Want more polished Instagram content? Find the latest Instagram post sizes and ad sizes inside to keep things sharp, effective, and perfectly optimized.
When your image and video sizes are spot-on, everything fits like a glove and looks sharp. Luckily, we've done all the measuring, so you don't have to lift a finger. In this comprehensive guide, you will find the essential Instagram post sizes for 2026 to ensure that your organic content — and your ads — are optimized perfectly. And once you've nailed your sizing, don't forget that timing matters too—check out our guide on the best time to post on Instagram to maximize your reach.
Let's start with a quick snapshot of the best image dimensions for your Instagram posts. I recommend that you download and save this handy cheat sheet 😉
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Instagram Organic Post Sizes
This is the breakdown for each recommended size so your posts fit perfectly—no awkward cropping, no low-res images, just content that looks great.
Quick format note: Instagram accepts JPG or PNG for photos, and MP4 or MOV for video content.
Instagram Organic feed image size
Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
Landscape: 1080 x 566 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio)
Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels (4:5 aspect ratio)
Images are the heart of Instagram, making it the perfect platform to leverage images for maximum impact in your social media advertising strategy. Want to turn these perfectly sized posts into high-performing ads? Learn everything about Instagram ads to get started.
Instagram Organic carousel image size
Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
Landscape: 1080 x 566 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio)
Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels (4:5 aspect ratio)
Instagram carousel images allow you to share multiple photos within a single post, providing a dynamic and engaging way to tell a story or highlight different aspects of your content. This format is perfect for showcasing product collections, step-by-step guides, or event highlights. For e-commerce brands, carousels work brilliantly with your Instagram Shop to display multiple product angles or features.
Adding up to 20 images per carousel can create a richer, more detailed experience for your audience, encouraging them to swipe through and interact with your post.
Heads up: Instagram now shows a 3:4 preview crop in your profile grid (instead of the old square crop), even though your actual posted image still uses the dimensions above. Keep key content centered in your image so nothing important gets cut off in the grid view.
Instagram Organic Stories image size
Vertical: 1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio)
Instagram Stories images offer a unique and engaging way to connect with your audience through ephemeral content. These vertical images disappear after 24 hours, creating a sense of urgency and exclusivity. They're perfect for sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses, limited-time offers, or quick updates.
With interactive features like polls, questions, and swipe-up links (available with an Instagram business account), Stories images capture attention and encourage direct interaction and engagement from your followers. Use this format to create a sense of immediacy and foster a more personal connection with your audience.
Instagram Organic photo thumbnail size
Carousels
Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
Landscape: 1080 x 566 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio)
Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels (4:5 aspect ratio)
Reels
Thumbnail: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
Cover image: 1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio)
Thumbnails are super important on Instagram because they're the first thing people see when scrolling through their feed or checking out your profile. A great thumbnail can grab attention and make your content stand out, whether an image, video, or carousel. Think of it as your content's "front cover"—it needs to be eye-catching and preview what's inside.
A solid thumbnail draws people in and keeps your brand looking sharp and consistent. It's all about making a great first impression and getting more eyes on your posts. Consistently compelling thumbnails also play a crucial role in growing your Instagram followers by making your profile grid visually appealing.
How thumbnails are chosen:
Feed posts: For single image or video posts, Instagram automatically generates a thumbnail from the main content. You don't need to upload it manually.
Carousel posts: A carousel's first image or video serves as the thumbnail for the entire carousel.
Reels: When you upload a Reel, you can choose a cover image, which acts as the thumbnail. This cover image appears in your profile grid and the Reels tab.
Organic Instagram post video sizes
Videos are a powerful way to engage your audience on Instagram, offering a dynamic alternative to static images. However, they often demand a bigger creative production budget than static images.
Instagram Organic feed video size
Square: Aspect ratio of 1:1 and dimensions of 1080 px by 1080 px
Horizontal: Aspect ratio of 1.9:1 or 16:9 and dimensions of 1080 px by 607 px
Portrait: Aspect ratio of 4:5 and dimensions of 1080 px by 1350 px
Instagram feed videos are a fantastic way to capture attention with motion and sound, making your content more engaging and memorable. Whether showcasing a product, telling a story, or sharing behind-the-scenes moments, feed videos can significantly boost your reach and engagement.
This creative format lets you connect with your audience more personally and vibrantly, making your posts stand out in their feed.
Instagram Organic carousel video size
Square: Aspect ratio of 1:1 and dimensions of 1080 px by 1080 px
Horizontal: Aspect ratio of 1.9:1 or 16:9 and dimensions of 1080 px by 607 px
Portrait: Aspect ratio of 4:5 and dimensions of 1080 px by 1350 px
Instagram carousel video posts are an excellent way to showcase multiple products or features within a single post. You can create a dynamic, swipeable experience that captures your audience's attention and keeps them engaged.
Each carousel can include a minimum of 2 cards and a maximum of 20 cards, allowing you to mix videos with images to tell a story or display a variety of content in one post. This format is ideal for highlighting different aspects of your product and encouraging interaction from your followers. Ensuring that the designs for the cards are cohesive and flow well together will keep your audience hooked.
Instagram Organic Stories video size
Full-screen size: 1080 px by 1920 px (9:16 aspect ratio)
These videos fill the entire screen, creating an immersive and engaging experience for viewers. This format is perfect for capturing attention with vertical videos that fit seamlessly into the natural way people hold their phones.
Whether you're sharing behind-the-scenes content, product showcases, or special announcements, ensure that your videos meet these specifications to look crisp and professional.
Instagram Organic Reels video size
Vertical: Use 1080 px by 1920 px (9:16 aspect ratio), similar to Instagram Stories.
Instagram Reels video captivates your audience with short, engaging clips. With a length of up to 90 seconds and a vertical format perfect for mobile viewing, Reels are for quick consumption. This format lets you showcase your creativity through entertaining snippets, educational content, or viral trends.
Reels also offer potent tools like music, AR effects, and text overlays, helping you craft visually appealing and interactive videos. Leveraging Reels can significantly boost your reach and engagement, making your content discoverable to a broader audience through the Explore page. However, it's essential to do creative testing to see which resonates best with your audience to maximize your Reels' impact.
While Reels demand more creative effort than static posts, their ability to spread rapidly and significantly expand your content reach makes them a crucial element of your creative strategy.
Interesting read: How to pause Instagram Reels
Instagram Organic profile picture size
The recommended Instagram profile picture size is 110 x 110 pixels, creating a perfect square. This size works well when viewed on a mobile app. However, I recommend uploading a larger profile picture with dimensions of 180 x 180 pixels for web browsers to ensure clarity and quality.
Instagram Ad Sizes
Good news: if you've already sized your organic content using the specs above, you're most of the way there. Instagram ad dimensions mirror the organic post sizes for each placement, so the same creative that works as a feed post or Story will generally work as an ad too, no extra resizing needed.
Instagram feed ad size
Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
Landscape: 1080 x 566 pixels (1.91:1 aspect ratio)
Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels (4:5 aspect ratio)
Feed ads run right alongside organic posts in people's feeds, so matching these dimensions exactly keeps your creative sharp and prevents Meta from cropping anything awkwardly.
Instagram Story ad size
Vertical: 1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio)
Story ads take over the full screen between people's Stories, so vertical, full-bleed creative works best here. Keep key text and logos away from the very top and bottom of the frame, since profile info and CTA buttons overlay those areas.
Instagram Reels ad size
Vertical: 1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio)
Reels ads slot in between organic Reels content, so they perform best when they feel native, fast-paced, sound-on, and vertical, rather than looking like a repurposed feed video.
🛎️ BONUS: If you're advertising across all Meta platforms, check out the full rundown of Facebook ad sizes and specs. For organic Facebook post sizes, read our guide.
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