Instagram image sizes in 2026
Instagram supports a narrow band of aspect ratios. Anything outside it is cropped on upload, which is where most of the frustration comes from.
Last reviewed 2026-01-15
| Image type | Recommended size | Aspect ratio | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instagram square post | 1080 × 1080 px | 1:1 | jpg |
| Instagram portrait post | 1080 × 1350 px | 4:5 | jpg |
| Instagram story / reel | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | jpg |
| Instagram reel cover | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | jpg |
Ratios, not pixel sizes, are what Instagram enforces
The feed accepts roughly 1.91:1 (landscape) through 4:5 (portrait). Within that band you can upload any resolution and it is scaled to fit; outside it, the image is cropped centrally.
1080 px on the long edge of the displayed dimension is the practical target. Bigger uploads are downscaled and re-compressed by Instagram anyway.
Safe areas for stories and reels
The canvas is 1080 × 1920, but the top and bottom roughly 250 px each are frequently covered by interface elements — the profile row, the caption, reply controls and, on reels, the action rail down the right side. Text placed there will be obscured for many viewers.
Why your upload looks softer than the original
Instagram re-encodes every upload. You cannot avoid that, but you can give it a better starting point: upload at the exact display size, avoid heavy sharpening, and don't upload an image that has already been compressed several times.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best Instagram image size?
- 1080 × 1350 (4:5) for feed posts, because it uses the most vertical space, and 1080 × 1920 for stories and reels.
- Does Instagram still support landscape posts?
- Yes, up to about 1.91:1. Landscape simply occupies less of the screen than portrait.
Related tools
- Instagram image resizerResize photos for Instagram posts, portraits, stories and reels. 1080 × 1350, 1080 × 1080 and 1080 × 1920 presets.
- Resize an image to 1080 × 1080Make any photo exactly 1080 × 1080 pixels for square social posts. Crop or pad, then download free.
- Crop an image to any aspect ratioCrop photos to 1:1, 4:5, 16:9 or any custom ratio right in the browser. Drag to reposition, zoom, and download.
Related guides
Sources
- Instagram Help Center — photo and video sizing