Instagram Reels Size, Length and Aspect Ratio Guide

If you create Reels, getting the technical settings right makes the difference between a crisp, full-screen video and a blurry one with cropped text. Instagram can change its limits from time to time, so always check the in-app editor for the latest numbers, but the guidelines below are reliable starting points.

Recommended aspect ratio and resolution

• Aspect ratio: 9:16 (vertical).
• Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels.
• Minimum: avoid uploading below 720 pixels wide, because Instagram will upscale it and it will look soft.

Horizontal videos can be uploaded, but they appear as a small strip in the middle of a vertical screen with black or blurred bars. For the best effect, shoot vertically or crop and reframe in your editor.

Video length

Reels have been extended several times and currently allow up to a few minutes. Shorter clips tend to hold attention best, especially for entertainment content. As a rule of thumb: 7 to 15 seconds for loops and trends, 15 to 30 seconds for quick tips, and 30 to 90 seconds for tutorials and storytelling. Longer content works if every second earns its place.

File format and encoding

• Container: MP4 or MOV.
• Video codec: H.264 is the safest choice. HEVC (H.265) works on many phones but can cause problems on some devices.
• Frame rate: 30 frames per second is standard. 24 and 60 also work.
• Audio: AAC, stereo, 128 kbps or higher.
• File size: keep it comfortably below a few hundred megabytes to speed up uploading.

Instagram recompresses everything you upload. Starting with a clean, well-lit, stable source file gives the compression the best material to work with.

Safe zones: keep text where it is visible

The app covers part of the screen with the username, caption, buttons and audio label. To avoid important content being hidden:

• Leave about 250 pixels of empty space at the bottom of a 1920-pixel-tall frame.
• Leave about 150 pixels at the top.
• Keep roughly 100 pixels clear on the right side, where the like, comment and share buttons sit.

Place subtitles slightly above the lower third rather than at the very bottom.

Cover image

Your Reel's cover appears on your profile grid. Profile grids are shown at 3:4 on current versions, so keep the main subject and any title text in the centre of the cover and test how it looks in the grid preview before posting.

Tips for sharper quality

1. Record in good light. Noise and grain are the first things compression destroys.
2. Turn on high-quality upload. In Instagram settings, look for the media quality or data usage option and enable the highest upload quality.
3. Avoid repeated re-exports. Each export from an app or editor loses quality. Edit once and upload.
4. Use a stable camera. Shaky footage compresses poorly. A small tripod or gimbal helps.
5. Clean your lens. A smudged lens makes every frame hazy.

Audio and music

Using tracks from Instagram's music library keeps you within licensing rules for personal and many creator accounts. Business accounts often have a more limited music selection because of commercial licensing. Adding your own voiceover or original audio avoids many problems.

Sizes for other formats

• Stories: 1080 x 1920 (9:16).
• Feed portrait: 1080 x 1350 (4:5).
• Feed square: 1080 x 1080 (1:1).

See also Reels vs Stories vs Posts for guidance on choosing a format.

Summary

Shoot or export in 9:16 at 1080 x 1920, use H.264 MP4 at 30 fps, keep important elements inside the safe zones, and give Instagram a clean source file. These simple habits make your Reels look professional on every device.