 20
Instagram Profile Photo Size
- Recommended upload size: 320 × 320 px minimum (higher is better)
- Display size: Shown as a small circle — 110 × 110 px on mobile profile, 180 × 180 px on desktop
- Tip: Keep important elements (face, logo) centered — the circle crop cuts corners
Instagram Video Post Sizes
| Format | Recommended size | Max length | Aspect ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed video | 1080 × 1350 px | 60 minutes | 4:5 |
| Reel | 1080 × 1920 px | 90 seconds | 9:16 |
| Story video | 1080 × 1920 px | 60 seconds | 9:16 |
| IGTV / long-form | 1080 × 1920 px | 60 minutes | 9:16 (vertical) or 16:9 (horizontal) |
Instagram Image Size Tips
Upload at higher resolution Instagram compresses images during upload. Starting at a higher resolution (e.g., 2160 × 2700 px for a 4:5 image) results in better final quality after compression.
Export as JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics JPEG handles complex color gradients well (photos). PNG preserves sharp edges in text and illustrations. Both are supported by Instagram.
Keep file size under 8 MB for images Instagram accepts up to 8 MB for images. Larger files are compressed more aggressively.
Don't put text near edges Instagram may crop slight amounts on different devices. Keep all text and key subjects within the center 80% of the frame.
Quick Reference: Instagram Sizes 2026
| Content type | Size | Aspect ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Square feed image | 1080 × 1080 px | 1:1 |
| Portrait feed image | 1080 × 1350 px | 4:5 |
| Landscape feed image | 1080 × 566 px | 1.91:1 |
| Carousel slides | 1080 × 1350 px | 4:5 |
| Reels | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 |
| Stories | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 |
| Profile photo | 320 × 320 px+ | 1:1 (circle crop) |
Getting dimensions right before you post saves you from re-uploading. If you're scheduling Instagram posts in advance with PostLink, you can upload your properly-sized content ahead of time and schedule it to go live at the optimal time — without any last-minute resizing panic.
