Instagram Reel Size in 2026: Dimensions, Ratio and Specs
Instagram reel size in 2026: the 9:16 ratio, 1080 x 1920 pixels, cover size, length and quality settings, checked against Instagram's help center.
Published October 18, 2026
Try it in SociaHive. Instagram reel size in 2026: the 9:16 ratio, 1080 x 1920 pixels, cover size, length and quality settings, checked against Instagram's help center.
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1080 × 1920 px, 9:16. Instagram's published minimum is 720 px, at 30 FPS, with a ratio between 1.91:1 and 9:16, per its Reel size page. The 1080 × 1920 size is common practice rather than an Instagram number: it fills a phone screen from top to bottom.
This post belongs to our social media image sizes guide; for photos see Instagram post size. If you are choosing between formats, see Instagram Reel vs Story.
Instagram reel size, ratio and specs
Instagram publishes a short list of Reel requirements, and everything else, including 1080 × 1920, is common practice. Any ratio from 1.91:1 (wide) to 9:16 (tall) is accepted. Most creators use 9:16 because it leaves no black bars, while square, 4:5 and 16:9 video are allowed but show smaller.
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio range | 1.91:1 to 9:16 | Official (Instagram help center) |
| Minimum resolution | 720 pixels | Official (Instagram help center) |
| Minimum frame rate | 30 FPS | Official (Instagram help center) |
| Full-screen size | 1080 × 1920 pixels (9:16) | Common practice |
| Cover photo | 420 × 654 pixels (1:1.55) | Official (Instagram help center) |
| Maximum length | 20 minutes | Official (Instagram help center) |
The first three rows and the cover come from the Reel size and aspect ratios page, and the length from the record a reel page. Set your editor's canvas to 1080 × 1920 before you edit instead of cropping afterward. Exporting 4K footage at 1080 × 1920 is enough for Instagram. Feed photos stop at 3:4 per Instagram's photo page; see Instagram post size.
Instagram reel cover size
The recommended cover size is 420 × 654 pixels, a 1:1.55 ratio, per the Reel size page, and you cannot edit a cover after you upload the reel. Some guides list a 1080 × 1920 cover and a 90-second limit; Instagram's help pages list 420 × 654 and 20 minutes.
You can pick a cover from a frame of the clip or choose an image from your device when you post, as the record a reel page describes. The profile grid shows 3:4 tiles, so keep the cover's subject centred; the post size guide explains how the grid crops. That follows from the guide's measurement, not from an Instagram rule.
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Where to keep text and faces on a reel
Instagram's pages publish no safe-zone measurements, so there is no official number. In practice the caption, username and buttons cover parts of the bottom and right edge of a full-screen reel, so keep titles, faces and subtitles in the middle of the frame.
Leave extra room at the bottom for the caption and at the right for the like, comment and share buttons. The Reels safe zone checker overlays those zones on your video. It is a tool, not an Instagram rule, so treat its zones as a guide. SociaHive does not schedule Reels, so post them from the Instagram app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the cover of a reel after posting?
No. Instagram says you can't edit a cover photo after you've uploaded the reel, so choose it before sharing. When you post, you can pick a frame from the clip with the slider or select an image from your device. A cover made for the grid should keep its subject in the middle.
How long can an Instagram reel be?
Up to 20 minutes, whether you record one clip or several that add up. Instagram adds that reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences, so shorter reels have a better chance of reaching people who don't follow you yet.
Can I post a horizontal video as a reel?
Yes, because Instagram accepts ratios down to 1.91:1 and a 16:9 video falls inside that range, so it uploads as a reel. It will not fill the screen the way a 9:16 video does. For the best result, crop or reshoot the video at 9:16 before you upload it.
How do I upload reels in the highest quality?
Turn on the setting in the app: go to your profile, tap the menu, open Media quality under Your app and media, and switch on Upload at highest quality. Instagram notes that higher-quality uploads can take longer. This is the setting to check first if a reel looks blurry. Soft Stories have their own causes, covered in why an Instagram Story looks blurry.
Sources
- Instagram Help Center, Reel size & aspect ratios on Instagram
- Instagram Help Center, Record a reel on Instagram
- Instagram Help Center, Image resolution of photos you share on Instagram
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Instagram reel size in 2026: the 9:16 ratio, 1080 x 1920 pixels, cover size, length and quality settings, checked against Instagram's help center.