What size is an Instagram Reel?
9:16 vertical, ideally 1080×1920 pixels. Meta recommends 1440×2560 for Reels ads.
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Instagram Reel size: 9:16 specs and free crop tool
The current Instagram Reel dimensions, safe zones and limits, with sources, and a free tool to crop your cover or reference photo to 9:16.
Updated
Crop your photo
9:16 preview
Only crop photos you are allowed to use, of adults who consented. “Use as reference” keeps the image in your browser’s studio draft; it is uploaded only if you later generate a video. If it does not appear, download the JPEG and upload it in the studio.
Instagram Reel size in 2026
The Instagram Reel size is 9:16, full-screen vertical. Export at 1080×1920 pixels for organic Reels; that is the long-standing standard and it fills a phone screen without bars. For Reels ads, Meta’s own ads guide currently recommends 1440×2560 pixels, still 9:16, in MP4 or MOV, up to 4 GB. Other ratios upload too, but anything wider than 9:16 is shown with empty space or cropped in the full-screen player.
Length has changed several times. Instagram raised the Reel limit from 90 seconds to 3 minutes in January 2025, according to Adam Mosseri’s announcement covered by Social Media Today, while Meta’s ads guide lists Reels ads from 0 seconds up to 15 minutes. Limits can differ by account and region, so check the upload screen of your app if you are close to a limit.
Safe zones: keep text and faces visible
Instagram overlays your caption, username, buttons and the call-to-action on top of the Reel. Meta recommends leaving about 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% on each side free of text, logos and key details. Turn on “Show Reels safe zones” in the crop tool above to see those margins over your photo, and keep the face and the outfit inside the clear area.
Profile grids now preview posts in a taller vertical shape instead of a square, so the centre of your 9:16 cover matters: place the subject slightly above the middle.
The same margins apply to the cover image you pick for a Reel. If you start from a landscape photo, crop it to 9:16 first rather than letting Instagram zoom into the middle: you decide what stays in the frame, and the subject does not end up cut at the forehead or hidden behind the caption.
From a photo to a Reel-ready AI video
Crop your photo to 9:16 here, entirely in your browser, then press “Use as reference in SpicyFrame”: the cropped image goes into the studio draft as a reference. SpicyFrame renders a 9:16 MP4 of 5, 10 or 30 seconds with native sound, in 480p, 720p or 1080p, ready to post as a Reel. Read our AI video for TikTok and Reels guide and vertical video guide for framing tips.
Instagram Reel specs at a glance
| Spec | Recommended value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 vertical | Fills the full-screen player |
| Resolution (organic) | 1080 × 1920 px | Standard Full HD vertical |
| Resolution (ads) | 1440 × 2560 px | Per Meta’s ads guide |
| File type | MP4 or MOV | H.264 video and AAC audio are the safe choice |
| Max file size (ads) | 4 GB | Per Meta’s ads guide |
| Length | Up to 3 minutes (organic); ads up to 15 minutes | 3-minute Reels since January 2025 |
| Safe zone | 14% top, 35% bottom, 6% sides | Keep text and faces out of these margins |
Frequently asked questions
How long can an Instagram Reel be in 2026?
Up to 3 minutes for regular Reels since January 2025. Meta’s ads guide lists Reels ads up to 15 minutes. Check your app if your account shows a different limit.
What is the Instagram Reel safe zone?
Meta recommends keeping about 14% at the top, 35% at the bottom and 6% on each side free of text and key details, because captions and buttons cover those areas.
Can I post a 4:5 or square video as a Reel?
It uploads, but it will not fill the screen. Crop to 9:16 for a full-screen Reel; use 4:5 for feed posts.
Does SpicyFrame make videos in Reel size?
Yes. Every SpicyFrame video is a vertical 9:16 MP4 with native sound, 5, 10 or 30 seconds long, in 480p, 720p or 1080p.
Sources
External pages, opened in a new tab. Platform limits change; checked on the update date above.