When creating content for Instagram, understanding the optimal dimensions and sizes is crucial to ensure your posts look polished and professional. Instagram’s variety of content formats, from static images to videos, Reels, and carousels, each comes with specific size requirements. To help your content stand out, it’s essential to know these Instagram video size and other key dimension guidelines.
What is Instagram Aspect Ratio?
The instagram aspect ratio is simply the width of a photo or video compared to its height, commonly expressed as ratios like 1:1 or 16:9. This ratio is key when uploading content, as the wrong dimensions can lead to cropping or distortion.
Instagram supports several aspect ratios, each suited for different types of content:
- Horizontal posts: A 16:9 aspect ratio works best for horizontal images or videos, and for optimal quality, it’s recommended to post at least 1080 pixels in height.
- Square posts: The traditional 1:1 aspect ratio remains popular for feed posts, allowing you to maintain a cohesive profile aesthetic.
- Vertical posts: A 4:5 aspect ratio is ideal for vertical images, offering more screen real estate, which can help grab the viewer’s attention. However, keep in mind that on your profile grid, vertical posts will still appear as 1:1.
Instagram Video Size and Best Practices
Video content on Instagram ranges from quick clips to longer tutorials. To ensure your video appears sharp, Instagram compresses files but recommends uploading at the highest resolution possible to avoid a noticeable loss of quality. For Instagram video size, the following resolutions work best:
- Horizontal videos should adhere to a 16:9 aspect ratio, with at least 1080p resolution.
- Vertical videos should follow a 4:5 aspect ratio or, for full-screen content, the instagram reel size of 9:16, which covers the viewer’s entire screen.
Additionally, ensure your video maintains a frame rate of 30 fps and stays within Instagram’s maximum file size of 4GB to avoid uploading issues.
Instagram Feed Video Size
Feed videos are the classic Instagram video format, appearing directly in users’ main feeds.
Aspect Ratio for Feed Videos
- 1:1 (square)
- 4:5 (vertical)
- 16:9 (horizontal)
Recommended Resolution
- 1080 x 1080 pixels (square)
- 1080 x 1350 pixels (vertical)
- 1920 x 1080 pixels (horizontal)
Maximum File Size and Duration
- File size: Up to 4GB
- Duration: 60 seconds for regular accounts, 90 seconds for verified accounts
Supported File Formats
- MP4
- MOV
Instagram Video Size Variations
When creating content for Instagram, understanding the different video size variations is essential for optimizing each post. Each format—whether it’s Stories, Reels, IGTV, or carousel videos—comes with its own set of dimensions, aspect ratios, and technical requirements. By mastering these variations, you can ensure your videos display perfectly and engage your audience effectively across all Instagram formats.
Instagram Stories Video Size
Stories are short, ephemeral videos that disappear after 24 hours unless saved as highlights.
Optimal Aspect Ratio for Stories
- 9:16 (vertical full-screen)
Recommended Resolution for Stories
- 1080 x 1920 pixels
Maximum Duration and File Size
- Duration: 15 seconds per Story (can be split automatically)
- File size: Up to 4GB
Tips for Creating Engaging Story Videos
- Use the full vertical space
- Add interactive elements like polls or questions
- Incorporate branding elements consistently
For more detailed information on creating engaging Stories, check out our guide on Instagram Story dimensions.
Instagram Reels Size
Reels are short-form videos designed to compete with TikTok, offering a mix of entertainment and discoverability.
Instagram Reel size specifications:
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 (vertical full-screen)
- Recommended resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Aspect ratio for Reels:
- 9:16 is the only supported aspect ratio
Duration limits and file size restrictions:
- Duration: Up to 90 seconds
- File size: Up to 4GB
For more information on creating engaging Reels, check out our guide on Instagram Reel size and how to make a Reel on Instagram.
IGTV Video Size
IGTV allows for longer-form video content, ideal for in-depth tutorials, interviews, or series.
Aspect ratio options for IGTV:
- 9:16 (vertical)
- 16:9 (horizontal)
Recommended resolutions for different orientations:
- Vertical: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Horizontal: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Maximum file size and duration:
- File size: Up to 650MB for videos under 10 minutes, up to 3.6GB for longer videos
- Duration: Up to 60 minutes for verified accounts or accounts with large followings
Best practices for IGTV content:
- Create engaging cover images
- Use chapters or timestamps for longer videos
- Optimize titles and descriptions for searchability
Instagram Live Video Size
Live videos allow real-time interaction with your audience, perfect for Q&As, events, or behind-the-scenes content.
Aspect ratio for Live videos:
- 9:16 (vertical)
Recommended resolution for Live streaming:
- 1080 x 1920 pixels
Duration limits and considerations:
- Maximum duration: 4 hours
- Consider your audience’s attention span and engagement levels
Instagram Carousel Video Size
Carousel posts allow you to share multiple videos in a single post, ideal for storytelling or showcasing product features.
Aspect ratio for carousel videos:
- 1:1 (square)
- 4:5 (vertical)
Resolution requirements:
- 1080 x 1080 pixels (square)
- 1080 x 1350 pixels (vertical)
File size and duration limits per slide:
- File size: Up to 4GB per video
- Duration: Up to 60 seconds per video
- Maximum of 10 videos per carousel
For tips on creating engaging carousel posts, including how to add multiple photos to your Stories, check out our guide on how to add multiple photos to Instagram Story.
Instagram Video Ads Size
Video ads on Instagram come in various formats, each with its own specifications.
Aspect ratios for different ad placements:
- Feed ads: 1:1, 4:5, 16:9
- Stories ads: 9:16
- Reels ads: 9:16
- IGTV ads: 9:16, 16:9
Resolution recommendations for ads:
- Feed ads: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1), 1080 x 1350 pixels (4:5), 1920 x 1080 pixels (16:9)
- Stories and Reels ads: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- IGTV ads: 1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16), 1920 x 1080 pixels (16:9)
Duration and file size limits for video ads:
- Feed ads: Up to 60 seconds
- Stories ads: Up to 15 seconds
- Reels ads: Up to 30 seconds
- IGTV ads: Up to 15 seconds
Instagram Profile Picture Video Size
Profile picture videos are a unique way to make your account stand out.
Dimensions for profile video:
- 110 x 110 pixels (displays as a circle)
Supported formats and duration:
- Format: MP4
- Duration: Up to 5 seconds
For tips on creating an engaging profile, including your profile picture and bio, check out our guide on Instagram bio.
Conclusion
Mastering Instagram’s content dimensions—from the instagram video size to the ideal aspect ratios for different post formats—can significantly impact how your content performs. Whether you’re posting photos, videos, or Reels, adhering to these guidelines ensures your content appears clean, crisp, and engaging.
As you continue creating, it’s also worth exploring AI tools for e-commerce to automate repetitive tasks, streamline processes like editing product photos, and stay updated with the latest photography trends to keep your visuals fresh and on point.
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Following these best practices will help you create content that not only looks professional but also performs well on Instagram.