Instagram’s current documentation has moved beyond the old “square, landscape, or 4:5” shorthand. Feed photos can now be taller, while carousels still force one orientation across the set.
The useful question is not simply “What is the Instagram size?” It is “Which surface am I publishing to, and does my editor produce that exact canvas?”
Current photo range
Instagram’s photo resolution help says:
- a photo between 320 and 1080 pixels wide keeps its original resolution;
- the accepted aspect-ratio range is 1.91:1 through 3:4;
- a 1080-pixel-wide image within that range can be from 566 to 1440 pixels tall;
- wider images are reduced to 1080 pixels;
- unsupported ratios are cropped.
Useful working canvases include:
| Composition | Example canvas | Product match |
|---|---|---|
| Square photo | 1080 × 1080 | Exact Image for Post image preset |
| 4:5 portrait | 1080 × 1350 | Not currently an Image for Post preset |
| 3:4 portrait | 1080 × 1440 | Not currently an Image for Post preset |
| 1.91:1 landscape | 1080 × 566 | Not currently an exact preset |
The 3:4 support is the important update. Pages that still call 4:5 the maximum portrait ratio are out of date.
Carousels
Instagram currently allows up to ten photos and videos in one carousel. Its carousel help explains that the orientation chosen for the post applies to the whole set.
Prepare the carousel as one system:
- Pick the ratio before designing any slide.
- Use the same canvas for every item.
- Check the first slide separately because it carries the opening message.
- Keep recurring elements in consistent positions.
- Preview the full sequence in the composer.
Image for Post can export separate square PNGs, but it does not assemble or reorder a carousel. That happens in Instagram.
Reels
Instagram’s Reel size guidance accepts aspect ratios from 1.91:1 through 9:16. Reels should be at least 30 frames per second and at least 720 pixels in resolution. Meta recommends a 420 × 654 cover.
Image for Post’s 1080 × 1920 MP4 layout is a 9:16 working canvas and exceeds the documented minimum resolution. It does not provide a cover crop at 420 × 654 or show Instagram interface overlays.
For a vertical video:
- keep essential text away from edges and controls;
- inspect the cover frame separately;
- add captions where the message depends on speech;
- upload at the highest quality setting if that option is enabled in Instagram;
- watch the posted result on a phone.
Square images remain useful
The 1080 × 1080 square is not obsolete. It is supported, predictable, and can be reused where a 1:1 canvas is accepted. It is also the Image for Post layout with the clearest exact match to an Instagram feed photo.
Square is a good choice when the design needs a centred subject and the extra portrait height adds no information. Do not choose portrait solely because someone claims it guarantees engagement. Use account-level results to test that decision.
A reliable publishing check
Before uploading:
- Confirm the asset type: single photo, carousel, or Reel.
- Confirm the pixel dimensions and ratio.
- Make important text readable at phone width.
- Preview the crop and, for carousels, every slide.
- Add alternative text or captions as appropriate.
- Recheck Meta’s help when producing a new campaign.
Create a square image or vertical video
Open Image for Post for its 1080 × 1080 PNG layout or 1080 × 1920 MP4 layout. Both exports can be created without signup. Use another editor when you need Instagram’s 4:5 or 3:4 feed canvases.
Sources checked
- Instagram Help: photo resolution and aspect ratio
- Instagram Help: carousel photos and videos
- Instagram Help: Reel size and aspect ratio
Sources and product behavior were checked on 29 July 2026.