What size is an Instagram Reel?
| Spec | Instagram Reels |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 1.91:1 to 9:16 |
| Minimum resolution | 720 pixels (no maximum stated) |
| Minimum frame rate | 30 fps |
| Max length | 20 minutes to record and edit; over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences |
| Max file size | Not stated on Instagram's help pages |
| Container (MP4, MOV) | Not stated |
| Video encoding | Progressive scan, High profile, 2 consecutive B-frames, closed GOP of half the frame rate, CABAC, 4:2:0 |
| Audio | Stereo or stereo + 5.1, 96 kHz or 48 kHz |
| Cover photo | 420×654 px (1:1.55), PNG or JPG; can't be edited after upload |
| Captions | Auto-generated closed captions, toggled in the mobile app (not on computers) |
Source: Reel size and aspect ratios on Instagram (ratio, resolution, frame rate, encoding, cover), Record a reel on Instagram (length) and Manage closed captions for your reels, Instagram Help Center, checked November 4, 2026. The encoding block sits under "Additional technical details", collapsed by default.
Instagram publishes minimums, not a recommended size. Here are common sizes that fit (pixel math, not Instagram's wording):
| Shape | Ratio | Size | Inside Reels range? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-screen vertical | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | Yes (the tallest allowed) |
| Portrait | 4:5 | 1080×1350 | Yes |
| Square | 1:1 | 1080×1080 | Yes |
| Widescreen | 16:9 | 1920×1080 | Yes (1.78 is under 1.91) |
| Cinema | 2.39:1 | 1920×803 | No (wider than 1.91:1) |
How long can an Instagram Reel be?
Instagram's Record a reel page says you can record and edit reels up to 20 minutes, and that "Reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences." So 20 minutes is the ceiling, and 3 minutes is the practical limit if you want reach beyond your followers.
Ignore 60-second and 90-second figures you'll see elsewhere: the 60-second help URL now shows the Reels page, and 90 seconds comes from boost and ad specs, not organic posting.
What is the Instagram video size for feed posts?
Instagram no longer publishes a separate feed-video spec. Its old help pages for "How do I post a video?" and the 60-second limit now both show the Record a reel content. Our reading is that feed video has been folded into Reels, so the Reels specs above apply; Instagram doesn't say that in so many words on those pages.
What size is an Instagram Reel cover?
Instagram recommends a cover photo of 420×654 pixels, a 1:1.55 ratio, as a PNG or JPG. You can't change the cover after the reel is posted, so set it before you share (Instagram Help).
Exporting a launch video for Instagram
| Setting | Recommended export |
|---|---|
| Size | 1080×1920 (9:16) |
| Frame rate | 30 fps (Instagram's minimum) |
| File | MP4, H.264 (Instagram names no container; this is our default) |
| Encoding | High profile, progressive, closed GOP, 4:2:0, as Instagram lists |
| Audio | Stereo, 48 kHz |
| Length | 15 to 60 seconds; under 3 minutes to stay recommendable |
| Cover | 420×654 px, set before posting |
Our recommendation, chosen to sit inside the Instagram limits above. The full guide: how to make a launch video.
A landscape launch film will post (16:9 is inside the range), but it fills only part of a vertical screen. Cut a 9:16 version: reframe the product UI into the centre, put the headline in large type, and keep the hook in the first two seconds. A shorter cut than the 78-second median in our study of 150 top Product Hunt launches usually suits Reels.