This post should have been called “The Reel Deal” because it has all the details that you need to properly format your Instagram Reels. This cheatsheet is all you need to know about the sizes and specifications of Instagram Reels.
Below are specs, ratios and formatting tips. Everything you need to make your Instagram Reels look great.
(Psst. : If you need to refresh your knowledge on Instagram’s latest content format, before you dive into the numbers, check out our beginner-friendly guide for Instagram Reels here or our Instagram Reels editor primer here.
Bonus Get the 10-Day Reels Challenge for free. is a daily workbook with creative prompts that will get you started with Instagram Reels and help you track your growth. You can also see results across all your Instagram accounts.
Why are Instagram Reel sizes important?
You should make sure your Instagram Reel looks as good as possible if you are going to spend the time to create it.
You’ve spent weeks training the company mascot in the latest Doja Cat dance moves and picking the best Instagram Reels hashtags. You don’t want to ruin this master-stroke in marketing by making a silly formatting error.
Uploading images or videos in the wrong dimensions or proportions can lead to a variety of undesirable outcomes. It could also get stretched or distorted. Too large? An awkward crop could occur. Upload low-resolution media and you run the risk of a pixelated final product when it’s enlarged to fill the screen.
These aren’t the end of the universe. They don’t make a lasting impression on your brand, unless you want to portray “unprofessional slopster”
Even if the content of the Reel is an Oscar-worthy performance (as, I assume, your Doja-Cat-mascot-dance is), a weirdly stretched frame is going to take the viewer out of the moment… and probably on to the next video (which, I assume, is your competitor’s dancing-mascot video).
Another reason to be concerned about Instagram Reel sizes is that the Instagram Reels algorithm favors videos with high-quality visuals. You will have the best chance of your masterpiece reaching the world if you use the correct Instagram Reels sizes to edit and upload your video.
Instagram Reel Sizes 2022
These are the Instagram Reel sizes 2022. But make sure you bookmark this page and return frequently for the most current information. Because Instagram Reels, like all other social media dimensions aren’t fixed in stone forever, the sizes of Instagram Reels don’t always match up.
These dimensions and sizes will change as Instagram updates. Keep your eyes peeled for any changes.
Instagram Cover Size: 1080 pixels by 1920 pixels
Aspect Ratio: 9/16
Recommended upload size 1080 pixels by 1920 pixels
We have very little control over the world. The cover photo for your Instagram Reel is one thing we can control.
Here’s how you choose your Instagram Reel cover.
- Make an Instagram reel and hit “next.”
- Now, you are in the Share settings. Tap on the preview (the one that says “cover”)
- To add a frame to your video, tap “add from the camera roll” to create your photo album.
- You can crop the image. Tap “crop profile picture” on the Share settings screen. You can then reposition, zoom in or out.
Instagram Reel thumbnail Size: 1080 pixels by 1080 pixels
Aspect Ratio: 1:1
Display size 1080 pixels x 1080 pixels
Recommended upload size 1080 pixels by 1920 pixels
Once you have chosen the perfect image to cover your Instagram Reels, (see the tip above!) You can crop the image to create a grid-worthy thumbnail that you can use for your main feed.
The cover has a 9 to16 proportion. However, the thumbnail on your feed will be a 1:1_ square.
For best results, choose an image that is 1080 pixels by 1920 pixels. However, it must have a 1080pixel x 1080pixel area that can be cropped down to.
Reel Size on Instagram: 1080 pixels by 1920 pixels
Full-screen mode: 9/16
Aspect ratio in Instagram feed: 4:5
Recommended upload size 1080 pixels by 1920 pixels
Keep in mind that the aspect ratio of your Instagram Reel changes depending on where it is being viewed.
It’s a 9 to16 ratio if viewed in full screen. However, if someone happens to see your video in their newsfeed they’ll crop it to 4 to 5, which means that about a third is removed.
You want every viewer to have a great experience. Make sure that the most important elements of your video remain in the center of the frame. Don’t leave them around the edges.
You should also avoid displaying important content at the edges of your screen when viewing the reel in full-screen mode.
Another tip: Reels are the exact same size as Instagram Stories. This is useful for branding collateral. Or you can use these free Instagram Stories design templates.
Instagram Reels compression size
Instagram will scale down any image that is more than 1080 pixels in width to 1080 pixels.
Images and videos must be at least 320 pixels wide. If you upload something smaller, it can be automatically resized to 320 pixels.
Any image between 320 and 1080 pixels in width will retain its original resolution “as long the photo’s aspect ratio between 1.91:1 to 4:5.” (Other ratios may be cropped to accommodate the supported ratio).
Instagram Reels size in pixels: 1080 pixels x 1920 pixels
Instagram Reels can be viewed vertically, so videos and photos should be 1080 pixels in width and 1920 pixels high (an aspect ratio of 9:16).
Instagram Reels size: 9:16
Instagram Reels is best viewed in full-screen mode. The frame has a 9 to 16 ratio.
However, if someone is viewing your Reel on their main feed, the video will be cropped to a ratio 4:5. This is two-thirds the size of a full screen viewing experience. Keep important imagery and information out of the edges.
Instagram Reel frame size: 1080 pixels x 1920 pixels
Make sure your Instagram Reel is properly proportioned to avoid it being stretched or cropped. Upload images and photos that measure 1080 pixels in width by 1920 pixels in height
Instagram users will see your Reels in a different frame size. Instagram will crop your Reel to a 4/5 ratio.
Another important piece of information: The bottom of a reel is where you will find your captions and comments. It’s best to keep any visual information at the bottom of the screen.
Instagram Reels length : Up to 60 seconds
Instagram Reels can now last up to 60 seconds. This can be a continuous video or a series of images and clips that last up to 60 seconds.
However, shorter videos tend to get more engagement so keep it short and sweet!
Instagram Reels caption length: 2,200 characters
To describe your Instagram reel, you can type a caption of up to 2200 characters (including spaces)
Make sure to save some characters for your Instagram Reels hashtags.
That’s all from us. All the Instagram Reels measurements are here so you can make sure your content looks great. These are the best practices recommended by Instagram! Your videos will soon be at the top of the Explore pages.
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The post 2022 Instagram Sizes Cheat Sheet: Specs and Ratios appeared first on Social Media Marketing & Management dashboard.
