Instagram Accepted Aspect Ratios
A complete guide to Instagram's accepted aspect ratio ranges for feed posts, Reels, Stories, and carousels. Includes exact pixel dimensions and what happens if your media is outside the accepted range.
Instagram is the most strict of all platforms when it comes to aspect ratios. Post an image or video outside the accepted range and Instagram will either crop it automatically or reject the post entirely. This guide covers the exact accepted ratios for every Instagram content type so you never hit an avoidable publishing error.
Why Aspect Ratio Matters on Instagram
Aspect ratio is the relationship between a media file's width and height. Instagram enforces a specific range for each post type — outside that range, the platform either crops the media or returns an error when Publlish tries to publish it.
Getting aspect ratios right before uploading prevents the two most common Instagram publishing errors: automatic cropping (which cuts off important parts of your image) and the "aspect ratio out of range" error that causes posts to fail entirely.
Instagram Feed Posts — Accepted Aspect Ratio Range
Instagram accepts feed post images and videos within the range of 4:5 (portrait) to 1.91:1 (landscape).
| Format | Aspect ratio | Pixel dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| Square | 1:1 | 1080 x 1080px |
| Portrait (recommended) | 4:5 | 1080 x 1350px |
| Landscape | 1.91:1 | 1080 x 566px |
Outside this range: If your image is taller than 4:5 (e.g. a 9:16 phone screenshot) or wider than 1.91:1 (e.g. a very wide panoramic), Instagram will crop it to the nearest accepted ratio. The crop may cut off your subject or text.
Recommendation: 4:5 portrait (1080 x 1350px) takes up the most vertical space in the feed, which tends to result in higher engagement. If you're not sure what format to use, 4:5 is the default best choice for Instagram feed images.
Instagram Reels — Required Aspect Ratio
Reels require a strict 9:16 vertical aspect ratio.
| Format | Aspect ratio | Pixel dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| Reels (required) | 9:16 | 1080 x 1920px |
Outside this range: Videos that aren't 9:16 will be displayed with blurred background fill to make up the space, or cropped. Neither looks great — always produce Reels in 9:16.
Safe zones for Reels: Instagram overlays UI elements (like the caption, audio label, and profile name) over the bottom and top portions of Reels. Keep important visual content within the middle 80% of the frame to avoid it being covered.
Instagram Carousels — Aspect Ratio Rules
Carousels can contain images and videos in any of the accepted feed ratios, but all slides in a single carousel must use the same aspect ratio.
- You cannot mix a 1:1 image and a 4:5 image in the same carousel
- If you upload mixed ratios, Instagram will crop all slides to match the first slide's ratio
- Plan your carousels with a consistent format — decide on square, portrait, or landscape before creating the slides
Instagram Stories — Aspect Ratio
Stories use 9:16 vertical format (same as Reels).
| Format | Aspect ratio | Pixel dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| Stories | 9:16 | 1080 x 1920px |
Stories scheduled via Publlish use notification publishing — you complete the final posting step in the Instagram app. Notification publishing guide →
Quick Reference Table
| Post type | Required ratio | Recommended dimensions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed photo (portrait) | 4:5 | 1080 x 1350px | Best for feed real estate |
| Feed photo (square) | 1:1 | 1080 x 1080px | Clean, versatile |
| Feed photo (landscape) | 1.91:1 | 1080 x 566px | Good for panoramic shots |
| Feed video | 4:5 to 1.91:1 | 1080 x 1350px (portrait) | Same range as feed photos |
| Reels | 9:16 | 1080 x 1920px | Vertical only |
| Carousel slides | Must match slide 1 | Match first slide | All slides same ratio |
| Stories | 9:16 | 1080 x 1920px | Via notification publishing |
What Happens If Your Aspect Ratio is Wrong
"Aspect ratio out of range" error in Publlish: Your media is outside Instagram's accepted range (narrower than 1.91:1 or taller than 4:5 for feed posts, or not 9:16 for Reels). Fix: crop or resize the media before uploading.
Automatic cropping on publish: If your image is slightly outside the range, Instagram may auto-crop rather than error. This can cut off faces, text, or key visual elements. Always preview your media before scheduling.
Blurred background padding on Reels: A Reel uploaded at anything other than 9:16 will have blurred fill on the sides or top/bottom. It's a bad look for professional content.
Tools for Resizing and Cropping
If your media isn't the right ratio, you need to crop or resize it before uploading. Options:
- Canva — free, easy to use, has Instagram-specific templates at the right dimensions
- Adobe Express — similar to Canva with more design options
- Lightroom or Photoshop — for professional photo workflows
- CapCut or DaVinci Resolve — for video aspect ratio adjustments
- Publlish's built-in image editor — basic crop and resize available directly in the composer Editing images in Publlish →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best image size for Instagram feed posts? 1080 x 1350px at 4:5 portrait ratio. This occupies the most vertical space in the feed and typically gets better engagement than square or landscape.
What happens if I upload a 9:16 image to an Instagram feed post? 9:16 is taller than the maximum 4:5 ratio for feed posts. Instagram will crop it to 4:5, cutting off the top and bottom of your image. Crop it yourself first to control exactly which part of the image is shown.
Do Instagram carousels have to all be the same aspect ratio? Yes — all slides in a single carousel must use the same aspect ratio. Mixed ratios result in Instagram cropping all slides to match the first one.
What's the difference between Reels aspect ratio and feed video aspect ratio? Reels must be 9:16 (vertical, full screen). Feed videos use the same range as feed photos: 4:5 to 1.91:1.
Can Publlish crop my image to the right ratio automatically? Publlish has basic cropping tools in the composer. For precise control, crop your image in an external tool before uploading.