Instagram Post Size Essentials
Understanding the right Instagram image sizes helps you keep your content sharp, consistent, and properly framed. Paying attention to dimensions, aspect ratios, and file quality ensures your posts display clearly across the Instagram feed, grid, and Stories without unwanted cropping or distortion.
Standard Instagram Post Dimensions
Instagram supports several post sizes depending on the format you choose. Each has a recommended resolution that helps your content look its best on any device.
| Format | Aspect Ratio | Recommended Size (px) |
|---|---|---|
| Square | 1:1 | 1080 x 1080 |
| Vertical (Portrait) | 4:5 | 1080 x 1350 |
| Tall | 3:4 | 1080 x 1440 |
| Horizontal (Landscape) | 1.91:1 | 1080 x 566 |
| Reels & Stories | 9:16 | 1080 x 1920 |
For feed posts, the 3:4 aspect ratio is the new size supported in 2025. It matches the Instagram grid preview, so your uploads stay consistent without awkward cropping.
If you still use 4:5 portrait posts, keep key elements centered to prevent them from being cut off. Square posts remain an option but take up less vertical space, which can reduce visibility as users scroll.
Aspect Ratios Explained
The aspect ratio defines the relationship between an image's width and height. It determines how your Instagram post fits within the platform's layout.
For example, a 1:1 ratio means the image is perfectly square, while 4:5 and 3:4 are taller formats that take up more space in the feed.
Taller ratios like 3:4 help your content for your Instagram stand out because they display larger on mobile screens. However, if your design extends too close to the edges, parts may crop in the grid view.
When using horizontal images, keep the width of 1080 pixels for sharpness and avoid stretching. Always preview your upload before publishing to confirm it fits well with your profile layout.
File Formats and Quality
Instagram supports JPEG and PNG formats for most uploads. Use JPEG for photos and PNG for graphics, logos, or artwork that need transparency. Keep the file size under 30 MB to maintain upload speed and quality.
For best results, export at 1080px width and save in sRGB color profile. Avoid compressing your images too much, as it can reduce detail.
If your file looks blurry, you may need to resize it manually using an image resizer or design tool like Canva.
Maintain a higher resolution when editing, then adjust before upload to match the recommended size. This helps preserve sharpness and ensures your Instagram image size stays optimized for the platform's interface.
Instagram Feed Post Size
Instagram now supports multiple feed post formats, each with its own aspect ratio and recommended size. Choosing the right Instagram image size helps your content look sharp, fit the grid view, and keep your profile consistent. The most common formats are square, portrait, and landscape.
Square Feed Post Size
The square post remains a classic choice for the Instagram feed. Its aspect ratio is 1:1, and the recommended size is 1080 x 1080 px. This format works well for simple graphics, product shots, and short captions.
Square posts are easy to design and preview. They display evenly across the Instagram grid, keeping your feed balanced. However, they take up less vertical space in the scroll, which can reduce visibility compared to taller posts.
To keep your image crisp, upload files with a width of 1080 pixels and a higher resolution. Avoid compressing your images too much before upload. If you design in Canva or another image resizer, use a square template to make sure the dimensions stay exact.
| Format | Aspect Ratio | Recommended Size |
|---|---|---|
| Square | 1:1 | 1080 x 1080 px |
Portrait Feed Post Size
The portrait feed post is now one of the best sizes for engagement. The aspect ratio is 4:5, with a recommended size of 1080 x 1350 px. This taller layout helps your content take up more space in the feed and catch attention while users scroll.
In 2025, Instagram also introduced a new size option with a 3:4 ratio (1080 x 1440 px) for grid previews. This update means you should adjust your design to leave safe margins at the edges. Key elements like text or logos should stay centered to avoid crop issues in the Instagram grid.
Creators often use this format for portraits, product photos, or carousel posts. It's ideal for vertical content that highlights detail. You can optimize your layout manually or use a canvas preset in your design tool to keep proportions correct.
| Format | Aspect Ratio | Recommended Size |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | 4:5 | 1080 x 1350 px |
| Tall (New 2025) | 3:4 | 1080 x 1440 px |
Landscape Feed Post Size
The landscape format works best for wide scenes, group shots, or horizontal artwork. The aspect ratio is 1.91:1, and the recommended size is 1080 x 566 px. This Instagram post size fits naturally for images that can't be cropped vertically.
While it doesn't take up much space on the feed, it keeps a cinematic look. It's also useful when you need to match reels and stories with a cover image or maintain consistent branding across your platform.
When designing, center your subject to prevent awkward cropping in the preview. If you need to resize images, use an image resizer or template to keep the pixel ratio accurate. Uploading at 1080px width ensures the photo stays clear even on large screens.
| Format | Aspect Ratio | Recommended Size |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | 1.91:1 | 1080 x 566 px |
Instagram Carousel Post Size
Instagram carousel posts let you share up to 20 photos or videos in one swipeable post. Each slide must follow the same aspect ratio and resolution to keep the layout consistent. Choosing the correct size helps your images stay sharp and prevents unwanted cropping or compression.
Square Carousel Post Dimensions
Square carousel images use a 1:1 aspect ratio with a recommended size of 1080 x 1080 pixels. This format fits perfectly in the Instagram feed and grid, keeping your content balanced and easy to view on all devices.
Use square carousel posts when you want a clean, uniform look. They display evenly in your profile grid and don’t require users to rotate their phones.
Keep your width at 1080 pixels for best quality. If your image is smaller than 320 pixels, Instagram will enlarge it, which can reduce clarity. To avoid this, upload high-resolution images and let Instagram resize them automatically.
When designing, center key details like text or logos so they stay visible in previews and thumbnails. You can use tools like Canva or any image resizer to adjust your templates before upload.
Portrait Carousel Post Dimensions
Portrait carousel posts use a 4:5 aspect ratio with a recommended size of 1080 x 1350 pixels. This vertical format takes up more screen space, helping your content stand out as users scroll through their feed.
This is often the best size for engagement because it fills more of the mobile screen. It's ideal for showcasing artwork, tutorials, or step-by-step visuals. However, remember that Instagram crops carousel previews into squares in the grid view.
To keep your post looking professional, make sure all images share the same height and ratio. If you need to resize manually, maintain the same proportions to prevent distortion.
Use portrait carousel posts when you want to emphasize vertical subjects or create immersive storytelling. Always test how your first slide looks since it becomes the cover image in your feed.
Landscape Carousel Post Dimensions
Landscape carousel posts use a 1.91:1 aspect ratio with a recommended size of 1080 x 566 pixels. This horizontal format works well for wide scenes, group photos, or panoramic shots.
While landscape posts look great for certain visuals, they take up less vertical space, so they may appear smaller in the feed. To optimize visibility, use bright colors or bold subjects that draw attention even at a reduced height.
Keep your file sizes under 4 GB and maintain consistent orientation across all slides. If your first image is horizontal, every image in that carousel must follow the same format.
When uploading, check the preview to ensure no important details get cropped. Landscape carousel posts are best for creators who want to present wide-format content while keeping a clean, cinematic look on the Instagram feed.
Instagram Story Size
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Instagram Stories use a vertical full-screen format that fills the viewer’s phone display. To make your content look sharp and professional, you need to follow the correct dimensions, aspect ratio, and file settings. Proper sizing helps prevent blurry uploads and ensures your visuals fit the screen without black bars or cropping.
Instagram Stories Dimensions
The recommended Instagram Story size is 1080 x 1920 pixels, which equals a 9:16 aspect ratio. This vertical layout matches most smartphone screens, letting your photo or video take up the full display.
Stories with a width of 1080 pixels and a height of 1920 pixels keep your content crisp. If you upload smaller files, Instagram will stretch or compress them, which can lower quality.
You can design your story using tools like Canva or any image resizer to match the correct dimensions before upload. Keep text and logos centered, leaving safe margins near the edges to avoid cropping.
When creating templates, remember that the top and bottom areas often display your username and navigation icons. Keeping essential elements within the middle zone ensures clear visibility on every device.
Story Image and Video Guidelines
For images, use JPEG or PNG files under 30MB. Stick to a vertical orientation to make the most of the available space. Avoid uploading square posts or landscape graphics, as they will not fill the screen properly.
For videos, use MP4 format with a maximum length of 60 seconds per story frame. The recommended size is again 1080 x 1920 px. Shorter clips load faster and maintain better quality.
Maintain a higher resolution when exporting your files. Blurry or pixelated stories reduce engagement and make your brand look less polished.
If you need to resize older visuals, adjust them manually or use a template designed for stories. This helps you optimize your content for the Instagram platform and ensures each upload looks consistent with your overall design.
Instagram Reels Size
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Instagram Reels use a vertical video format that fills the entire smartphone screen. To keep your videos clear and easy to view, you need to follow the right dimensions, aspect ratio, and layout that match how the app displays and crops content.
Reels Video Dimensions
The recommended size for Instagram Reels in 2025 is 1080 x 1920 pixels with a 9:16 aspect ratio. This vertical format fits most phones and helps your video display correctly across the Reels tab, feed preview, and profile grid.
Keep all important text and graphics within the center 1080 x 1420 px area. This “safe zone” prevents usernames, captions, or icons from covering your message. Leave about 250 px of space at the top and bottom for best visibility.
Use the MP4 format with the H.264 codec and AAC audio. Instagram supports up to 250 MB per file and lengths of 15 to 90 seconds, though some accounts can post up to 3 minutes. Shooting vertically from the start gives you a sharper, full-screen look without needing to resize or crop later.
| Setting | Recommended Value | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 px | Full-screen clarity |
| Aspect Ratio | 9:16 | Standard mobile view |
| Frame Rate | 30 fps or higher | Smooth playback |
| File Size | Up to 250 MB | Prevents compression loss |
Cinematic and Trending Reel Formats
In 2025, Reels often blend cinematic framing with short-form storytelling. You can use portrait orientation to take up more space on the screen and keep viewers focused on your subject.
Trendy creators use centered compositions, clean lighting, and clear fonts to improve readability after compression. Avoid borders or letterboxing—Instagram’s algorithm favors videos that fill the frame naturally.
When you share to your Instagram feed, Reels preview in a 4:5 crop (1080 x 1350 px). On your profile grid, only the center 1080 x 1080 px area shows. Always center your subject so faces or text don’t get cut off in previews.
Using tools like Canva or CapCut helps you customize your layout, add subtitles, and optimize every upload. Keeping your content aligned with the best size and correct aspect ratio ensures your Reels look professional and maintain quality across all views.
Instagram Profile Photo and Grid
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Your Instagram profile relies on two main visuals: the small circular photo that represents you and the grid that displays your posts. Both affect how people view your brand and how your content fits within the platform’s updated layout.
Profile Photo Dimensions
Your Instagram profile photo size should be 320 x 320 pixels, displayed in a circular frame. Even though you upload a square image, Instagram automatically crops it into a circle, so keep important elements centered.
Use a clear background and make sure your logo or face fills most of the frame. Avoid text near the edges since it can get cut off on mobile devices.
For best quality, upload a high-resolution image (at least 1080px wide). If you use design tools like Canva, set the canvas to 320 pixels by 320 pixels before exporting.
Supported formats include JPEG and PNG, with a maximum file size under 10 MB. Keep your photo consistent across your social accounts to improve recognition and maintain a professional look.
Profile Grid Size Changes
In 2025, Instagram updated the profile grid preview from the classic 1:1 square to a 3:4 aspect ratio. This change means posts now appear taller in grid view, matching the look of vertical content in the feed.
| Format | Aspect Ratio | Recommended Size |
|---|---|---|
| Grid Preview | 3:4 | 1080 x 1440 px |
| Square Posts | 1:1 | 1080 x 1080 px |
| Portrait | 4:5 | 1080 x 1350 px |
If you still upload 4:5 portrait posts, keep key details centered to prevent unwanted crop in the grid. The new size gives your profile a more balanced layout and helps posts take up more space visually.
You can preview your grid using a scheduling tool or manually check it before you publish. This update helps you optimize your Instagram feed and maintain a consistent look across your content.
Instagram Ad Sizes
Instagram ads use specific image and video dimensions to display clearly across devices. Correct sizing keeps your visuals sharp, prevents unwanted cropping, and ensures your message fits the screen space available.
Feed Ad Dimensions
Feed ads appear in the main Instagram feed and can include single images, videos, or carousel formats. The recommended resolution is 1080 x 1080 pixels for square images, 1200 x 628 pixels for landscape, and 1080 x 1350 pixels for vertical formats.
Use an aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 4:5. The maximum image file size is 30MB, while videos can go up to 4GB. Keep text within 125 characters for the primary caption and limit hashtags to 30.
When designing, upload the highest-resolution file possible to maintain clarity. Avoid placing important elements near the edges to prevent cropping. Carousel ads allow up to ten cards, each with its own link and caption, making them useful for showing multiple products or angles.
| Format | Recommended Size (px) | Aspect Ratio | Max File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square | 1080 x 1080 | 1:1 | 30MB |
| Landscape | 1200 x 628 | 1.91:1 | 30MB |
| Vertical | 1080 x 1350 | 4:5 | 30MB |
Story Ad Dimensions
Story ads fill the screen in a vertical format and appear between user stories. The recommended size is 1080 x 1920 pixels with a 9:16 aspect ratio. Keep the file size under 30MB for images and 4GB for videos.
Leave about 250 pixels at the top and bottom free of text or logos so they don’t overlap with Instagram’s interface elements like profile icons or call-to-action buttons.
Videos should last up to 15 seconds per story. You can combine multiple slides for longer storytelling. Use high-quality vertical visuals that match the mobile viewing experience, and avoid using more than 20% text to maintain good delivery and visibility.
Best Tools for Instagram Post Sizing
Using the right tools helps you create posts that match Instagram’s recommended image sizes and aspect ratios. These tools let you resize images to exact dimensions, maintain clarity, and preview how your post will appear in the feed or grid view.
Canva Templates for Instagram
Canva provides ready-made templates for every Instagram format. You can choose from layouts for square posts (1080x1080 px), portrait posts (1080x1350 px), landscape posts (1080x566 px), and Stories or Reels (1080 x 1920 px). Each template already follows the correct aspect ratio, so you don’t need to adjust it manually.
You can upload your artwork, logo, or photo and then customize text, colors, and filters. Canva’s drag-and-drop interface makes it simple to align visuals and keep key elements centered for better visibility in the Instagram grid.
If you manage multiple posts, Canva’s resize feature saves time by converting one design into different formats. This helps you maintain consistent branding across your Instagram feed, Stories, and Reels without starting from scratch.
Instasize and Other Resizing Tools
Instasize focuses on resizing and editing content for your Instagram posts. It automatically adjusts images to the best size and ratio for the platform, ensuring they fit without awkward cropping. You can select square, portrait, or landscape formats and preview how each one appears before you publish.
The app includes filters, text overlays, and background options to fill extra space when resizing vertical or horizontal photos. This helps your content for Instagram stay clean and professional even when the original image doesn’t match the recommended size.
Other reliable tools include Promo Image Resizer and Sprout Social Landscape, which optimize images for multiple platforms. These options help creators and marketers resize graphics quickly while keeping sharp detail and correct pixel dimensions. For Pinterest content, consider using our Pinterest pin size generator to create optimized pins that complement your Instagram strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Instagram uses specific image dimensions and aspect ratios to keep your posts clear and well-framed. Understanding how these settings affect your feed, stories, and reels helps you upload content that looks sharp and fits correctly without unwanted cropping.
What are the optimal dimensions for Instagram photos?
The best size for square posts is 1080 x 1080 pixels.
Portrait photos work best at 1080 x 1350 pixels, while landscape images should use 1080 x 566 pixels.
These dimensions keep your image crisp across devices and prevent Instagram from compressing or resizing your upload too much.
How does aspect ratio affect image display on Instagram?
The aspect ratio defines the shape of your post.
Square posts use a 1:1 ratio, portrait images use 4:5, and landscape photos use 1.91:1.
When your image follows these ratios, it displays properly on the Instagram grid and feed without borders or stretching.
What is the maximum resolution for images on Instagram?
Instagram supports uploads up to a width of 1080 pixels.
If your image is larger, the platform automatically resizes it to fit this width.
You can still upload higher-resolution images, but Instagram compresses them to match its display standards for faster loading.
Can I post full-size pictures without cropping on Instagram?
Yes, you can post full-size pictures if they match one of Instagram’s supported aspect ratios.
If your photo is too tall or wide, the app may crop it automatically.
To avoid this, use an image resizer or a template in tools like Canva to adjust your photo manually before upload.
What are the recommended image sizes for Instagram Stories?
Instagram Stories display best at 1080 x 1920 pixels with a 9:16 ratio.
This vertical format fills the entire screen on most smartphones.
Keep text and logos away from the top and bottom edges to maintain visibility within the interface.
How do carousel post dimensions differ from single image posts?
Carousel posts follow the dimensions of the first image you upload.
If your first image is portrait, all others will be cropped to that format.
You can mix vertical, square, and horizontal images, but doing so may add borders or change how each frame appears in the instagram feed or grid view.
