{"id":4468,"date":"2023-04-14T20:09:36","date_gmt":"2023-04-15T02:09:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/twprod.wpengine.com\/instagram-image-size-guide\/"},"modified":"2025-09-04T17:58:35","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T23:58:35","slug":"instagram-image-size-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tailwindapp.com\/blog\/instagram-image-size-guide","title":{"rendered":"Instagram Image Size: \bA Guide for Posts, Reels, Stories, and More!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Let\u2019s face it: we\u2019re living for all the fantastic new ways you can post your best photos and videos on Instagram.\u00a0<\/p>\n

From portrait, landscape, and square photo options, Instagram Stories, Reels, IGTV videos, and videos in your feed\u2026<\/p>\n

There are so many incredible ways to engage with your followers and deliver eye-catching content.<\/p>\n

However amazing these new options are, it can be a little tricky to figure out the ideal Instagram image size for your content, right?<\/p>\n

Contents: Instagram Image Sizes<\/h4>\n

That\u2019s why we\u2019ve put together a quick guide for you to decode all the different Instagram post dimensions for each piece of content, and the best photo resolution to upload to Instagram for optimal clarity<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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(Yes, posting pictures on Instagram can lower image quality!)<\/p>\n

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And just in case you need a cheat sheet to keep track of all these Instagram image sizes (because let\u2019s face it, there are a lot!), we\u2019ve included a handy cheat sheet and a Pinnable infographic<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Major score!<\/p>\n

Before we dig in, we wanted to let you know about a feature that might come it very handy (and make scheduling a lot faster!)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tailwind can plan, schedule and post Reels on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0– so be sure to check it out!<\/p>\n

What are the Ideal Instagram Ratios?<\/h2>\n

Instagram video and photo sizes have varying dimensions depending on the orientation of the photo and tool it’s being posted with.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here’s a quick list of the most common Instagram photo and video dimensions:<\/p>\n

Instagram Photo Post Sizes<\/h3>\n

When Instagram first launched in 2012 (it seems so long ago now!), users could only upload photos in a 1:1 aspect ratio.<\/p>\n

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Users who wanted to display their beautiful landscape and portrait photos were forced to crop their photos into a square or use other apps to create workarounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Talk about time-consuming!<\/p>\n

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Thankfully, Instagram listened to user feedback and introduced horizontal and vertical photo capabilities in 2015.<\/p>\n

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With that in mind, let\u2019s talk about the best image size for Instagram photo posts, including the traditional square, portrait, and landscape!<\/p>\n

Instagram Square Photo Size<\/h3>\n

Ideal Size: 1080px by 1080px<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The aspect ratio of a traditional photo post is 1:1 square.<\/p>\n

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This is usually the easiest photo size to get right on the first try because of the auto-cropping function on most photo editing apps and Instagram itself.<\/p>\n

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Not to mention, you can shoot a square picture directly in the iOS or Android camera!<\/p>\n

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For best results, your photo should be between 320px by 320px and 1080px by 1080px.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Instagram Portrait Size<\/h3>\n

Ideal Photo Size: 1080px by 1350px<\/strong>
Wondering how to fit a full picture on Instagram without cropping?<\/p>\n

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You can do that with portrait and landscape photos! Portrait photos are also fairly easy to get right on the first try, although you will have to crop oversize vertical photos to fit within the Instagram dimensions.<\/p>\n

What size is an Instagram portrait?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The ideal Instagram portrait aspect ratio is 4:5<\/strong>, and the ideal photo size is 1080px by 1350px.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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If you upload a larger portrait, say 4:6 or 9:16 (the size of a Snapchat photo), you\u2019ll be prompted to crop a portion of the photo out to fit.<\/p>\n

Instagram Horizontal Photo Size<\/h3>\n

Ideal Photo Size: 1080px by 1350px\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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We\u2019ll be honest: getting the right Instagram horizontal photo dimensions can be tricky!<\/p>\n

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That\u2019s because the perfect Instagram landscape photo aspect ratio is 1.91:1.<\/em><\/p>\n

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With these dimensions, your horizontal photo will display beautifully on Instagram without a border.<\/p>\n

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However, you can actually upload landscape photos up to an aspect ratio of 16:9, and the app will automatically add a border around the photo.<\/p>\n

How do you get landscape on Instagram?<\/h3>\n

Instagram has made adding landscape photos to your feed easier than ever. Here’s how to do it:<\/p>\n

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  1. Open Instagram<\/li>\n
  2. Tap the Add Post button <\/strong>(a square with a plus sign)<\/li>\n
  3. Choose your photo or video to upload<\/li>\n
  4. Tap the full-size button<\/strong> in at the bottom left of the photo display (it looks like two corners). This will automatically adjust your photo into the landscape ratio <\/strong>(or portrait if the photo orientation is vertical)<\/li>\n
  5. You can further adjust the cropping of the photo by pinching to zoom in and out.<\/li>\n
  6. Tap Next<\/strong> to continue with your upload!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    If you frequently use landscape photos in your feed, it\u2019s best to stick to the same aspect ratio for each.<\/p>\n

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    Otherwise, your followers may be unnecessarily distracted from your show-stopping photos as they scroll!<\/p>\n

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    To nab the best horizontal photo size for Instagram on the first try, make sure the height of your photo is at least 1080px (we\u2019re sensing a theme here! ).<\/p>\n

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    This will keep your photo quality high on mobile and desktop!<\/p>\n

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    Before we move on to Instagram video post dimensions, let\u2019s do a quick recap!<\/p>\n

    Key Takeaways with Instagram Photo Dimensions<\/h2>\n

    What is the best Instagram aspect ratio?<\/h3>\n

    Instagram has three available aspect ratios for your photos and videos.<\/p>\n

    Previously, the 1:1 aspect ratio (square) was the only available option, but Instagram now allows portrait and landscape photos!<\/p>\n

    The aspect ratio for portrait photos is 4:5, while the aspect ratio for landscape photos is 1.91:1.<\/p>\n

    The best Instagram image size for posts are:<\/p>\n

    1080px by 1080px (Square)<\/p>\n