Instagram Post Size 2026: Every Dimension You Need
September 25, 2026 · 4 min read · By Wavnil
Key takeaways
- Feed posts: 1080 × 1350 px (4:5) is the safest choice; 1080 × 1440 px (3:4) is supported in the app since May 2025.
- Reels and Stories: 1080 × 1920 px (9:16).
- Since January 2025, the profile grid shows every post as a 3:4 rectangle, so keep your subject centred.
- Scheduling tools publish through Instagram's API: photos must be JPEG, up to 8 MB, between 4:5 and 1.91:1, so export 4:5 rather than 3:4.
The best Instagram post size in 2026 is 1080 × 1350 pixels (4:5 portrait) for feed posts and 1080 × 1920 pixels (9:16) for Reels and Stories. Instagram also accepts 3:4 portraits (1080 × 1440) since May 2025, squares (1080 × 1080) and landscape images up to 1080 × 566 (1.91:1).
If you design for Instagram, whether as a creator, a small business, a designer or a social media manager, bookmark this page: every dimension is here, including what changed with the 3:4 profile grid and the limits that apply when you schedule posts with a tool.
Instagram sizes at a glance
| Format | Size (pixels) | Aspect ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed post, portrait | 1080 × 1350 | 4:5 | Safest choice, also works in scheduling tools |
| Feed post, tall portrait | 1080 × 1440 | 3:4 | Supported in the app since May 2025 |
| Feed post, square | 1080 × 1080 | 1:1 | Cropped at the sides in the 3:4 grid |
| Feed post, landscape | 1080 × 566 | 1.91:1 | Widest ratio Instagram accepts |
| Carousel slide | 1080 × 1350 | 4:5 | First slide sets the ratio for all slides |
| Story | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 | Full-screen vertical |
| Reel | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 | Grid preview crops it to 3:4 |
| Profile photo | 320 × 320 minimum | 1:1 | Displayed in a circle |
Feed post sizes: portrait, square or landscape?
Instagram displays feed images at a width of 1080 pixels, so every recommended size starts there. The height depends on the ratio you choose:
- Portrait 4:5 (1080 × 1350): the standard for most accounts. It takes up more of the screen than a square, and it's the tallest ratio that scheduling tools can publish.
- Portrait 3:4 (1080 × 1440): the native ratio of most phone cameras. Since May 2025, Instagram shows 3:4 photos "exactly as you shot it", in the words of its announcement, instead of cropping them.
- Square 1:1 (1080 × 1080): still supported, but it now looks small next to portrait posts and gets trimmed in the profile grid.
- Landscape 1.91:1 (1080 × 566): useful for wide scenes, but it occupies the least space in the feed.
The 3:4 profile grid: what changed in 2025
Two changes reshaped Instagram sizes in 2025:
- January 2025: profile grid thumbnails switched from squares to 3:4 rectangles.
- May 28, 2025: Instagram added native support for 3:4 photos, for single posts and carousels (Social Media Today).
The consequence: whatever ratio you upload, your profile shows a 3:4 crop. A 4:5 post (1080 × 1350) loses about 34 pixels on each side in the grid preview; a square loses much more. Keep faces, text and logos away from the left and right edges so your grid still looks intentional.
Instagram carousel size
Carousels use the same sizes as single posts. Two rules matter:
- The first slide sets the ratio. According to Meta's developer documentation, all carousel images are cropped based on the first one. Export every slide at the same size, ideally 1080 × 1350.
- Up to 20 items in the app, 10 through tools. Instagram doubled the in-app limit from 10 to 20 photos and videos in August 2024 (MacRumors), but the API that scheduling tools use still caps carousels at 10.
For a seamless panorama, design one wide canvas (for example 3240 × 1350 for three slides) and slice it into 1080-pixel-wide pieces.
Instagram Story size
Stories fill the whole screen: 1080 × 1920 pixels (9:16). Instagram overlays your profile name at the top and the reply bar at the bottom, so keep key text and buttons away from those edges. Video Stories published through the API can last up to 60 seconds each.
Instagram Reels size
Reels also use 1080 × 1920 pixels (9:16). Your cover image can be full-screen, but the profile grid shows it as a 3:4 crop (about 1080 × 1440 from the centre), so place titles in the middle of the frame.
For length limits and how Reels compare with TikTok and YouTube Shorts, see how long Reels, TikToks and Shorts can be.
Instagram profile picture size
Upload a square image of at least 320 × 320 pixels. It's displayed as a circle, so centre your logo or face and leave some margin around it. LinkedIn asks for at least 400 × 400 pixels, plus a wide banner: see our guide to the LinkedIn banner size.
Sizes that work when you schedule posts
Scheduling tools, Wavnil included, publish through Instagram's official API, which has its own requirements (Meta for Developers):
- Photos: JPEG only, up to 8 MB, width between 320 and 1440 pixels, aspect ratio between 4:5 and 1.91:1. A 3:4 photo is taller than 4:5, so it's outside this range: export 1080 × 1350 instead.
- Carousels: up to 10 images or videos.
- Reels: MP4 or MOV, 3 seconds to 15 minutes, up to 300 MB, 9:16 recommended.
- Stories (video): 3 to 60 seconds, up to 100 MB.
- Volume: up to 100 API-published posts per 24 hours per account (a carousel counts as one).
With these specs, you can prepare a week of posts in one go and schedule them in Wavnil, then publish at the best times for your audience.
Instagram size checklist
Design feed posts at 1080 × 1350, Reels and Stories at 1080 × 1920, keep your subject centred for the 3:4 grid, and export JPEGs under 8 MB when you schedule. Want to plan your Instagram a week ahead? Try Wavnil free for 7 days.
Sources
- Social Media Today, Instagram Adds Native Support for 3:4 Images, May 28, 2025.
- Meta for Developers, Instagram Platform: IG User Media reference and Content Publishing.
- MacRumors, Instagram Now Allows Up to 20 Photos and Videos for Carousel Posts, August 8, 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What size is an Instagram post in 2026?
The recommended size for a feed post is 1080 × 1350 pixels, a 4:5 portrait. Instagram also accepts 3:4 portraits (1080 × 1440), squares (1080 × 1080) and landscapes up to 1.91:1 (1080 × 566). Portrait formats take up the most space in the feed, which is why they're the usual choice.
What is the new Instagram post size?
Since May 28, 2025, Instagram supports 3:4 photos (1080 × 1440 pixels), the ratio most phone cameras shoot in, for single posts and carousels. It follows the January 2025 change that turned profile grid thumbnails into 3:4 rectangles instead of squares.
What size is an Instagram carousel?
Use the same sizes as single posts, ideally 1080 × 1350 pixels for every slide. The first slide sets the ratio for the whole carousel. You can add up to 20 photos or videos in the Instagram app, but scheduling tools are limited to 10 per carousel by Instagram's API.
Can I post a 16:9 photo on Instagram?
Yes. A 16:9 image is within Instagram's landscape range, which goes up to 1.91:1. It will display in full in the feed but look small on phones, and the profile grid will crop it to a 3:4 thumbnail, cutting off both sides. Portrait formats usually perform better.