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4 sizes

Instagram Image Sizes

Instagram uses different aspect ratios for the feed, Stories, Reels, and the profile grid. Uploading at the exact spec keeps Instagram from re-cropping or aggressively re-compressing your image.

All Instagram sizes

Post

1080×10801:1

Story

1080×19209:16

Portrait

1080×13504:5

Landscape

1080×5661.91:1

Instagram image strategy

Instagram prefers 1080px on the short edge. Anything larger gets downscaled and re-encoded; anything smaller gets upscaled with visible softness. Upload at the platform-recommended size to skip the worst of the second-pass compression. The feed shows three aspect ratios: square (1:1), portrait (4:5), and landscape (1.91:1). Portrait (1080×1350) takes the most vertical space in the feed and almost always outperforms square or landscape posts for reach. Stories and Reels share 1080×1920 (9:16). Leave roughly 250px of empty space at the top and bottom for the Instagram UI overlay (your username, stickers, swipe-up bar). Anything in the top or bottom band gets covered. Profile pictures display at 110×110 in most places but should be uploaded at 320×320 or larger so the platform has good source data for the circular crop. Centre the subject — Instagram crops to a circle that drops the corners. JPEG quality matters less than you think on Instagram because the platform re-encodes everything anyway. Export at 90-95% quality (not 100%) — you save file size without visible quality loss after the second pass.

Quick reference

AssetDimensionsRatio
Post1080×10801:1Open
Story1080×19209:16Open
Portrait1080×13504:5Open
Landscape1080×5661.91:1Open

Instagram sizing FAQ

What is the best Instagram post size in 2026?▼

Portrait 1080×1350 (4:5) takes the most vertical real estate in the feed and gets the highest reach. Square 1080×1080 is still the fallback default. Avoid landscape unless you have a specific reason — it gets the least feed space.

What size are Instagram Stories?▼

Instagram Stories are 1080×1920 pixels (9:16 vertical). The same dimensions are used for Reels and IGTV cover frames. Keep important content in the centre 80% — the top and bottom get covered by UI elements.

Why does my Instagram photo look blurry after uploading?▼

Either your source was below 1080px on the short edge (Instagram upscaled it), or you uploaded over Wi-Fi using mobile data-saver settings. Re-upload at exactly the recommended dimensions on Wi-Fi with high-quality upload enabled in Settings → Account → Cellular Data Use.

What aspect ratio gets the most Instagram engagement?▼

Portrait 4:5 (1080×1350) consistently outperforms 1:1 and 1.91:1 for reach because it occupies more vertical screen space on mobile. Carousels — multiple portrait images in a single post — extend that advantage further.

Should I use Instagram's in-app editing or pre-edit my photos?▼

Pre-edit. Instagram's in-app filters and adjustments are applied after the platform's upload compression, so they look worse than if you adjust before uploading. Use ImageWand to resize, colour-correct, and crop to the exact aspect ratio before sharing.

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