Instagram image size 2026: posts, portrait, stories and reels
The right Instagram image sizes for feed posts, portrait posts, the 3:4 grid, Stories and Reels, and how to avoid blurry or cropped uploads.
Instagram rewards images that fill the screen and punishes ones that don't fit: wrong shapes get cropped, small files get blurry, and text near the edges gets hidden under buttons. Here are the sizes to use in 2026.
Instagram image sizes at a glance
| Format | Size (pixels) | Ratio | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait post | 1080 × 1350 | 4:5 | Most feed posts, takes the most screen space |
| 3:4 grid post | 1080 × 1440 | 3:4 | Matches the profile grid exactly |
| Square post | 1080 × 1080 | 1:1 | Classic look, carousels |
| Landscape post | 1080 × 566 | 1.91:1 | Rarely worth it, appears small |
| Story | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 | Full-screen Stories |
| Reel | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 | Full-screen video and its cover |
| Profile picture | 320 × 320 | 1:1 | Shown as a circle |
Portrait 4:5 or the 3:4 grid?
Since early 2025, Instagram's profile grid shows posts as tall 3:4 rectangles instead of squares. That leaves you two good options:
- 4:5 (1080 × 1350) is still the tallest shape that shows uncropped in the feed, so it takes the most space when people scroll. In the 3:4 grid view, a thin slice is trimmed from the top and bottom.
- 3:4 (1080 × 1440) matches the grid exactly, so your profile looks precisely as designed.
If your profile grid is part of your brand, design for 3:4. If feed reach matters more, 4:5 is the safe pick. Either way, keep important content away from the very top and bottom.
Stories and Reels: mind the safe zone
Stories and Reels are 1080 × 1920, but the interface covers parts of it: your profile name at the top, and captions, buttons and the reply bar at the bottom. Keep text and faces out of roughly the top 250 and bottom 340 pixels.
How to get perfect Instagram sizes from any photo
- Drop your photo into the image resizer. It stays on your device.
- Select the Instagram sizes you need: square, portrait, 3:4 grid and Story/Reel.
- Drag each preview to choose the crop, and use the zoom slider if you need to.
- If a photo is too wide to crop nicely, switch to Fit whole image. The empty space fills with a soft blur of your photo, so nothing gets cut off.
- Download everything as a zip.
Why your Instagram photos look blurry
- Uploading too small. Anything under 1080 pixels wide gets upscaled and looks soft.
- Uploading way too big. Instagram compresses huge files aggressively. Export at exactly 1080 pixels wide.
- Uploading over a weak connection. Instagram may use lower quality on slow mobile data. Upload on wifi where possible.
- Heavy text and fine detail. Compression struggles with tiny text. Keep text large.
For every other platform, see the social media image sizes cheat sheet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Instagram post size in 2026?
1080 × 1350 (4:5) for the most space in the feed, or 1080 × 1440 (3:4) if you want posts to match the profile grid exactly.
What size is an Instagram Story?
1080 × 1920 pixels, a 9:16 ratio. Keep text away from the top and bottom, where Instagram's buttons sit.
Why does Instagram crop my photo?
Instagram only accepts ratios between 1.91:1 (wide) and 4:5 (tall) for feed posts, and the profile grid shows 3:4. Resize to one of the recommended sizes before uploading.
What resolution should I upload to Instagram?
1080 pixels wide. Instagram scales everything to that width, so larger files just get compressed more.