What is the Instagram aspect ratio?
The Instagram aspect ratio for feed posts is 4:5 portrait (1080×1350 px). Reels and Stories: 9:16 vertical (1080×1920 px). Instagram also accepts 3:4 (1080×1440 px), 1:1 square (1080×1080 px) and 1.91:1 landscape (1080×566 px) in the feed, and your profile grid shows every post as a 3:4 tile.
PostEverywhere schedules Instagram feed posts, carousels, Reels, Stories and trial reels at the right size and the right time. See how scheduling Instagram works.
Those two ratios cover almost everything you will post. The rest of this guide gives every size we could check against Meta's own documentation: the feed ratio and post sizes, the Reels aspect ratio and safe zone, Stories, carousels, the 3:4 grid, ads and file limits.
Instagram aspect ratios at a glance
Every Instagram format, all 1080 px wide. 4:5 is the feed default; 9:16 is the full-screen shape for Reels and Stories.
| Format | Aspect ratio | Size | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscape | 1.91:1 | 1080×566 px | Widest feed post |
| Square | 1:1 | 1080×1080 px | Feed and carousels |
| Portrait | 4:5 | 1080×1350 px | Feed default (best for feed) |
| Tall portrait | 3:4 | 1080×1440 px | Phone photos, fits the grid |
| Reels and Stories | 9:16 | 1080×1920 px | Full screen (Reels, Stories) |
Instagram Aspect Ratio and Post Size Cheat Sheet
| Format | Aspect ratio | Size in pixels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed post (portrait) | 4:5 | 1080×1350 | The feed default |
| Feed post (tall) | 3:4 | 1080×1440 | Supported since May 2025; matches the grid tile |
| Feed post (square) | 1:1 | 1080×1080 | Works everywhere |
| Feed post (landscape) | 1.91:1 | 1080×566 | Widest feed shape |
| Reels | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | Full screen |
| Stories | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | Full screen |
| Carousel | 4:5, 3:4 or 1:1 | 1080×1350, 1080×1440 or 1080×1080 | Every slide takes the first slide's shape |
| Profile grid tile | 3:4 | Shows each post centre-cropped | Rectangular since January 2025 |
| Feed ad | 4:5 | 1440×1800 | Meta's recommended ad size |
| Stories and Reels ad | 9:16 | 1440×2560 | Meta's recommended ad size |
The short version: shoot vertical. Post 9:16 for Reels and Stories and 4:5 for feed photos, and keep the subject in the middle so it survives the 3:4 grid crop.
Post every Instagram format from one calendar. PostEverywhere schedules feed posts, carousels of up to 10 images, Reels with a cover, Stories and trial reels, and suggests a good time for each. See the Instagram scheduler.
Instagram Feed Ratio and Post Sizes (4:5, 3:4, 1:1, 1.91:1)
The Instagram feed ratio range runs from 1.91:1 landscape to 3:4 tall portrait. Instagram's publishing specs for photos put the width between 320 and 1440 px, so 1080 px wide is the standard size for organic posts.
4:5 portrait (1080×1350): the best Instagram post ratio for most photos
4:5 is the Instagram post aspect ratio most guides, and Meta's own ad specs, treat as the default for the feed. At 1080×1350 it is 25% taller than a square, so it fills more of the screen as people scroll.
The grid shows a 3:4 tile, which is slightly taller than 4:5, so Instagram trims a little from the sides of a 4:5 post on your profile. Keep the subject centred and nothing important is lost.
If you schedule posts: Instagram's publishing API, which every scheduling tool uses, accepts feed photos between 4:5 and 1.91:1. 4:5 is the tallest shape you can schedule, so it is the safe default for anything you plan ahead.
3:4 portrait (1080×1440): the tallest feed photo
Instagram added 3:4 photos in May 2025. Adam Mosseri said Instagram "now supports 3:4 aspect ratio photos", which he called "the format that almost every phone camera defaults to", so phone photos now post as you shot them, single image or carousel.
3:4 is also the shape of a grid tile, so a 3:4 post shows on your profile with no crop.
1:1 square (1080×1080)
The original Instagram ratio, still fully supported. It suits product shots, quote cards and graphics you reuse across platforms, but it takes up less of the screen than 4:5 or 3:4.
1.91:1 landscape (1080×566)
The widest shape Instagram accepts. Landscape photos look small in a vertical feed and crop badly on the grid, so only use 1.91:1 when the picture really is wide.
Instagram Reels Aspect Ratio: 9:16 (1080×1920)
The Instagram Reels aspect ratio is 9:16, at 1080×1920 px. Meta recommends 9:16 for Reels "to avoid cropping or blank space", and Reels play full screen on phones.
Instagram will accept other shapes. Its publishing API takes Reels anywhere from 0.01:1 to 10:1. But anything that isn't 9:16 shows with blank space around it in the Reels feed, so crop wide footage to vertical before you post.
Reel length: Instagram raised the limit for Reels made in the app from 90 seconds to three minutes in January 2025. Through the publishing API, Reels can run from 3 seconds to 15 minutes, up to 300 MB.
Instagram Reels safe zone
Instagram lays its own buttons and text over every Reel. Meta's guidance for Reels ads is to keep text, logos and anything important out of the top 14%, the bottom 35% and 6% on each side.
On a 1080×1920 Reel that leaves a safe area of about 950×979 px in the middle. Organic Reels carry the same overlays (profile photo and audio at the top, caption at the bottom, buttons on the right), so the same safe zone works for both.
| Area (1080×1920 Reel) | Pixels | What sits there |
|---|---|---|
| Top 14% | 269 px | Profile photo, username, audio |
| Bottom 35% | 672 px | Caption, call-to-action button |
| Each side 6% | 65 px | Like, comment, share buttons sit on the right |
| Safe area | 950×979 px | Text, faces, logos and product shots |
Reels cover and the 3:4 grid crop
On your profile, a Reel shows as a 3:4 tile cropped from the middle of the 9:16 frame. That removes about 240 px from the top and from the bottom.
Design the cover at 1080×1920 and keep the title and faces in the middle so the grid tile still reads. In PostEverywhere you can pick a frame from the video or upload your own image as the Reel cover.
One vertical video, every short-form platform
A 1080×1920 video that respects the safe zone also works on TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Facebook Reels. See how to cross-post Instagram Reels to Facebook Reels and the sizes TikTok uses.
Instagram Story Size: 9:16 (1080×1920)
Stories use the same 1080×1920 canvas as Reels. Meta's Stories ad specs use the same safe zone (top 14%, bottom 35%, 6% on each side), which keeps text clear of the profile bubble at the top and the reply bar at the bottom.
Through the publishing API, a Story video can run up to 60 seconds and 100 MB. If you reuse one design for Reels and Stories, how Reels and Stories differ covers the differences.
Instagram Carousel Dimensions
Carousels take 4:5 (1080×1350), 3:4 (1080×1440) or 1:1 (1080×1080). Meta's developer docs are clear on the main rule: carousel images "are all cropped based on the first image in the carousel".
So decide the shape of slide one first, and crop every slide to match before you upload.
Can you post different aspect ratios in one Instagram post? Not cleanly. Slides that don't match the first slide's shape get cropped or padded to fit, so mixed shapes usually look worse than one consistent ratio.
How many slides: the Instagram app allows up to 20 slides (raised from 10 in August 2024). PostEverywhere schedules carousels of up to 10 images. In PostEverywhere's Instagram Format Study 2026, carousels of 7 to 10 slides did 17% better than the account's usual post, and 4 to 6 slides did 13% better.
For slide-by-slide advice, see our carousel guide, built on 14,000+ posts and how many photos you can post on Instagram.
The Instagram Grid Size: 3:4 Since 2025
In January 2025 Instagram changed profile grids from squares to rectangles, in the same announcement that brought three-minute Reels. The new tile is 3:4, and every post is centre-cropped to fit it on your profile. The full post still opens at its own shape.
What that means for each shape:
- 3:4 posts fill the tile exactly, with no crop.
- 4:5 posts lose a little from each side on the grid.
- 1:1 posts lose more from each side.
- 1.91:1 posts lose most of the picture on the grid, so avoid landscape if your grid matters.
- Reels show a 3:4 crop from the middle of the frame.
Before you post, the free grid previewer shows how a post will sit on your profile.
Let your AI agent handle the posting. Connect Claude or ChatGPT to PostEverywhere and ask it to schedule this week's Reels, carousels and Stories at your best times. Connect your AI agent.
Instagram Ad Sizes
Meta's ads guide gives these recommended sizes for Instagram placements:
| Placement | Ratio | Recommended size | File limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed image ad | 4:5 | 1440×1800 | 30 MB, JPG or PNG |
| Stories image ad | 9:16 | 1440×2560 | 30 MB, JPG or PNG |
| Reels video ad | 9:16 | 1440×2560 | 4 GB, up to 15 minutes |
Ads use a 1440 px width rather than 1080 px. For the safe zone on Stories and Reels ads, use the same top 14%, bottom 35% and 6% on each side.
Instagram File Size and Upload Limits
These are the limits in Instagram's publishing API, which is what scheduling tools use:
| Format | File type | Max file size | Other limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed photo | JPEG | 8 MB | 320 to 1440 px wide; 4:5 to 1.91:1 |
| Reel | MP4 or MOV | 300 MB | 3 seconds to 15 minutes; up to 1920 px wide |
| Story photo | JPEG | 8 MB | 9:16 recommended |
| Story video | MP4 or MOV | 100 MB | 3 to 60 seconds |
| Carousel | JPEG and video | Per item, as above | Up to 20 items (10 in PostEverywhere) |
Tips for sharp uploads:
- Export photos at 1080 px wide. Instagram resizes anything outside 320 to 1440 px, and every resize costs some quality.
- Use sRGB colour. Other colour profiles can shift when Instagram processes the image.
- Re-export instead of screenshotting. A screenshot is already compressed, so it softens again on upload.
The free image resizer exports at Instagram's exact sizes, and AI Studio creates images at 1:1, 4:5, 16:9 or 9:16.
What Performs: Our Instagram Data
Shape matters less than format. In PostEverywhere's Instagram Format Study 2026 (14,000+ Instagram posts scheduled with PostEverywhere, each compared with the same account's usual post), Reels did 14% better and carousels 13% better, while single images did 1% worse.
So the practical order is: Reels at 9:16, carousels at 4:5 or 3:4, then single photos. Read the full format study, with slide counts and Reel lengths.
How to Schedule Instagram Posts at the Right Size With PostEverywhere
- Create the post and add your photos or video. For a carousel, add up to 10 images in order.
- Choose Instagram and, under Customise per platform, pick the post type: feed post, Reel, Story or trial reel.
- Set the Reel cover by choosing a frame from the video or uploading an image.
- Pick a time. PostEverywhere suggests good times as you schedule, starting with when posts do best on Instagram and switching to your own times once your account has about 30 posts with results.
Get every size right, then post at the right time. Start a 7-day free trial of PostEverywhere; plans start at $9 a month. See pricing.
Common Instagram Aspect Ratio Mistakes
- Scheduling a photo taller than 4:5. Instagram's publishing API accepts 4:5 to 1.91:1, so crop 3:4 phone photos to 4:5 before you schedule them.
- Mixing shapes in a carousel. Every slide is cropped to the first slide's shape.
- Putting text in the bottom third of a Reel. The caption and buttons cover it. Keep text inside the safe zone.
- Posting landscape video as a Reel. It shows with blank space above and below. Crop to 9:16.
- Ignoring the grid. Every post shows as a 3:4 tile on your profile, so keep the subject centred.
- Uploading a screenshot instead of the original file. It softens twice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the aspect ratio of an Instagram post?
The standard Instagram post aspect ratio is 4:5 portrait at 1080×1350 px. Instagram also accepts 3:4 (1080×1440), 1:1 square (1080×1080) and 1.91:1 landscape (1080×566) in the feed.
What is the Instagram Reels aspect ratio?
9:16 vertical at 1080×1920 px. Meta recommends 9:16 for Reels to avoid cropping or blank space, and Reels play full screen on phones.
What is the best aspect ratio for Instagram?
4:5 for feed photos and carousels, and 9:16 for Reels and Stories. If you post straight from a phone camera, 3:4 also works and fits the profile grid with no crop.
Is 1080×1350 4:5 or 3:4?
1080×1350 is 4:5. The 3:4 size is 1080×1440.
Did Instagram change its grid in 2025?
Yes. In January 2025 Instagram switched profile grids from squares to rectangles. The tile is 3:4, and each post is centre-cropped to fit it on your profile.
What is the Instagram Reels safe zone?
Keep text and logos out of the top 14%, the bottom 35% and 6% on each side, which is Meta's guidance for Reels ads. On a 1080×1920 Reel that leaves a safe area of about 950×979 px in the middle.
Can you post different aspect ratios on Instagram in one post?
Not cleanly. In a carousel every slide is cropped based on the first slide, so crop every slide to the same ratio before you upload.
How many photos can you put in an Instagram carousel?
Up to 20 in the Instagram app since August 2024. PostEverywhere schedules carousels of up to 10 images, and in our data carousels of 7 to 10 slides did best.
What size is an Instagram Story?
1080×1920 px, a 9:16 ratio. Keep text out of the top 14% and bottom 35% so the profile bubble and reply bar don't cover it.
Can I schedule 3:4 photos to Instagram?
Instagram's publishing API, which scheduling tools use, accepts feed photos from 4:5 to 1.91:1. To schedule a 3:4 phone photo, crop it to 4:5 (1080×1350) first.
For other platforms, see the social media image sizes guide, the Facebook aspect ratio guide and the TikTok aspect ratio guide. To post at the right time as well as the right size, see how PostEverywhere picks your best times.
Sources
- Meta for Developers: Instagram content publishing
- Meta for Developers: IG User Media reference (image, Reels and Stories specs)
- Meta Ads Guide: Instagram Reels video ads
- Meta Ads Guide: Instagram Feed image ads
- Meta Ads Guide: Instagram Stories image ads
- 9to5Mac: Instagram changes standard photo aspect ratio to 3:4
- Social Media Today: Instagram officially expands Reels length to 3 minutes
- Business Today: Instagram head announces 3-minute Reels and a new look for the profile grid
- Kapwing: Instagram's new grid layout: size and dimensions
- TechRadar: Instagram will now let you post up to 20 photos or videos in a gallery
- PostEverywhere: Instagram Format Study 2026 (Instagram carousel best practices)
Founder & CEO of PostEverywhere. Writing about social media strategy, publishing workflows, and analytics that help brands grow faster.
