The Ultimate Guide to Instagram Post Sizes & Image Dimensions (2025)

In the visually-driven world of Instagram, getting your image sizes right is essential. Whether you’re sharing a post to your feed, updating your profile picture, or creating eye-catching stories, knowing the correct Instagram image dimensions ensures that your content looks sharp, professional, and optimized for engagement. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Instagram post sizes, photo dimensions, and the ideal image sizes for each type of content you share on Instagram.

1. What is the Ideal Instagram Post Size?

The ideal Instagram post size depends on the type of post you’re sharing. Instagram allows for square, portrait, and landscape images, and each has its own ideal dimensions to maintain quality without cropping or distortion.

Square Post Image Size

The classic Instagram post size that most users are familiar with is the square format. This is still one of the most popular types of images shared on the platform.

Best Instagram Post Size for Square Images: 1080 x 1080 pixels
Aspect Ratio: 1:1

Using 1080 x 1080 pixels ensures that your post will appear crisp on both standard and retina displays.

Portrait (Vertical) Post Image Size

Portrait images take up more screen space when viewed in the Instagram feed, which can increase engagement and visibility.

Best Instagram Post Size for Portrait Images: 1080 x 1350 pixels
Aspect Ratio: 4:5

Instagram automatically crops portrait images beyond the 4:5 aspect ratio, so sticking to these dimensions will help you avoid unwanted cropping.

Landscape (Horizontal) Post Image Size

Landscape photos can be tricky on Instagram because they display with a smaller height in the feed. However, they are ideal for horizontal content like group photos or wide landscapes.

Best Instagram Post Size for Landscape Images: 1080 x 566 pixels
Aspect Ratio: 1.91:1

2. Instagram Feed Image Size

When posting to your Instagram feed, whether it’s a single image or carousel post, it's crucial to use the right dimensions to maintain clarity and avoid compression.

Best Instagram Feed Image Size: 1080 pixels wide by up to 1350 pixels tall (portrait) or 566 pixels tall (landscape).

Instagram automatically compresses large images, so it’s best to upload your images within these dimensions to ensure they appear sharp and clear.

3. Instagram Profile Photo Dimensions

Your Instagram profile picture is small but important—it’s the first thing people see when visiting your page. The profile picture displays as a circle, so make sure to use an image that looks good when cropped into a circular frame.

Instagram Profile Photo Size: 320 x 320 pixels
Aspect Ratio: 1:1

To ensure the best quality, upload your profile picture at 320 x 320 pixels and keep important parts of the image centered within the circular crop.

4. Instagram Story Image Size

Instagram Stories are full-screen vertical posts that disappear after 24 hours, making them perfect for sharing temporary content like announcements, behind-the-scenes, or time-sensitive updates.

Best Instagram Story Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Aspect Ratio: 9:16

This vertical format takes up the full screen on mobile devices, making it crucial to use high-quality images or videos for optimal results. If your image doesn’t meet the 9:16 aspect ratio, Instagram may crop it, causing parts of your content to be cut off.

5. Instagram Carousel Post Dimensions

Carousel posts allow you to share multiple images or videos in a single post that users can swipe through. All images or videos in a carousel must be the same size.

Best Instagram Carousel Image Size: 1080 x 1080 pixels (square), 1080 x 1350 pixels (portrait), or 1080 x 566 pixels (landscape).

When creating carousel posts, it’s important to maintain the same aspect ratio throughout the post. Mixing image dimensions may result in unwanted cropping.

6. Instagram Reels and IGTV Video Dimensions

Instagram Reels and IGTV videos are designed for short-form video content that keeps viewers engaged. Both formats favor vertical, mobile-first dimensions.

Best Instagram Reels Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Aspect Ratio: 9:16

For IGTV videos, it’s important to also use a high-resolution cover photo to represent the video in your feed.

7. Instagram Ads Image Sizes

If you're running ads on Instagram, the same image size guidelines apply, depending on whether your ad is for the feed, stories, or Reels. However, it’s worth optimizing your ad images to ensure they fit perfectly across all placements.

Best Instagram Ad Sizes: 1080 x 1080 pixels (square), 1080 x 1350 pixels (portrait), 1080 x 566 pixels (landscape), or 1080 x 1920 pixels (stories/Reels).

Properly sized images will help you avoid awkward cropping or compression in your ads.

8. Instagram Video Post Dimensions

For standard video posts (not Reels or IGTV), Instagram supports square, portrait, and landscape formats, just like with image posts.

Best Instagram Video Post Size: 1080 x 1080 pixels (square), 1080 x 1350 pixels (portrait), or 1080 x 566 pixels (landscape).

Be sure to keep the aspect ratio in mind to ensure that your video looks great without any unwanted black bars or cropping.

9. Instagram Icon Size

If you’re designing icons for your Instagram content or using icons in highlights, stories, or as part of your profile branding, it’s important to stick to the proper dimensions.

Best Instagram Icon Size: 120 x 120 pixels for the best clarity on small screens.

10. Best Practices for Instagram Image Sizes

To make the most of your Instagram posts and ensure they look great on all devices, follow these best practices:

Use High-Quality Images: Always upload high-resolution images to avoid pixelation. Images should be at least 1080 pixels wide for best results.
Maintain Aspect Ratios: Stick to the recommended aspect ratios to avoid awkward cropping or black bars around your images.
Keep File Sizes Manageable: Large file sizes may lead to slower loading times. For images, use JPEG format for photographs and PNG format for graphics.
Center Important Elements: For profile pictures, carousel posts, or any image that could be cropped, keep essential elements like logos or faces in the center to ensure nothing gets cut off.
Use Templates: If you're creating graphics or branding images, consider using pre-made templates that are optimized for Instagram to maintain consistency.

Getting your Instagram post sizes right is key to ensuring your content looks sharp and professional. Whether you're uploading a standard feed post, sharing a story, or setting up your profile picture, using the correct Instagram image dimensions will help you avoid issues with cropping or pixelation.

By sticking to the recommended Instagram image sizes, you can ensure that your content looks great on all devices and maintains its visual impact. This attention to detail can help you increase engagement, grow your following, and establish a cohesive brand presence on Instagram.

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