Checked on October 4, 2026. "Official" means confirmed in Instagram Help (help.instagram.com). Third-party or estimated values are marked "unofficial".
| Use | Size / ratio | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Feed photo | 1080px wide, ratio 1.91:1 to 3:4 (566–1440px tall) | Official |
| Reels | Ratio 1.91:1 to 9:16, minimum 720px, minimum 30fps | Official |
| Reels cover photo | 420×654 (1:1.55) | Official recommendation |
| Story / Reels design canvas | 1080×1920 (9:16) | Unofficial recommendation |
| Profile picture | Square, displayed as a circle | No pixel size in Help |
Feed photos between 320 and 1080px wide keep their size; wider photos are scaled down to 1080px, and photos under 320px are scaled up, which can look soft.
Why is there a ratio range?
Instagram wants to show everything from wide landscapes (1.91:1) to tall portraits (3:4) without cropping. Inside that range your photo keeps its resolution; outside it, Instagram crops. So pick a ratio inside the range before you shoot or design.
Which ratio for what
- Wide scenes in the feed: close to 1.91:1.
- Most feed posts and carousels: 4:5 (1080×1350), because it takes up more of the phone screen than a square.
- Full-screen immersion: Stories and Reels at 9:16.
Choose the ratio by purpose first, then make the canvas, and you won't need to re-crop later.
Stories and Reels: watch the edges
Buttons and text overlays cover the top and bottom of Stories and Reels. Keep key text in the middle and leave roughly the top and bottom 15% clear.
Profile grid
Many sources report that the profile grid preview changed to 3:4 (secondary sources). Keep the important part of each post in the center. To make a multi-post grid image, cut one picture with the Instagram Grid Maker and post the pieces in numbered order.
Good vs. bad
- Good: feed photo at 1080px wide, 4:5.
- Bad: a very tall photo (like 1:2) that gets cropped hard.
- Good: Story text inside the central 70%.
- Bad: important text at the very top, hidden by the profile picture and buttons.
Common mistakes
- The top and bottom of a feed photo got cut: the ratio was outside 1.91:1–3:4.
- A blurry Reels cover: the source was below 720px.
- Story text hidden by buttons: leave about 15% clear at the top and bottom.
Make any size quickly
The Image Resizer has Instagram presets (1080×1080, 1080×1350, 1080×1920) and can fill, fit or stretch your photo.
FAQ
What is the best size for an Instagram post?
1080×1350 (4:5) is the most widely used because it fills more of the phone screen. 1080×1080 (1:1) is the safe classic.
What size is an Instagram Story?
Stories are 9:16. Instagram Help doesn't state a pixel size, but 1080×1920 is the standard design canvas.
Why do my photos look blurry after upload?
Instagram resizes photos to 1080px wide. Very small photos are scaled up and very large ones are compressed. Upload at 1080px wide in an allowed ratio for the best result.