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The complete guide to perfect Story dimensions, safe zones, and video specs for 2026.
Quick Answer
Instagram Story size: 1080 x 1920 pixels, 9:16 aspect ratio. This vertical format fills the entire phone screen. Keep text away from top and bottom edges.
Resolution
Full HD vertical
1080 x 1920 px
Aspect Ratio
Standard vertical format
9:16
File Types (Photo)
PNG for graphics
JPG, PNG
File Types (Video)
H.264 codec
MP4, MOV
Max Photo Size
Smaller loads faster
30MB
Max Video Size
250MB recommended
4GB
Video Length
15s segments auto-split
Up to 60s
Frame Rate
Up to 60 fps supported
30 fps
Pro tip: Instagram's UI covers the top and bottom of Stories. Keep important text and visuals in the center 1400px to ensure nothing gets hidden.
Top
Your username and profile picture
~250px
Bottom
Reply bar, swipe up, stickers
~270px
Sides
Edge cropping on some devices
~50px
| Format | Size | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Stories | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 |
| Reels | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 |
| Feed Post | 1080 x 1350 | 4:5 |
| Square Post | 1080 x 1080 | 1:1 |
Creating better Stories?
Great Stories get views. Track who's engaging with your content and who unfollowed after seeing your Stories.
Check your followersInstagram Stories should be 1080 x 1920 pixels with a 9:16 aspect ratio. This is the standard vertical full-screen format that fills the entire screen on mobile devices. Always create content in portrait orientation.
If your image is too small, Instagram will stretch it, making it blurry. If it's the wrong aspect ratio, Instagram will crop it or add colored bars. Non-vertical content won't fill the screen and looks less professional.
Yes, but they won't look great. Landscape (horizontal) photos will have large blank areas above and below. Instagram may fill these with a blurred version of your image or a solid color. For best results, crop to 9:16 or use a creative workaround.
Instagram Story videos can be up to 60 seconds. Longer videos are automatically split into 15-second segments. Each segment becomes a separate Story that plays consecutively. For smooth playback, keep videos under 15 seconds when possible.
Keep important content away from the top 250px (username overlay), bottom 270px (reply bar, stickers), and 50px from the sides. The center 1400px vertically is your safe zone. This ensures text and key elements aren't covered by Instagram's UI.
Yes, Instagram compresses all uploaded content. To minimize quality loss: upload at exactly 1080x1920, use H.264 codec for videos, keep file sizes reasonable, and ensure good lighting. High-contrast images compress better than low-light ones.
Use MP4 with H.264 codec for best compatibility and quality. Recommended settings: 1080x1920 resolution, 30fps frame rate, and bitrate around 3500 kbps. MOV files work but may take longer to process.
Not directly as uploads, but you can add GIFs via Instagram's built-in sticker menu (GIPHY integration). For custom animations, export as MP4 video instead of GIF format. Instagram doesn't support GIF file uploads.