The right Instagram reel size is a vertical 9:16 video, and the standard way to export it is 1080 × 1920 pixels. Meta's own publishing documentation recommends 9:16 for reels "to avoid cropping or blank space," and recommends the same 9:16 ratio for the cover image. The catch is that a 9:16 reel isn't always shown at 9:16: the interface covers parts of the frame, and your profile grid shows a shorter crop of the cover. This guide gives you the numbers and a layout that survives all of it.
Instagram reel size at a glance
The technical numbers below come from Meta's Instagram Platform documentation for publishing reels, which is the most precise official spec Meta publishes. It's written for apps and schedulers that post through the API, so treat it as the official baseline rather than a description of every option inside the Instagram app.
| Spec | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended aspect ratio | 9:16 (vertical) | Meta recommends it "to avoid cropping or blank space" |
| Accepted aspect ratio (API) | Between 0.01:1 and 10:1 | Other ratios can be cropped or letterboxed |
| Practical resolution | 1080 × 1920 px | Standard 9:16 export; the API caps width at 1920 px |
| Frame rate (API) | 23–60 FPS | Export at the frame rate you filmed in |
| File type (API) | MP4 or MOV | H.264 or HEVC video, AAC audio |
| Max file size (API) | 300 MB | |
| Duration (API) | 3 seconds to 15 minutes | In-app limits differ; see below |
| Cover image (API) | JPEG, up to 8 MB, 9:16 recommended | If it isn't 9:16, the middle 9:16 area is used |
For length specifically, including in-app recording limits and what Instagram recommends, see our guide on how long a reel should be.
Why 9:16 and 1080 × 1920
Reels play full screen on a phone held upright, so a 9:16 vertical frame fills the screen without black bars. 1080 × 1920 is simply 9:16 at a width of 1080 pixels, a common vertical export setting in phone cameras and editing apps.
A few practical points:
- Film vertically from the start. Turning a horizontal clip into a vertical one means cropping away most of the frame, and people at the edges get cut off.
- Don't upscale low-resolution footage. Exporting a small clip at 1080 × 1920 doesn't add detail; it only makes the file larger.
- Check your upload quality setting. On its Reels page for creators, Instagram answers "How do I upload high resolution reels?" with "Go to your settings in the Instagram app." It's worth finding that option once, especially if you post over mobile data.
Safe zones: where to put text and faces
A reel is 9:16, but not every pixel stays visible. When someone watches, the top of the screen carries the Reels header, and the bottom carries your username, the caption, the audio label and the like, comment and share buttons down the right side. Text or a face placed in those areas gets covered.
Meta doesn't publish a single safe-zone spec for organic reels that we could verify on an official page, so here is the conservative layout we use on a 1080 × 1920 frame:
- Top: keep roughly the top 250 px free of important text.
- Bottom: keep roughly the bottom 650 px free of on-screen text and captions you need people to read. This is where the caption and username sit.
- Right side: keep text away from the right edge in the lower half, where the action buttons are.
- Sides: leave a small margin, about 60 px, on the left and right.
That leaves a comfortable central area for your face, key on-screen text and subtitles. If you put burned-in captions on your reels, place them above the bottom zone rather than at the very bottom of the frame. Our guide on adding captions to reels covers placement and style in more detail.
The quickest check: before posting, open the reel in the Instagram editor and look at the preview with the interface on top. If anything important touches a button or the caption area, move it.
Instagram reel cover size
The cover is the still image people see on your profile and in some places where your reel is shown before it plays.
Size: make the cover the same size as the reel, 9:16 at 1080 × 1920. Meta's publishing documentation recommends 9:16 for reel covers, accepts JPEG up to 8 MB in sRGB color, and notes that if the image isn't 9:16, the middle-most 9:16 area is used.
Options: when you share a reel, you can pick a frame from the video or upload a separate image as the cover. A dedicated cover image usually looks cleaner than a random frame, because you control the expression, the background and the text.
What to put on it:
- A short title, 3–6 words, in large type. It should make sense without the video.
- Your face, if you're on camera. Consistent covers make your profile easier to scan.
- High contrast between the text and the background.
How the profile grid crops your cover
In January 2025, Instagram switched the profile grid from squares to taller rectangular thumbnails, as Adam Mosseri announced at the time (Engadget coverage). Those thumbnails are still shorter than 9:16, so the grid shows only the middle part of your reel cover; the top and bottom are cut off in the grid view and visible again when someone opens the reel.
Reported grid ratios vary between sources, and Instagram hasn't published an exact figure we could confirm, so design for the tightest common case:
- Keep all cover text and your face inside the central 1080 × 1350 area of the 1080 × 1920 cover (that's 285 px trimmed from the top and bottom). Anything in that middle block shows up in the grid whichever crop your profile uses.
- Leave decorative elements for the top and bottom. Background, color blocks and logos can live in the parts that get cropped.
- Preview before you post. After publishing, look at your profile on your phone. If a title is cut off, rework the cover layout before your next reel.
A quick layout for a 1080 × 1920 cover:
| Area | Pixels (from top) | What goes there |
|---|---|---|
| Top band | 0–285 | Background, nothing essential |
| Central block | 285–1635 | Title text and face |
| Bottom band | 1635–1920 | Background, nothing essential |
Common reel size mistakes
Horizontal or square video. It plays with large empty bars and looks smaller than everything around it in the feed.
Text in the bottom third. It looks fine in your editor and disappears under the caption on the phone.
Cover title at the very top. It's the first thing the grid crops.
Exporting at the wrong frame rate. Converting 30 FPS footage to 60, or the other way round, can make motion look jittery. Export at the rate you filmed.
Different sizes for different platforms. The same 9:16 file works as a base for TikTok and YouTube Shorts too, though each app places its interface differently. Our guide to repurposing reels for TikTok and YouTube Shorts covers the adjustments.
Getting the size right automatically
If you'd rather not think about pixels, WowFlō builds each reel ready for Instagram, with captions, a cover and music already added. You can post it straight to Instagram or schedule it, and download the same video for TikTok and YouTube Shorts.
Make the format the easy part
Getting size, safe zones and covers right is a one-time setup. After that, the hard part is producing reels consistently. WowFlō turns an idea into a script and has your AI twin record it with your face and voice, ready to post. Your first reel is free, no card needed.
FAQ
What is the best Instagram reel size?
A vertical 9:16 video at 1080 × 1920 pixels. Meta recommends 9:16 for reels to avoid cropping or blank space, and 1080 × 1920 is a common 9:16 export setting on phones and in editing apps.
What size should an Instagram reel cover be?
Use the same 9:16 size as the reel, 1080 × 1920 pixels. Meta's publishing documentation recommends 9:16 for covers and accepts JPEG images up to 8 MB. Keep the title and your face in the middle so they survive the profile grid crop.
Why is my reel cover cut off on my profile?
The profile grid uses rectangular thumbnails that are shorter than 9:16, so it shows only the middle of your cover. Move important text and faces toward the center; keeping them inside the central 1080 × 1350 area is a safe rule.
Can I post a horizontal video as a reel?
You can, but it won't fill the screen and will show with empty space above and below. Meta recommends 9:16 to avoid cropping or blank space, so it's better to film vertically or reframe the video before uploading.
