Instagram highlight covers are the circular icons that appear on your profile, representing your saved Story collections. They’re one of the most visible design elements on your page — and yet most people leave them as random Story thumbnails. Custom covers make your profile look polished, cohesive, and professional.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to create Instagram highlight covers from scratch (or use free templates), how to add them to your profile, and design best practices that make your page look great at a glance.
What Are Instagram Highlight Covers?
When you save a Story to a Highlight on your profile, Instagram automatically uses the first frame of that Story as the cover. But you can change it to any image — including a custom-designed icon. Highlight covers appear as small circles (110 x 110 pixels) just below your bio, making them one of the first things visitors notice.
Brands and creators use custom covers to organize their content visually — for example, using matching icon sets in their brand colors for highlights labeled “Products,” “Reviews,” “Behind the Scenes,” and “FAQ.”
How to Design Instagram Highlight Covers
You don’t need to be a designer to create great covers. Here are the easiest tools:
Canva (free): Search “Instagram Highlight Cover” in Canva and you’ll find hundreds of free templates. Choose one, customize the icon and colors to match your brand, and download each cover as a PNG.
Adobe Express (free): Similar to Canva with professional-quality templates. Great for more refined brand aesthetics.
Over / Unfold: Mobile apps with beautiful minimalist templates popular with lifestyle creators.
Best dimensions: Design at 1080 x 1920 pixels (standard Story size). The cover icon will be cropped to a circle, so center your icon in the middle of the canvas with plenty of padding.
Free Instagram Highlight Cover Templates
Here are the most popular styles of highlight covers right now:
- Minimalist line icons: Simple white or black line-art icons on a solid color background. Clean and works for any niche.
- Pastel aesthetic: Soft-toned backgrounds with matching icons. Popular with lifestyle, beauty, and wellness accounts.
- Bold graphic: Strong colors, bold typography. Works well for business and professional accounts.
- Branded color palette: Your exact brand colors as backgrounds with white icons. The most professional option for businesses.
- Photo covers: Real photos cropped to circle — works well when your highlights feature specific products or locations.
You can find free sets searching “Instagram highlight covers free” on Pinterest, Canva, and Etsy (many creators offer free bundles).
How to Add a Highlight Cover to Your Instagram Profile
Once you’ve created your cover images, here’s how to add them:
For a new Highlight:
- Go to your profile and tap the + circle under your bio (labeled “New”).
- Select the Stories you want to include.
- Tap Next, then tap Edit Cover.
- Tap the image icon to upload your custom cover from your gallery.
- Name your Highlight and tap Add.
For an existing Highlight:
- Long-press the Highlight circle on your profile.
- Tap Edit Highlight.
- Tap Edit Cover and upload your new image.
- Tap Done.
Instagram Highlight Cover Design Tips
Keep it consistent: Use the same style, color palette, and icon weight across all your covers. Inconsistency looks messy and unprofessional.
Limit your highlights: Instagram shows your most recent highlights first. Keep your most important ones to the left by creating or updating them last.
Use meaningful labels: Short, clear names like “FAQ,” “Shop,” “Reviews,” and “About” convert better than vague names.
Update seasonally: Refreshing your highlight covers periodically keeps your profile looking current and can re-engage returning visitors.
Once your profile looks polished, the next step is consistent posting. Floworah’s content scheduling lets you plan weeks of Stories, posts, and Reels in one sitting — so your great-looking profile is always backed by fresh content.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size should Instagram highlight covers be?
Design your cover at 1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16 ratio, standard Story size). The visible area will be cropped to a 110 x 110 pixel circle, so keep your main design element centered with plenty of surrounding space.
Can I change a highlight cover without losing the stories?
Yes. Changing your highlight cover doesn’t affect the Stories inside. Long-press the highlight → Edit Highlight → Edit Cover → upload a new image → Done.
Why can’t I upload a highlight cover from my gallery?
Make sure Instagram has permission to access your photos in your phone’s settings. Also try updating the app if the upload button isn’t responding.
Do highlight covers affect Instagram reach or the algorithm?
Not directly. Highlight covers are a profile design element and don’t interact with the content algorithm. But a polished profile does improve conversion — more visitors become followers when your page looks professional.
How many Instagram Highlights can I have?
There’s no official limit on the number of Highlights you can create. However, only the first few are visible without scrolling, so prioritize your most important ones.
Profile looking great? Now let’s fill it with consistent, scheduled content. Try Floworah free for 7 days — plan and schedule your Instagram posts, Stories, and Reels without the daily scramble. No credit card required.