Make your reel 9:16. At 1080 pixels wide that is 1080 x 1920. Instagram's Help Center does not print that pixel size. It states a ratio range from 1.91:1 to 9:16, a minimum of 30 frames per second and a minimum of 720 pixels. This page separates what Instagram states from what follows from arithmetic, and keeps ad specs apart from organic reels.
Instagram Reel size at a glance
The Instagram reel size to export is 9:16, a vertical video. At 1080 pixels wide, that is 1080 x 1920. Instagram's Help Center does not print this pixel size. It gives one rule for the shape of a reel: you can upload a reel with an aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 9:16. The 9:16 end is the tallest shape it accepts, and 1080 x 1920 is that shape at a width of 1080.
The table shows four shapes inside the accepted range, each at a width of 1080 pixels.
| Shape | Aspect ratio | Example at 1080 px wide | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Widest | 1.91:1 | 1080 x 566 | The widest ratio Instagram accepts for reels |
| Square | 1:1 | 1080 x 1080 | Inside the range |
| Portrait | 4:5 | 1080 x 1350 | Inside the range |
| Tallest | 9:16 | 1080 x 1920 | The tallest ratio Instagram accepts for reels |
The two limits, 1.91:1 and 9:16, come from Instagram. The 1080 pixel width is an example width, and each height is worked out from its ratio. Instagram does not say a reel must be 1080 pixels wide.
Reels size and resolution requirements
Besides the ratio range, Instagram's reel size article lists two minimums: a frame rate of at least 30 frames per second (FPS) and a resolution of at least 720 pixels. It does not say whether 720 pixels means width or height, so 1080 x 1920 clears it either way.
Instagram's page for recording a reel says you can record and edit videos up to 20 minutes. The same page adds that reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences. That note is about recommendations to new audiences, not an upload limit. The page gives 20 minutes as the length you can record. The 60 second limit that one guide gives does not appear on the current page.
Instagram does not publish a maximum file size for reels. The 4 GB figure that appears in some guides is a limit for Meta's Reels ads, covered below.
To upload every reel at the highest quality, open your profile, tap the menu, go to Your app and media, then Media quality, and turn on Upload at highest quality. Instagram notes that higher quality uploads can take longer.
Reel cover photo size
Instagram recommends a reel cover photo of 420 by 654 pixels, a ratio of 1:1.55, as a png or jpg file. Some guides list 1080 x 1920 for the cover, but Instagram's reel page does not. The same page says you currently can't edit the cover after the upload, so choose it before you share.
Technical details Instagram lists
If an upload fails, check the file against these. Instagram says the basic requirements should work for most people, and the details below are for those who need more help.
For video, Instagram lists progressive scan with no interlacing, High profile, 2 consecutive B frames, a closed GOP with a GOP of half the frame rate, CABAC, and chroma subsampling of 4:2:0. For audio, it lists stereo or stereo plus 5.1 channels, at a sample rate of 96 kHz or 48 kHz.
Reel ad size from Meta
Ads follow different rules from organic reels, so the numbers differ. Meta's Ads Guide for Reels video ads recommends a 9:16 ratio and a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels, in MP4 or MOV. It lists a duration of up to 15 minutes, a maximum file size of 4 GB, and a minimum width of 250 pixels for ads under 30 seconds or 500 pixels for ads of 30 seconds or longer.
Meta's Business Help Center also recommends 9:16 for Stories, Status and Reels placements, because most people hold their phones vertically. If you are making an organic reel, the Instagram Help Center figures above apply instead.
Instagram Story size in pixels and inches
Instagram's Help Center describes how to share and edit stories, but the story pages read for this guide list no pixel size. The closest official figures are Meta's, and they are for ads. Meta's page on design requirements for Instagram Stories ads recommends 1080 x 1920 pixels with a minimum of 600 x 1067. Meta's Ads Guide for Stories video ads recommends 9:16 at 1440 x 2560.
Those two ad pages give two different recommended resolutions, so use the one for the ad format you are building. Neither is a rule for stories you post as a regular user. Both use 9:16, the same shape as the tallest reel.
Instagram does not publish a Story size in inches. Screens are measured in pixels, and inches appear only when a tool applies a pixel density. To convert, divide the pixels by the pixels per inch (PPI) your tool uses. For example, 1080 x 1920 pixels is 15 x 26.67 inches at 72 PPI and 3.6 x 6.4 inches at 300 PPI. Those are conversions, not Instagram figures.
Choosing a size
Pick the shape that fits the footage. A reel shot upright works as 9:16. Footage shot sideways is also inside the range: 16:9 is about 1.78:1, which is narrower than the 1.91:1 limit. For feed photos and carousels, which follow a different range, see the Instagram post size guide. For another vertical video platform, see the TikTok video size guide. If your footage is the wrong shape, see how to change a video's aspect ratio. You can also browse all social media size guides.
Sources and last check
The figures on this page come from these pages, read on October 19, 2026:
- Reel size & aspect ratios on Instagram (Instagram Help Center)
- Record a reel on Instagram (Instagram Help Center)
- Tips for uploading, recording and editing your Instagram story (Instagram Help Center)
- Image resolution of photos you share on Instagram (Instagram Help Center, source of the 566 pixel height at 1.91:1)
- Awareness Video ad specs on Instagram Reels (Meta Ads Guide, ads)
- Awareness Video ad specs on Instagram Stories (Meta Ads Guide, ads)
- Design requirements for Instagram Stories ads (Meta Business Help Center, ads)
- Best practices for aspect ratios (Meta Business Help Center, ads)
The other heights in the table are calculated from each ratio at 1080 pixels wide. Instagram can change its limits, so check its Help Center if a figure matters to you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best size for an Instagram Reel?
A vertical 9:16 video. At 1080 pixels wide that is 1080 x 1920. Instagram does not name one required size. It accepts ratios from 1.91:1 to 9:16, with a minimum of 30 FPS and 720 pixels.
Is 1080 x 1920 the official Instagram Reel size?
Not as a stated reel requirement. Instagram's reel page lists no width or height. 1080 x 1920 is the 9:16 shape at a width of 1080 pixels, and 9:16 is the tallest ratio Instagram accepts for reels.
What aspect ratio is an Instagram Reel?
Anything from 1.91:1 to 9:16. The 9:16 end is the tallest vertical shape, and 1.91:1 is the widest.
Can an Instagram Reel be horizontal?
Instagram accepts ratios as wide as 1.91:1, so a 16:9 video (about 1.78:1) is inside that range and can be uploaded. Instagram's Help Center does not describe how a wider video is displayed.
How long can an Instagram Reel be?
Instagram's page for recording a reel says you can record and edit videos up to 20 minutes. Reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences.
What size is a reel cover photo?
Instagram recommends 420 by 654 pixels, a ratio of 1:1.55, as a png or jpg file. You can't edit the cover after you upload.
What is the maximum file size for an Instagram Reel?
Instagram does not publish one for reels. Meta lists 4 GB for Reels ads.
What is the Instagram Story size in pixels?
Instagram's Help Center does not list a pixel size for stories. Meta's ad pages recommend 1080 x 1920 (minimum 600 x 1067) on one page and 1440 x 2560 on another, and both are ad specifications.
What is the Instagram Story size in inches?
Instagram does not publish one. Its sizes are given in pixels and aspect ratios. At 72 PPI, 1080 x 1920 pixels is 15 x 26.67 inches.