The exact size
- Pixels
- 1,080 × 1,920
- Aspect ratio
- 9:16
- Megapixels
- 2.1
Full-screen 9:16. Keep text away from the top and bottom 250 pixels where the app draws its own controls.
Crop or upscale first?
What to do with common source sizes so the story or reel stays sharp. Upscaling happens before the crop, so the crop has enough pixels to fill the box.
| Your image | What to do | Size before crop |
|---|---|---|
| 640 × 480 | Upscale 4×, then crop | 2,560 × 1,920 |
| 1,280 × 720 | Upscale 4×, then crop | 5,120 × 2,880 |
| 1,920 × 1,080 | Upscale 2×, then crop | 3,840 × 2,160 |
| 4,032 × 3,024 | Crop only | 4,032 × 3,024 |
How to make an Instagram story or reel
- Check your image size. If it is smaller than 1,080 × 1,920 on either side, upscale it first: anything from 540 × 960 up only needs the free 2×.
- Crop to 9:16 at exactly 1,080 × 1,920 with Make thumbnails, which centre-crops a whole batch in one pass.
- Download as JPG and upload to Instagram.
Need to enlarge first? Upscale 2× for free.
Other Instagram sizes
| Asset | Pixels | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram square post | 1,080 × 1,080 | 1:1 |
| Instagram portrait post | 1,080 × 1,350 | 4:5 |
Questions
What size is an Instagram story or reel?
1,080 × 1,920 pixels. Full-screen 9:16. Keep text away from the top and bottom 250 pixels where the app draws its own controls.
What aspect ratio is that?
9:16. Crop to this shape before uploading so Instagram does not crop it for you.
What if my image is smaller than 1,080 × 1,920?
Upscale it first so both sides cover the box, then crop. 2× is free and runs on your device, and is enough for anything at least half the target size.
Which file format should I upload?
JPG at quality 85 to 90. It keeps uploads small, and most platforms recompress images anyway.
Does the crop keep the centre of my image?
Yes. Make thumbnails crops from the centre to the exact box, the same way across a whole batch. Use the crop tool if the subject is off-centre.