Reels play full screen, so make them vertical: 1080 × 1920 pixels, a 9:16 shape.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Recommended size | 1080 × 1920 |
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 (accepted: 1.91:1 to 9:16) |
| Minimum resolution | 720 pixels |
| Frame rate | At least 30 frames per second |
| Cover image | 420 × 654 (1:1.55) |
| Profile grid thumbnail | 3:4 |
Other shapes
Instagram accepts reels anywhere from 1.91:1 landscape to 9:16 vertical, but anything that isn't 9:16 plays with bars or extra space around it. Boosted reels must be 9:16, so vertical is the safe default.
Keep captions clear of the buttons
The like, comment and share buttons sit along the right edge, and your username and caption cover the bottom of the screen. Keep on-screen text and faces in the middle of the frame, away from the bottom fifth and the right edge.
Cover and grid
Instagram recommends a 420 × 654 pixel cover. On your profile grid, reels show as 3:4 rectangles cut from the middle of the cover, so center the title or face.
Upload at the best quality
- Export at 1080 × 1920 and at least 30 frames per second.
- Turn on Upload at highest quality: Profile → Menu → Media quality.
- If you publish through a scheduling tool, Instagram's API takes MP4 or MOV files up to 300 MB.
How long a reel can be depends on how you post it: see how long Instagram reels can be.
Turn comments into conversations
MuChat answers Instagram comments, story replies and DMs automatically. The Free plan needs no card.