The Ultimate Guide to Instagram Post Sizes in Pixels

Whether you are building a aesthetic portfolio, launching a brand, or sharing highlights with your friends, getting your image and video dimensions right on Instagram is everything. There is nothing worse than spending hours editing a photo, only for Instagram to brutally crop out your favorite part or leave it looking blurry.

To help your content look its absolute best, here is the complete guide to Instagram post sizes in pixels.

1. Instagram Feed Posts

Your main grid is your digital storefront. Depending on the vibe of your photo, Instagram supports three main aspect ratios for feed posts, all anchored by a 1080-pixel width.

• **Square Posts (1:1 Aspect Ratio): ** 1080 x 1080 pixels
  • Best for: Classic grid symmetry, balanced product shots, and graphic designs.
• Portrait / Vertical Posts (4:5 Aspect Ratio): 1080 x 1350 pixels
  • Best for: Maximizing screen space as people scroll. This is generally the recommended feed format because it takes up more vertical real estate.
• Landscape / Horizontal Posts (1.91:1 Aspect Ratio): 1080 x 566 pixels
  • Best for: Wide-angle photography, group pictures, or cinematic shots.

Pro Tip: If you upload an image smaller than 1080 pixels wide, Instagram will stretch it up, which often leads to pixelation. If you upload something massive, it gets compressed down. Starting right at 1080px wide hits the sweet spot for maximum clarity.

2. Stories and Reels

If you want your content to fill the entire smartphone screen without awkward black borders, you need to design for vertical, full-screen viewing.

• Instagram Stories: 1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio)
• Instagram Reels & Covers: 1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio)

Keep in mind: For Stories and Reels, leave a little “safe zone” at the very top and bottom. Avoid placing critical text or logos right at the edges where Instagram’s interface overlays (like usernames, captions, and like buttons) might cover them up.

Instagram Size Cheat Sheet

Here is a quick reference table for all your design and posting needs:

| Content Type | Ideal Size (Pixels) | Aspect Ratio |
| :— | :— | :— |
| Square Feed Post | 1080 x 1080 | 1:1 |
| Portrait Feed Post | 1080 x 1350 | 4:5 |
| Landscape Feed Post | 1080 x 566 | 1.91:1 |
| Stories & Reels | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 |
| Profile Picture | 320 x 320 | 1:1 (Displayed as a circle) |

Summary Checklist for Sharp Uploads

1. Stick to 1080px Width: For feed images, always make your canvas 1080 pixels wide.
2. Watch the Grid Crop: Remember that your profile grid displays image previews in a tight crop. Always keep important details and faces near the center of your image.
3. Use the Right Tool: Design platforms like Canva have pre-built templates locked into these exact pixel dimensions, saving you the trouble of manual math.