Getting your Instagram post dimensions exactly right affects how your content looks in the feed, on profiles, and in Explore — and the wrong size can mean cropped faces, cut-off text, or a blurry image. Here are the exact dimensions for every Instagram post format in 2026.
Instagram Post Dimensions 2026: Quick Reference
- Square post: 1080 x 1080 px (1:1 ratio)
- Portrait post (recommended): 1080 x 1350 px (4:5 ratio)
- Landscape post: 1080 x 566 px (1.91:1 ratio)
- Story / Reel: 1080 x 1920 px (9:16 ratio)
- Carousel: Same as above per slide (square or portrait recommended)
- Profile photo: 320 x 320 px (displays as circle)
Which Instagram Post Size Gets the Most Reach?
Portrait (4:5) is the recommended format for most feed posts. Here’s why: a portrait post takes up more vertical screen space than a square or landscape — approximately 20% more screen real estate. More space means more time in a viewer’s field of vision as they scroll, which translates to more attention and, typically, higher engagement.
Instagram displays portrait posts at 1080 x 1350 px in the feed but crops profile grid thumbnails to a square (1080 x 1080 px center crop). Design your portrait posts with important elements centered to ensure they look good in both views.
Instagram Carousel Dimensions
Carousel slides should all be the same dimensions for a consistent look. Recommended: 1080 x 1080 px (square) or 1080 x 1350 px (portrait). Each slide is a separate image or video. Maximum 10 slides per carousel. Square carousels are most reliable across devices — portrait carousels sometimes show navigation arrows awkwardly on certain screen sizes.
Instagram Video Post Dimensions
- Feed video: 1080 x 1080 px (square) or 1080 x 1350 px (portrait). Up to 60 minutes, 4 GB max file size.
- Reels: 1080 x 1920 px (9:16 vertical). Up to 3 minutes.
- Story video: 1080 x 1920 px (9:16 vertical). Up to 60 seconds per clip.
How to Design at the Right Instagram Dimensions
Canva: Select “Instagram Post” for square (1080 x 1080 px) or use “Instagram Post (Portrait)” for 4:5. Canva’s templates are pre-sized — just pick the right template and design away.
Adobe Photoshop: New document → set Width to 1080 px, Height to 1080 (square), 1350 (portrait), or 1920 (Story/Reel). Resolution: 72 DPI for digital output. Color mode: RGB.
Phone camera: Shooting natively on your phone produces properly-sized images. Square mode on most cameras outputs at 12MP+ (far above Instagram’s minimum). For Stories and Reels, use portrait orientation.
Common Instagram Image Mistakes
Uploading landscape images for feed posts: Instagram letterboxes landscape images with white or black bars, which looks amateurish. Always design for square or portrait.
Placing text too close to edges: Safe zones matter — keep important text and design elements at least 100px from any edge to account for variations in feed display across devices.
Low resolution images: Instagram compresses uploaded images. Start at 1080px width minimum — never upload below this or Instagram will upscale and the result will be blurry.
Schedule your perfectly-sized posts in advance with Floworah — preview your content in the feed before it goes live and ensure your grid always looks intentional.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best image size for Instagram posts in 2026?
1080 x 1350 px (4:5 portrait) for maximum feed real estate and engagement. 1080 x 1080 px (square) for carousels and content designed to be viewed equally in-feed and on the profile grid.
Does Instagram resize images?
Yes — Instagram resizes any uploaded image to fit within its display dimensions (max 1080px wide) and compresses it to reduce file size. Always upload at 1080px width for best quality.
Can I post a horizontal photo on Instagram?
Yes — Instagram supports landscape (1.91:1) images, but they display smaller in the feed than portrait or square images. For best engagement, avoid landscape for feed posts.
What file format should I use for Instagram posts?
JPG for photos (smallest file size, best quality balance). PNG for graphics with transparency or text-heavy designs. MP4 (H.264 codec) for videos.
Design great — then schedule it automatically. Try Floworah free for 7 days — preview your Instagram grid and schedule posts at the perfect size and time. No credit card required.