Social Media Tips
· Updated · 10 min read · PostLink Team
Instagram Post Size & Dimensions 2026 — Feed, Reels, Stories (Pixels)
Instagram post sizes in 2026: feed 1080×1080 or 1080×1350, Reels/Stories 1080×1920, carousels, profile photos, and safe zones.
Why Instagram Post Dimensions Matter
Upload the wrong size and Instagram will crop your image automatically — often cutting off faces, text, or key product details. Upload at low resolution and Instagram's compression makes everything look soft and pixelated.
Using the correct dimensions from the start means your content looks exactly how you intended on every device: iPhone, Android, tablet, and desktop.
The cost of wrong dimensions:
- Automatic cropping removes important content
- Aggressive compression on oversized files
- Black bars or awkward letterboxing on Reels
- Grid layout breaks when mixing aspect ratios
- Lower engagement from unprofessional-looking posts
Getting dimensions right takes 30 seconds in your design tool. Fixing a badly cropped post means re-editing and re-uploading — or living with it on your profile forever.
Quick Reference: All Instagram Sizes in 2026
| Content type | Size (px) | Aspect ratio | Max length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed — square | 1080 × 1080 | 1:1 | — |
| Feed — portrait | 1080 × 1350 | 4:5 | — |
| Feed — landscape | 1080 × 566 | 1.91:1 | — |
| Carousel slides | 1080 × 1350 | 4:5 (match slide 1) | 20 slides |
| Reels | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 | 90 seconds |
| Stories | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 | 60 sec/card |
| Profile photo | 320 × 320+ | 1:1 (circle crop) | — |
| Highlight cover | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 source | — |
Default recommendation: Use 1080 × 1350 (4:5 portrait) for feed posts and 1080 × 1920 (9:16) for all video content.
Instagram Feed Post Sizes
Instagram supports three aspect ratios for feed posts. Each behaves differently in the feed algorithm and on your profile grid.
Square (1:1)
- Size: 1080 × 1080 px
- Best for: Product shots, quotes, graphics, grid consistency
- Feed presence: Medium — smaller than portrait on mobile
- Grid impact: Clean, uniform grid layout
Portrait (4:5) — Recommended
- Size: 1080 × 1350 px
- Best for: Most feed content — photos, infographics, promotional posts
- Feed presence: Maximum — takes up the most vertical screen space
- Grid impact: Taller cells in grid view; crops to square in some views
Portrait posts occupy roughly 30% more feed space than square posts on mobile. More screen real estate typically means more engagement — more time viewing, more likely to stop scrolling.
Landscape (1.91:1)
- Size: 1080 × 566 px
- Best for: Scenic photos, wide shots, cinematic content
- Feed presence: Minimum — thinnest strip in the feed
- Grid impact: Short grid cells; often looks awkward
Recommendation: Default to 4:5 portrait (1080 × 1350 px) unless you have a specific reason for square or landscape.
| Aspect ratio | Feed space | Engagement trend | Use when |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4:5 portrait | Highest | Strongest | Default for everything |
| 1:1 square | Medium | Good | Grid aesthetics, quotes |
| 1.91:1 landscape | Lowest | Weakest | Wide scenic shots only |
Instagram Reels Size
- Size: 1080 × 1920 px
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 (full vertical)
- Minimum resolution: 500 × 888 px
- Maximum file size: 1 GB
- Maximum length: 90 seconds
- Frame rate: 30 fps recommended
Reels safe zone
Keep text, faces, and key visuals within the center 1080 × 1420 px area. Instagram's UI overlays cover:
- Top ~250 px: Username, follow button, audio info
- Bottom ~250 px: Caption, comments, share buttons
Common mistake: Placing text or logos at the very top or bottom of Reels where UI elements cover them.
Reels shot in horizontal (16:9) display with black bars or get cropped — always shoot and export vertically.
Instagram Stories Size
- Size: 1080 × 1920 px
- Aspect ratio: 9:16
- Safe zone: Center 1080 × 1420 px
- Max video length per card: 60 seconds (longer videos split automatically)
- Photo display time: 7 seconds
Stories and Reels share the same dimensions, so one vertical video can work on both — with minor safe zone adjustments. Story stickers, polls, and link buttons occupy the bottom third, so keep CTAs above the bottom 350 px.
Instagram Carousel Post Size
Carousels (swipeable multi-image posts) follow one critical rule:
The first slide sets the aspect ratio for all slides.
If slide 1 is 4:5, every subsequent slide gets cropped to 4:5 — even if you uploaded 16:9 landscape images.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Recommended size | 1080 × 1350 px (4:5) for all slides |
| Alternative | 1080 × 1080 px (1:1) for uniform grid look |
| Max slides | 20 |
| Mixing ratios | Don't — Instagram crops to match slide 1 |
| File size | Under 8 MB per image |
Carousel tip: Slide 1 is your hook — it appears in the feed and determines whether anyone swipes. Use bold text or a compelling visual on slide 1, then deliver value on slides 2–10.
Instagram Profile Photo Size
- Minimum upload: 320 × 320 px
- Recommended upload: 600 × 600 px (retina sharpness)
- Display size: 110 × 110 px on mobile, 180 × 180 px on desktop
- Crop shape: Circle — corners are cut off
Keep faces, logos, and key elements centered with at least 20% padding from edges. Detail near corners disappears in the circular crop.
Instagram Highlight Cover Size
- Source image: 1080 × 1920 px (9:16)
- Display size: 161 × 161 px circle
- Design tip: Center your icon/logo with 30% padding on all sides
Create Highlight covers at full 9:16, then center a simple icon. Avoid text — it's unreadable at display size.
Instagram Video Post Sizes (All Formats)
| Format | 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 |
| Live replay | 1080 × 1920 px | 4 hours | 9:16 |
For maximum repurposing, export all video content at 1080 × 1920 (9:16). This single file works for Reels, Stories, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook Reels.
Image Quality Tips for Instagram
Upload at higher resolution
Instagram compresses on upload. Starting at 2× resolution (e.g., 2160 × 2700 for a 4:5 image) gives Instagram more data to work with, resulting in sharper final output.
Choose the right file format
| Content type | Format | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Photos | JPEG | Smaller file, handles gradients well |
| Graphics with text | PNG | Sharp edges, no compression artifacts |
| Animations | GIF or MP4 | GIF for simple loops; MP4 for quality |
Keep file size under 8 MB for images
Instagram accepts up to 8 MB for images and 1 GB for videos. Larger images get compressed more aggressively.
Don't put text near edges
Instagram crops slightly differently across devices. Keep all text and key subjects within the center 80% of the frame.
Use sRGB color profile
Instagram displays in sRGB. Export from Photoshop, Canva, or Figma in sRGB to avoid color shifts on upload.
Common Instagram Sizing Mistakes
| Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Uploading 16:9 to Reels | Black bars or auto-crop | Export at 9:16 (1080 × 1920) |
| Mixed carousel ratios | Slides 2–10 get cropped badly | Match all slides to slide 1's ratio |
| Text in Reels safe zone edges | Covered by UI buttons | Keep text in center 1080 × 1420 |
| Low-res uploads (under 1080px wide) | Blurry, pixelated feed posts | Minimum 1080px width always |
| Landscape feed posts by default | Smallest feed presence | Use 4:5 portrait instead |
| Wrong profile photo crop | Logo/face cut off at corners | Center subject with 20% padding |
| Screenshots uploaded directly | Wrong aspect ratio + low quality | Redesign at correct dimensions |
Design Tool Export Settings
Canva
- Custom size: 1080 × 1350 px (feed) or 1080 × 1920 px (Reels/Stories)
- Download as PNG (graphics) or JPEG (photos)
- Quality: Standard or High
Figma
- Frame: 1080 × 1350 or 1080 × 1920
- Export: 2× PNG or JPEG at 90% quality
Photoshop
- New document: 1080 × 1350 px at 72 PPI (PPI doesn't matter for screen; pixel dimensions do)
- Export → Save for Web → JPEG quality 80–85
CapCut / Premiere Pro (video)
- Resolution: 1080 × 1920
- Frame rate: 30 fps
- Format: MP4 (H.264)
One Master Size for Cross-Platform Posting
If you create content for multiple platforms, build around these two master sizes:
| Master size | Works for |
|---|---|
| 1080 × 1920 (9:16) | Instagram Reels, Stories, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Facebook Reels, Pinterest video |
| 1080 × 1350 (4:5) | Instagram feed, Facebook feed, Pinterest Pins, LinkedIn images |
Create once at 9:16 for video, 4:5 for static feed posts. Adjust captions and hashtags per platform — not dimensions.
Profile Grid Planning
Your Instagram grid is the first thing new visitors see. Dimension choices affect grid aesthetics:
- All 4:5 portrait: Maximum feed impact, slightly uneven grid rows
- All 1:1 square: Clean, uniform grid — popular with brands
- Mixed ratios: Looks messy — avoid unless intentional (puzzle grid layouts)
Plan your grid layout before posting. See how to plan your Instagram grid layout for strategy tips.
Summary
Recommended Instagram sizes for 2026:
- Feed posts: 1080 × 1350 px (4:5 portrait) — default for highest engagement
- Reels & Stories: 1080 × 1920 px (9:16 vertical)
- Carousels: 1080 × 1350 px for all slides (match slide 1)
- Profile photo: 600 × 600 px minimum, centered for circle crop
Key rules:
- Portrait beats square beats landscape for feed engagement
- First carousel slide sets the ratio for all slides
- Keep Reels/Stories text in the center safe zone
- Export at 1080px minimum width, under 8 MB
- Use 9:16 as your cross-platform video master size
Get dimensions right before you post — not after Instagram crops your content for you.
Quick reference
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Feed post (square) | 1080×1080 px, 1:1 ratio. Safe default that displays cleanly across all surfaces. |
| Feed post (portrait) | 1080×1350 px, 4:5 ratio. Maximum screen real estate in feed; recommended for highest engagement. |
| Feed post (landscape) | 1080×566 px, 1.91:1 ratio. Lowest engagement of the three feed shapes — use sparingly. |
| Reels | 1080×1920 px, 9:16 ratio. Up to 90 seconds. Same dimensions as Stories. |
| Stories | 1080×1920 px, 9:16 ratio. Keep important content in the center safe zone — top/bottom 250px get covered by UI. |
| Carousel post | Up to 20 slides. All slides get cropped to match the first slide's aspect ratio. 1080×1350 portrait recommended. |
| Profile photo | 320×320 px square (displays as a circle). Upload at 600×600 px for retina sharpness. |
| Highlight cover | 1080×1920 px source, displayed in a 161×161 px circle. Center the icon with 30% padding. |
| IGTV / long-form video | 1080×1920 px (9:16) or 1080×1350 px (4:5). Up to 60 minutes; cover frame matters for retention. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the ideal Instagram post size?
For feed posts, the ideal sizes are 1080x1080px (square 1:1), 1080x1350px (portrait 4:5), and 1080x566px (landscape 1.91:1). Portrait tends to take up the most screen space and often performs best.
What size should Instagram Reels be?
Instagram Reels should be 1080x1920px at a 9:16 aspect ratio. This is the same vertical format used for Stories and TikTok videos.
What are the Instagram Story dimensions?
Instagram Stories should be 1080x1920px (9:16 aspect ratio). Keep important content within the center safe zone to avoid it being cut off by the UI.
Does Instagram reduce image quality when you upload?
Instagram compresses images on upload. To minimize quality loss, upload high-resolution files (1080px wide minimum) in JPEG format at the correct aspect ratio before uploading.
What is the best Instagram carousel size in 2026?
Use 1080x1350 px portrait for Instagram carousels when you want maximum feed space. All carousel slides are cropped to match the first slide, so keep every slide the same aspect ratio.
