Ever uploaded a photo to Instagram only to have it cropped weirdly or lose quality? Using the recommended sizes and aspect ratios, whether it’s in square, portrait, landscape, or full-screen vertical, can help make sure your content appears how you want it to.

This guide breaks down the best sizes for every type of post so you can create scroll-stopping visuals every time.

In this article, we’ll cover: 

• Why Instagram post sizes matter and what the best post size is
• Instagram aspect ratio and post sizes
• Square, Portrait, & Landscape
• Reels and Stories sizes
• Video & Live sizes
• Best practices

Let’s start by discussing why post sizes matter.

Why does my Instagram post size matter?

Using the right Instagram post size keeps your content sharp, avoids awkward cropping, and helps your posts stand out in a crowded feed. But beyond aesthetics, size plays a role in engagement, visibility, and even how Instagram’s algorithm treats your content.

A well-sized post looks clean and polished and helps to grab attention. When your content looks good, people are more likely to like, comment, and share it — telling Instagram it’s worth pushing out to even more users. 

Since Instagram is a mobile-first platform, if your content isn’t optimized for smaller phone screens, it can appear too tiny, cut off, or be less engaging.

Does Instagram resize images automatically?

Yes, Instagram does resize images automatically, but it’s not always in a way that benefits your content. It’s best to upload images that already match Instagram’s recommended dimensions and aspect ratios to avoid weird resizing.

What aspect ratio is and why it matters for your post layout

Think of aspect ratio as the shape of your content. Knowing the right ratios helps you keep your content framed exactly how you want, and in a way that will most appeal to your viewers since it works well with Instagram’s format.

A 1:1 ratio keeps things square, while 9:16 makes it tall and vertical. If your image doesn’t match Instagram’s format, it could get cropped in a way that cuts off key parts.

For example, uploading a wide image (like 16:9) will force Instagram to shrink it (the frame is 1.91:1), meaning parts of your photo may disappear.

Knowing these numbers also comes in handy when using editing software like Canva, Photoshop, or Final Cut Pro since you’ll often see them when exporting photos and videos.

Instagram post sizes and best dimensions for 2025

When it comes to Instagram, there are standard sizes for every post type — usually represented by the number of pixels (px) for the height and width. Each size has its place and can be useful depending on your content strategy. 

Let’s take a closer look at the recommended sizes:

• Feed posts:
  
  • Square (1:1): 1080 x 1080 px (for the classic Instagram look)
  • Portrait (4:5): 1080 x 1350 px (takes up more space in the feed, so viewers spend a little more time looking)
  • Landscape (1.91:1): 1080 x 566 px (wider posts, great for scenic shots or group shots)
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• Instagram Stories & Reels (9:16): 1080 x 1920 px (full-screen vertical for max impact)
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• Carousel posts: Same as Feed posts (square, portrait, or landscape)

Now, we’ll go into detail about each type of post and its best dimensions to help you develop a tailored content strategy for your business.

Square post sizes

For square ​​posts, the standard size is 1080 x 1080 px at a 1:1 aspect ratio.

Square used to be Instagram’s original format, making it a safe and versatile option. It’s good for balanced layouts, keeping everything centered and visually appealing. 

This format works well for:

• Product shots: Keeps the focus on the item without distractions.
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• Text-based posts & quotes: A clean square frame ensures readability.
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• Infographics: Keeps information compact and easy to digest.

One big advantage of square posts is that they’re easy to repurpose across other platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn without resizing. They also tend to look consistent in grid view, keeping your Instagram profile neat.

Note: Today, Instagram’s grid layout is changing — the platform has rolled out the new grid view at a 4:5 aspect ratio rather than square, bringing the platform’s look more in line with today’s common vertical format.

Portrait posts

For portrait posts, the standard size is 1080 x 1350 px at a 4:5 aspect ratio.

Portrait posts take up more space in the Instagram feed, which means there’s a good chance that viewers’ eyes will gravitate more towards them and spend more time looking. This can translate to more engagement, especially if you have an interesting visual that hooks users in. 

This format is especially useful for:

• Detailed images: This size is perfect for photos with small elements that need to be clearly visible.
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• Infographics: 4:5 allows for more text while still keeping readability high.
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• Portrait photography: Portrait size is a natural choice for capturing people and vertical compositions.

Don’t forget to make sure to center important elements so nothing gets cropped in the feed preview!

Landscape posts

For landscape posts, the standard size is 1080 x 566 px at 1.91:1 aspect ratio.

Landscape posts are ideal for wide shots, but they take up less vertical space in the feed, making them easier to scroll past (which may translate into less engagement). There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, though. It just means that you’ll need to make sure your post is interesting enough, so people don’t zoom past.

Use this format for:

• Scenic landscapes: Wide-angle nature and travel shots look best here.
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• Group photos: Works well when capturing multiple people in one frame.
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• Wide graphics or banners: Landscape works best if your content requires a horizontal layout.

Instagram Stories & Reels sizes

The best size for Stories & Reels is full-screen vertical format. That means you want it to be 1080 x 1920 px at a 9:16 aspect ratio.

If you want to grab attention fast, Instagram Stories and Reels are the way to go. They take up the whole screen, making them hard to ignore. But if your video or image isn’t the right size, it might look blurry, get cut off, or have awkward black bars.

Why Instagram loves vertical content

Ever notice how Stories and Reels seem to get more views? That’s because Instagram’s mostly vertical since, well, it’s designed for mobile. Unlike feed posts that people may scroll past, full-screen videos hold attention longer.

Vertical works best for high-production value and eye-catching videos, behind-the-scenes clips, and interactive content that keeps users’ eyes glued to the screen. 

Stories and Reels are fun and typically get people to interact. Stickers, polls, question-based posts, images, and swipe-up links make them super engaging, leading to more likes, shares, and clicks. If you’re promoting something, this is one of the best ways to get people to take action quickly.

Instagram Live

Instagram Live videos use a 9:16 aspect ratio (1080 x 1920 px) similar to Stories and Reels. 

Many creators use these streams to share announcements, share their experiences, or even just hang out with their followers. Some creators may even invite guests onto their Live to create a mini talk show or a more fun experience for their viewers.

Considering going live? Here’s what you need to know:

• They are automatically saved as Instagram Reels posts after the stream, so you don’t have to worry about losing content once you finish streaming.
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• Viewers can engage in real-time through comments, reactions, and Q&A features.

Best practices for Instagram post optimization

Even if you’re using the right Instagram post size, bad uploads can still lead to blurry, pixelated, or low-quality posts. Luckily, there are ways to keep your posts looking sharp:

Tips for keeping video quality up

There are a few things you can do to keep your videos looking their best. Try:

• Filming in good lighting: Instagram Live doesn’t allow post-editing, so lighting is key.
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• Keeping movement smooth: Sudden jerky movements can make videos look pixelated. Try using a tripod for still video or a gimbal if you’re moving around.

How to avoid quality loss from Instagram compression

Instagram automatically compresses posts to reduce file sizes. Here’s how to work around it:

• Change your Instagram settings: You can make sure you are uploading in the highest quality possible by going to your Instagram profile and navigating to Settings > Media Quality. Toggle the setting “Upload at highest quality” to make sure your posts always look their best.
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• For images: Save in JPEG format with an sRGB color profile and keep file size under 1MB for the least compression. You can also use PNG, which works well for graphics and text-heavy images.
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• For videos: Use MP4 format with H.264 codec, AAC audio, and a bitrate of 3,500–5,000 kbps to keep quality high.
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• Avoid excessive editing apps: Some filters and edits can degrade image quality before you even upload.
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• Upload from a strong internet connection: Weak Wi-Fi can cause uploads to process at a lower resolution.

Recommended design tools

Creating high-quality posts is easier with the right tools. Here are some great options:

• Canva: Great for beginners with drag-and-drop templates for posts, Stories, and Reels. It’s great because it’s easy to use, but if you need advanced editing features you may feel a bit limited.
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• Adobe Lightroom: This app is ideal for photo color correction and enhancement, and it’s available on computers and on mobile devices. It’s great for professional edits, but there’s a learning curve for beginners.
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• CapCut: This app is a solid video editor with effects, transitions, and music. It’s feature-packed and free (with watermarks). It can feel a bit overwhelming if you’re new, though.

Frequently asked questions

Can I upload 4K images to Instagram?

You can upload high-resolution images, but there’s not much point in uploading in 4K since Instagram will compress them down to 1080 px width for feed posts. 

Does image size impact engagement rates?

In some ways, yes. For example, portrait posts (4:5) tend to perform better because they take up more screen space, which means viewers may spend more time looking at them.

Can I post horizontal images on Instagram?

Yes, but they’ll appear smaller in the feed. Landscape posts (1.91:1, 1080 x 566 px) work, but they don’t take up as much screen space, which can impact engagement.

Thinking about using ads to grow your IG following? Bestever can help

Knowing what kind of posts perform best is a good way to succeed on Instagram, but it’s only a part of the battle. The other part is getting enough eyes on your content — and sometimes that means making ads on Instagram. This is where Bestever.ai can help.

We make designing your ads as easy as one-click photo editing — and share which ads are working for your audience (or your competitors if you’re new) to help you make winning campaigns. 

Here’s how we can help:

• Analyze how effective your post or ad is: You can boost almost any post to turn it into an ad, then if you’re getting data, you can use Bestever to analyze how well it performs. The Ad Analysis Dashboard gives instant feedback on your ad and its visual impact, sales orientation, brand alignment, and audience engagement.
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• Know your target audience: Whether posting ads or curating your feed, Bestever’s audience analysis tools offer insights to help your messaging and your targeting. Share your website URL and it’ll tell you more about who wants to hear from you.
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• Rapid asset generation: If you’re struggling to come up with ideas, you can use Bestever to fetch brand-fitting AI-generated images, stock photos, and video clips you can share with your design team to create multiple ad variations faster.
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• Get actionable recommendations: Bestever gives you data-based concrete suggestions on what you can do to improve your visuals or calls-to-action.
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• Instant feedback: If an ad or post underperforms, you can immediately find out more about its performance and make changes before wasting time or money.

Ready to see how top-performing ads can help you grow your following? Let our team show you how to easily create batches of ads and then analyze them to find the winners. Try a demo of Bestever for free.