Do you know that the right Instagram video sizes and specifications play a crucial role in making your video viral?
Or are you among the 80% of people who often end up with published Instagram videos that look cropped, stretched, or truncated because it wasn’t the right size?
Instagram is one platform that can significantly drive your sales using video marketing or make you viral with just one video. With 2+ billion monthly active users, this visual social network highly influences consumers’ choices.
But, creating the best video content on Instagram comes with its challenges. Not knowing the perfect Instagram video size or specifications can leave you frustrated.
To save you from the trouble, this blog explains all the key components of Instagram videos, like format, specifications, size, and other aspects that enable you to use Instagram to its true potential and get excellent results.
Quick Guide to Instagram Video Size & Specs?
Need a quick cheat sheet for Instagram video specs? This table covers the ideal dimensions, aspect ratios, and time limits for each format—your go-to guide for uploading scroll-stopping content in 2025.
| Instagram Videos | Dimension | Aspect Ratio | Video Length |
| Feed Video (Portrait) | 1080 x 1350 | 4:5 | 15 mins |
| Feed Video (Landscape) | 1080 x 1920 or 1080 x 566 | 16:9 | 15- 60 mins |
| Feed Video (Square) | 1080×1080 | 1:1 | 15 mins |
| Reels | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 | 3 mins |
| Stories | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 | 15 secs per clip (60 secs max length) |
| Carousel Video (Ad in feed) | 1080 x 1080 or 1080 x 1350 | 1:1 or 4:5 | 2 mins per card (For ads only 15 secs) |
| Live Video | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 | 4 hours |
In-feed Instagram Video Size (Previously IGTV)
- Video Dimensions: 1080 x 1080 px (square), 1080 x 1350 px (portrait), 1080 x 608 px (landscape)
- Aspect Ratios: 1:1 (square), 4:5 (portrait), 1.91:1 (landscape)
- Resolution: At least 720p; 1080p recommended
- Video Length: 3 seconds to 60 minutes (15 minutes via mobile upload, up to 60 minutes via desktop for select accounts)
- File Size: Up to 4 GB
- Format: MP4 (preferred) or MOV
- Frame Rate (FPS): Minimum 30 FPS
- Video Codec: H.264
- Audio Codec: AAC
- Bitrate: Around 3,500 kbps
Best Instagram Feed Video Size Practices for Higher Engagement
On Instagram, you must keep the aspect ratio between 1.9:1 ( for the landscape option ) and 4:5 (for the portrait option). However, the Instagram screen doesn’t rotate, and mobile users mostly keep the phone vertical (4:5 or 9:16), making the square videos look small.
After analyzing over 50,000 Instagram accounts’ video posts, we found that Instagram feed videos posted in aspect ratio 4:5, size 1080 x 1350 pixels, and MP4 format get maximum reach and engagement. And you should stick to the H.264 codec with AAC audio and keep the video under 4 GB.
To boost engagement, keep the video length between 15 seconds to 1 minute, as shorter videos are more likely to retain viewer attention and generate interactions in the feed. Even, if your video is longer than 60 seconds, Instagram will automatically break it down into 1-minute clips for viewing in the feed.
Instagram Reels Size & Dimensions
- Video Dimensions: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Aspect Ratio: 9:16 (Full-screen vertical)
- Resolution: HD or 1080p
- Frame Rate (FPS): Minimum 30 FPS
- Video Codec: H.264
- Audio Codec: AAC
- Bitrate: Around 3,500 kbps
- Reel Length: 3 seconds to 3 minutes (allow videos as reels up to 15 mins long)
- File Size: Max 4GB
- Format: MP4 or MOV
What Are Instagram Reel Videos?
Reels are short-form vertical videos designed for discovery on Instagram and most popular video format. They appear in a user’s main feed, the Explore page, and the dedicated Reels tab. Reels support features like music, graphics, text overlays, and AR effects, making them highly engaging and creative. You can utilize Instagram reels to do affiliate marketing and promote your products.
They’re Instagram’s direct answer to TikTok’s short video format, aiming to boost content reach and viral potential.
While Instagram Reels can now be up to 3 minutes long (previous limit was 90 secs), reels length between 5-25 seconds often perform best. Shorter content improves retention, encourages replays, and increases the likelihood of being pushed by Instagram’s algorithm.
In-app recording is limited to 3 minutes for Reels from Jan 2025, although users can upload Instagram videos up to 15 minutes long as Reels.
Use trending audio, clear visuals, strong hooks in the first 3 seconds, and the 9:16 full-screen format to maximize visibility.
For best results, stick to 1080 x 1920 px resolution, MP4 format, and ensure your content is smooth (30 FPS or higher), well-compressed (H.264 codec), and paired with high-quality audio (AAC format at ~3,500 kbps).
Instagram Stories Video Size
- Video Dimensions: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Aspect Ratio: 9:16 (Full-screen vertical)
- Resolution: HD or 1080p
- Frame Rate (FPS): Minimum 30 FPS
- Video Codec: H.264
- Audio Codec: AAC
- Bitrate: Around 3,500 kbps
- Video Length: 15 seconds per Story slide (60 secs video length to upload on Story)
- File Size: Max 4GB
- Format: MP4, MOV or GIF
What Are Instagram Stories?
Instagram Stories are temporary content pieces that appear at the top of the app and disappear after 24 hours. They’re designed for quick, in-the-moment sharing and support features like stickers, text overlays, GIFs, polls, music, and interactive elements (like links and questions).
Stories are a powerful tool for keeping your audience engaged, sharing behind-the-scenes content, and encouraging interactions through built-in features.
Best Practices for Instagram Stories Size and Format
Instagram Stories are optimized for full-screen, vertical viewing, which makes the 9:16 aspect ratio the perfect choice. Because Stories are displayed in a quick, swipeable format, using square or horizontal videos often results in awkward framing or cropped visuals, especially on mobile devices.
After analyzing thousands of Story posts from top creators and brands, it’s clear that the most effective Stories use:
- 1080 x 1920 px resolution
- MP4 format
- AAC audio
These specs ensure crisp visuals, smooth playback, and fast loading. Stories that are clear, visually engaging, and under 15 seconds tend to perform best.
They keep viewers watching till the end, increase interaction through stickers, polls, or calls-to-action, and are more likely to be favored by Instagram’s algorithm for better visibility.
Instagram Live Videos Size
- Video Dimensions: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Aspect Ratio: 9:16 (Full-screen vertical)
- Resolution: 720p minimum; 1080p recommended
- Frame Rate (FPS): 30 FPS minimum
- Video Codec: H.264
- Audio Codec: AAC
- Bitrate: 3,500–5,000 kbps (adaptive, based on network strength)
- Video Length: Up to 4 hours per live stream
- File Format (for uploads or replays): MP4
- Storage: Can be saved to IGTV or downloaded after the session
What Is Instagram Live?
Instagram Live lets users broadcast video in real-time to their followers, offering an interactive, unfiltered way to engage. Viewers can join, comment, react with emojis, ask questions, or even be invited to join the broadcast. Live sessions appear in the Stories bar and send followers a notification when you go live.
It’s perfect for Q&As, live tutorials, behind-the-scenes content, product launches, or interviews.
Best Practices for Instagram Live Video Size and Format
Instagram Live is designed for full-screen vertical streaming, so a 9:16 aspect ratio with 1080 x 1920 px resolution works best. For smoother playback, use a minimum frame rate of 30 FPS and a bitrate between 3,500–5,000 kbps, depending on your internet speed.
Stick to the H.264 video codec and AAC audio to ensure compatibility and quality. While 720p is the minimum, streaming in 1080p gives your live videos a more polished and professional look.
But you don’t have to worry about the sizing stuff here as much. You see, live videos can only be broadcast using the Instagram app’s camera. This means the platform automatically adjusts your video to fit the perfect dimensions.
Instagram Carousel Video Ads Size
- Video Dimensions: 1080 x 1080 pixels (square), 1080 x 1350 pixels (portrait), or 1080 x 566 pixels (landscape)
- Aspect Ratios: 1:1 (square), 4:5 (portrait), 1.91:1 (landscape)
- Resolution: Minimum 600 x 600 pixels (recommended 1080 px)
- Frame Rate (FPS): Minimum 30 FPS (60 FPS)
- Video Codec: H.264
- Audio Codec: AAC
- Bitrate: Around 3,500 kbps
- Video Length: Up to 60 seconds per carousel card (15 secs limit for Ads carousel card)
- Max Number of Cards: Up to 10 slides per carousel
- File Size per Video: Up to 4GB
- Format: MP4 or MOV
What Are Instagram Carousel Videos?
Instagram carousel video posts allow users and brands to upload multiple videos (or images) in a single post that viewers can swipe through horizontally. These carousels appear in the main feed and are also commonly used for ads, product showcases, tutorials, or storytelling sequences – best for increasing Instagram followers and high reach.
They’re incredibly versatile, giving you space to explain a product, show multiple angles, share step-by-step content, or tell a visual story across up to 10 slides.
Best Practices for Carousel Instagram Videos Size and Formats
To make your carousel videos stand out and perform well:
- Use a consistent aspect ratio across all carousel slides (square and portrait formats are preferred for mobile-first viewing).
- Keep each video under 60 seconds and optimize the first slide to hook attention quickly.
- Use MP4 format, H.264 codec, and AAC audio for maximum compatibility and quality.
- Maintain 1080 px resolution to ensure clarity, especially if you’re using text or product visuals.
- Include captions or subtitles to ensure the message is understood even without sound.
Carousel video posts that follow these specs and offer value across each slide tend to receive higher engagement, more swipes, and better ad performance.
What Should Be Your Preferred Instagram Video Format?
The most preferred video format is, inarguably MP4 format.
MP4 format files use the H.264 codec video compression standard. So, if you hear that the best Instagram video format is H.264, not MP4, then don’t worry. Both refer to the same format.
You can create video footage in the required format and upload it to Instagram. Edit, beautify, make the video crisp, convert it into the Instagram format, and then upload.
Two free tools that come in most handy for converting your video footage are Kapwing and Online-Convert. Use these tools to play around with your video footage and convert it to the perfect Instagram format.
Super easy! Right?
Keep Track of How Your Videos Perform
Use Instagram insights to assess the performance of your video. See what types of videos work well for your audience and which formats do not work well in grabbing your viewers’ attention. Keep on improving your videos.
Wrapping Up!
With more than a billion accounts, Instagram is an essential tool for marketing your brand. Most Instagram users follow at least one business account, providing businesses ample opportunity to showcase their brands.
Besides, with a variety of options available, such as Feed, Live, Instagram stories, Reels, and Video ads, Instagram has made video marketing super easy for every business as well as marketers. So, creating great video content should be the top priority of every brand. Knowing all the details about Instagram videos is the need of the hour.
On Instagram, different formats require different video specs. Once you know your preferred video format, it is easier for you to follow the specs requirements.
Knowing about the detailed specs may look daunting at first, but it’s worth investing your time and effort. Sticking to the specs will help your video look professional and appealing and encourage your viewers to expect and demand more content from your account. On the other hand, wrong video specs may make your video unattractive and lead to your viewers losing interest in your content.
So, use the right specs and start creating awesome videos for marketing your brand on Instagram!
It is imperative that you thoroughly brainstorm ideas for content regarding your video marketing strategy by considering your marketing objectives and target audience.
You can also use tools, such as SocialPilot, for brainstorming Instagram video ideas with its inbuilt AI assistant feature. But that’s not all, SocialPilot enables you to schedule Instagram Stories, Posts, and Reels way ahead of time.
No more rushing to hit that publish button or fretting over the best time to post. With SocialPilot, it’s set-and-forget. The tool automatically takes care of publishing, freeing you to focus on crafting compelling content and engaging with your community.
Try it today for free.
