Although Instagram now caters to video content as well as photos, it still remains a platform where visual storytelling takes center stage. As users continually seek to curate captivating content, understanding the nuances of Instagram image sizes becomes a fundamental aspect of successful engagement.
With social media visual assets guidelines changing so fast, keeping up with Instagram's ever-changing image sizes can be a real head-scratcher. One moment your profile looks flawless, and the next, your cover photo is pixelated and out of sync. But no worries—this ultimate guide to Instagram image sizes has got you covered, ensuring your account stays visually stunning.
We've done the research on Instagram photo sizes, covering everything from posts and stories to profile pics. Let's explore the current Instagram formats and sizes to keep your feed on point.
Instagram Post Image Size
Instagram post images can be square, landscape, or vertical, but they all end up cropped to a square in the feed.
- Square post images should be a perfect 1080px by 1080px, maintaining a 1:1 aspect ratio.
- For landscape posts, aim for the ideal size of 1080px by 566px, with an aspect ratio of 1.91:1.
- Vertical images should be sized at 1080px by 1350px, adhering to a 4:5 aspect ratio.
Instagram Profile Image Size
Your Instagram profile pic deserves attention too. Opt for a square image sized at 360 x 360 px for the perfect display.
Instagram Video Image Size
When it comes to videos, you can use the same aspect ratios as images, ranging from 1.91:1 to 4:5. For horizontal videos, stick to a 16:9 aspect ratio – the standard for landscape video recording on smartphones.
Ensure your videos aren’t larger than 4 GB and can be up to 60 seconds long.
Instagram Stories Size
Make your stories stand out by going full screen with content sized at 1080px by 1920px, maintaining a 9:16 aspect ratio. Pictures last for five seconds, and videos appear in 15-second segments, giving you creative control over one-minute stories.
Instagram Reels Video Sizes
Instagram loves videos that take up the whole screen, so opt for a Reel that's 1080px by 1920px, making it a 9:16 aspect ratio. This aspect ratio applies to both vertical and horizontal videos, offering a seamless viewing experience.
Instagram Reels Thumbnail Size
Choose any image from your phone as a thumbnail for Instagram Reels, but be mindful of dimensions and aspect ratios.
- Thumbnail dimensions: 1080 pixels x 1080 pixels for the main feed grid and 1080 pixels x 1920 pixels for the Reels feed.
- Cover aspect ratio: 1:1 for the main feed grid and 9:16 for the Reels feed.
Optimize your Reel thumbnail by keeping in mind the two aspect ratios—you can only edit the 9:16 version for display on the Reels feed.
💡Suggested read: How to download Instagram Reels
Instagram Ads Image Sizes
When it comes to Instagram Ads, understanding the right image sizes is crucial for a campaign that stands out. Whether you're opting for a landscape or square format, here's a breakdown to help you navigate the dimensions and aspect ratios seamlessly.
- Landscape ads should have dimensions of 1080 x 566 pixels
- Square ads should have the following specs: 1080 x 1080 pixels dimensions,
320 pixels is the minimum width and 1080 px — maximum with the supported aspect ratios between 1.91:1 and 4:5.
Ensure your visuals align with the specified parameters, guaranteeing that your Instagram Ads not only look great on the main feed grid but also captivate your audience when showcased on various devices.
How to Optimize Image Size for Instagram If It’s Too Big (on Desktop & Online)
Encountered the dreaded "file too large" message on Instagram? Don't panic! You can optimize your images with third-party compression tools. One such tool is the 4K Image Compressor, a desktop app compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux. It quickly optimizes JPEG, PNG, HEIC, and WEBP images without compromising quality.
Follow these steps:
- Launch 4K Image Compressor.
- Select the output format and set the desired compression value.
- Click "Compress" and choose your image for compression.
- Your image will be uploaded and compressed instantly.
Hover over the compressed image preview, click the folder icon, and there you have it – your perfectly optimized image ready to shine on Instagram!
If you'd rather opt for an online image compression tool, use TinyPNG. It's an online image compression tool that can reduce the files' size of PNG, WEBP, and JPG images. The service employs lossy compression techniques to achieve smaller file sizes while attempting to maintain good image quality. To compress images with TinyPNG, simply visit the TinyPNG website and upload images through the web interface.
💡Suggested read: The curated list of best 8 image compressors, desktop and online.