Instagram Aspect Ratio: What Size Should You Use?

Choosing the right Instagram aspect ratio affects more than just appearance. It changes how much screen space your post gets, how your content is cropped, and how polished it looks in the feed.

That matters because Instagram is massive. Meta’s ad tools showed that Instagram ads could reach 1.74 billion users in January 2025. And by Q4 2025, 53% of all Instagram ads ran in Reels, while Reels accounted for 46% of time spent on Instagram in the U.S.

So this is not just a design detail. The shape of your content should match the way people actually use the platform.

Key takeaways

• Stories and Reels: use 9:16 — usually 1080 × 1920 px.
• Vertical feed posts: use 3:4 — usually 1080 × 1440 px. Instagram now supports feed photos up to 3:4.
• 4:5 posts are still common at 1080 × 1350 px, but they are no longer the newest native recommendation.
• Square posts: use 1:1 — usually 1080 × 1080 px.
• Landscape posts: use 1.91:1 — usually around 1080 × 566 px.
• Carousels: the first slide sets the ratio for the rest of the post.

What does aspect ratio mean on Instagram?

Aspect ratio is the relationship between width and height.

A few common examples:

• 1:1 = square
• 3:4 = vertical photo
• 9:16 = full-screen vertical video
• 1.91:1 = landscape

That is different from pixel size.
For example:

• 9:16 is the shape
• 1080 × 1920 px is the resolution

Both matter. The ratio controls how the content fits on Instagram, while the pixel dimensions help keep it sharp.

What aspect ratio should you use for each Instagram format?

Here is the quick reference table:

Format	Recommended ratio	Common size
Stories	9:16	1080 × 1920 px
Reels	9:16	1080 × 1920 px
Vertical feed post	3:4	1080 × 1440 px
Vertical feed post (still common)	4:5	1080 × 1350 px
Square post	1:1	1080 × 1080 px
Landscape post	1.91:1	1080 × 566 px
Carousel	Match first slide	Match first slide

Instagram says feed photos should have a width of at least 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 3:4. Reels can be uploaded between 1.91:1 and 9:16.

What size should Stories and Reels be?

For both formats, the safest choice is 9:16.

That usually means:

1080 × 1920 px

This format fills the phone screen naturally, which is exactly how Stories and Reels are meant to be viewed. Since Reels now drive a large share of attention on Instagram, using a full-screen vertical format is the obvious default, not a trend.

Best for:

• short videos
• product demos
• talking-head clips
• behind-the-scenes content
• paid social creative

Tip: keep text away from the top and bottom edges, because Instagram’s interface can cover those areas.

What is the best size for vertical feed posts?

For feed photos, 3:4 is now the strongest answer.

That usually means:

1080 × 1440 px

This matters because Instagram’s own guidance now allows feed photos up to 3:4, making it the tallest native photo format for regular feed posts.

In simple terms, a taller image takes up more room in the feed. That gives your content more visual presence without changing anything else.

Best for:

• portraits
• product photography
• educational graphics
• brand visuals
• image-led posts

Is 4:5 still worth using?

Yes. 4:5 is still a solid format.

That usually means:

1080 × 1350 px

A lot of teams still use it because their templates, design systems, and publishing workflows were built around it. So while 3:4 is the newer native recommendation, 4:5 is still practical and widely used.

A good rule is:

• use 3:4 for new creative
• use 4:5 if your workflow already depends on it

When should you use square posts?

Square posts still have a place, even if they are no longer the default best option.

Ratio: 1:1
Common size: 1080 × 1080 px

They work well when you want a simple, balanced layout.

Good use cases:

• product images
• quote graphics
• memes
• announcement posts
• centered compositions

The downside is obvious: square posts take up less vertical space than taller formats, so they usually feel smaller in the feed.

When does a landscape post make sense?

Landscape posts use 1.91:1, usually around 1080 × 566 px. Instagram still supports this shape for feed images.

They make sense for content that is naturally wide, such as:

• panoramic photos
• website screenshots
• dashboards
• charts
• wide product scenes

Still, for most standard Instagram content, landscape is not the strongest choice. It simply gives you less on-screen presence on mobile.

How do carousel ratios work?

This is the part people often get wrong:

The first slide controls the aspect ratio for the whole carousel.

So if your first slide is square, the rest of the carousel will display in that same square frame. If the first slide is vertical, the rest will follow that format too.

That means you should decide the format before designing the slides.

Best carousel choices

Use 3:4 if you want:

• more screen space
• a modern vertical layout
• image-led carousel posts

Use 4:5 if you want:

• compatibility with older templates
• a familiar social format
• easier reuse of existing assets

Use 1:1 if you want:

• simple graphic slides
• a neat, symmetrical layout
• easier repurposing across platforms

Why does vertical content usually work better?

Because it takes up more room on a phone screen.

That is one reason Reels have become such a large part of Instagram usage and ad delivery. Short-form vertical video now gets a huge share of both user attention and advertiser spend on the platform.

That does not mean vertical content automatically performs better in every case. But when the same idea can work in either a tall or short format, the taller format usually gives you a stronger visual position in the feed.

What are the most useful Instagram sizes in pixels?

Here is the practical cheat sheet:

Format	Size
Story	1080 × 1920 px
Reel	1080 × 1920 px
Vertical feed post (3:4)	1080 × 1440 px
Vertical feed post (4:5)	1080 × 1350 px
Square post	1080 × 1080 px
Landscape post	1080 × 566 px

What mistakes should you avoid?

A few mistakes show up all the time:

• using landscape when a vertical format would clearly work better
• defaulting to square just because it feels safe
• assuming 4:5 is still the only serious vertical feed option
• designing carousel slides in different shapes
• placing important text too close to the top or bottom of Stories and Reels

None of these will ruin a post by themselves, but they make your content look less intentional.

What Instagram aspect ratio should you actually use?

If you want the simple answer:

• Stories and Reels: 9:16
• Vertical feed photos: 3:4
• Older vertical template workflows: 4:5
• Square posts: 1:1
• Landscape posts: 1.91:1
• Carousels: choose the first slide ratio carefully

That is the cleanest way to think about it.

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