The best Instagram post size in 2026 is 1080 x 1350 pixels (4:5) for most photos and carousels, or 1080 x 1440 pixels (3:4) if you want the tallest post Instagram allows. Square posts at 1080 x 1080 (1:1) and landscape posts at 1080 x 566 (1.91:1) still work, but they take up less of the screen.
Instagram's own rule is short. Photos are stored at up to 1080 pixels wide, and any aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 3:4 is kept as you uploaded it. On a 1080-pixel-wide image, that means any height from 566 to 1440 pixels. Go outside that range and Instagram crops the photo to the nearest supported shape.
Below you'll find every size you need for feed posts, carousels, Reels, Stories and your profile, how each one looks on the new 3:4 profile grid, and the export settings that keep your images sharp.
Instagram post size cheat sheet for 2026
| Post type | Pixel dimensions | Aspect ratio | On the profile grid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tall portrait | 1080 x 1440 | 3:4 | Shown in full, no crop |
| Portrait | 1080 x 1350 | 4:5 | Small trim from the sides |
| Square | 1080 x 1080 | 1:1 | Sides trimmed to fit a 3:4 tile |
| Landscape | 1080 x 566 | 1.91:1 | Heavily cropped to the center |
| Carousel | Same as your first slide | 1.91:1 to 3:4 | First slide is the thumbnail |
| Reel | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 | Center 3:4 crop of the cover |
| Story | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 | Not on the grid (Highlights only) |
| Profile photo | At least 320 x 320 | 1:1 | Displayed as a small circle |
Feed post sizes in detail
Every feed photo on Instagram is 1080 pixels wide when it's displayed at full quality. What changes between formats is the height, and with it, how much of the screen your post occupies while someone scrolls.
Tall portrait post (3:4): 1080 x 1440
Instagram added support for 3:4 photos in May 2025. Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, pointed out at the time that 3:4 is the shape almost every phone camera shoots by default, so a straight-from-camera photo now posts without a forced crop.
- The tallest feed post Instagram allows.
- The only feed shape that fills a profile grid tile with no crop at all.
- Works for single images and carousels.
Portrait post (4:5): 1080 x 1350
Before 3:4 arrived, 4:5 was the go-to choice for brands and creators, and it's still a safe default. It takes up most of the screen in the feed, and it's supported everywhere, including older design templates and scheduling tools. On the grid, Instagram trims a sliver from each side to fit the 3:4 tile, which rarely matters.
Square post (1:1): 1080 x 1080
- The classic Instagram shape, and still fine for quotes, product shots and graphics designed for several platforms at once.
- Takes less vertical space in the feed than portrait formats.
- On the grid, the left and right edges get trimmed, so keep important elements away from the sides.
Landscape post (1.91:1): 1080 x 566
- The widest shape Instagram keeps without cropping.
- Good for panoramas and group shots, but it looks small on a phone.
- Gets cropped hard on the profile grid, so only the middle of the image shows there.
Why taller posts get more attention
People scroll Instagram on phones held upright. A taller post physically occupies more of that screen, which means more time in view as someone scrolls past. A 1080 x 1440 post is 33% taller than a 1080 x 1080 one, and 1080 x 1350 is 25% taller.
That doesn't make square posts wrong. A strong square photo beats a weak tall one every time. But when you control the crop, taller is the better default. The main exception is content you plan to post unchanged on other networks: LinkedIn, for example, displays images up to 4:5, so a 4:5 post travels between platforms more easily than a 3:4 one.
How post sizes look on your profile grid
In January 2025, Instagram changed the profile grid from square tiles to taller 3:4 rectangles. Your posts didn't change, but the preview of each one on your profile did.
- 3:4 posts fill the tile exactly.
- 4:5 posts lose a small strip from the left and right.
- Square posts lose roughly an eighth of the image from each side.
- Landscape posts are cut down to a narrow slice from the middle.
If you care how your grid looks as a whole, design with the center of each image in mind. Text that runs to the edges of a square graphic will be clipped in the grid even though it looks fine in the feed.
Sizes for Stories, Reels and other formats
Feed posts aren't the only place your images show up. Here are the other formats you'll use most:
| Format | Pixel dimensions | Key considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Story | 1080 x 1920 (9:16) | Keep text away from the top bar and the reply field at the bottom |
| Reel | 1080 x 1920 (9:16) | Caption and buttons cover the bottom and right edge |
| Reel cover | 1080 x 1920 | The grid shows the center 1080 x 1440 |
| Carousel | Up to 20 slides | Every slide uses the same aspect ratio as the first |
| Profile photo | At least 320 x 320 | Cropped to a circle, so center your face or logo |
For a full breakdown of video specs, cover design and safe zones, see our Instagram Reel size guide.
Carousel sizes
Instagram rolled out carousels of up to 20 photos and videos in 2024, up from 10. All slides in a carousel share one aspect ratio, which is set by your first slide. Decide on 4:5 or 3:4 before you design anything, and build every slide to match. Swipe-through graphics, like step-by-step tips, should keep text inside the center of each slide so nothing gets clipped.
Export settings for crisp posts
Instagram compresses every upload. These settings give it the best possible starting file:
- Width: export at exactly 1080 pixels wide. According to Instagram's help center, wider photos get sized down to 1080 and photos narrower than 320 pixels get enlarged. Doing the resize yourself gives you control over sharpening.
- File type: JPEG for photos. PNG works in the app and can keep flat graphics cleaner, but Meta's publishing API, which scheduling tools use, accepts JPEG only.
- File size: Meta's API caps images at 8 MB. A well-exported 1080 x 1350 JPEG is usually far smaller than that.
- Color: export in sRGB. Other color profiles can shift colors when Instagram converts the file.
- Upload quality: in the app, go to your profile, tap the menu, open Media quality and turn on Upload at highest quality.
If your photos still look soft after posting, the cause is usually a weak connection or a file that was compressed before you uploaded it. Our guide to fixing blurry Instagram Stories walks through each cause, and most of it applies to feed posts too.
Resize and schedule posts with ViralFarm
If you have a photo in the wrong shape, our free Instagram photo resizer gets it to Instagram's feed sizes before you post. For carousels, ViralFarm can generate full slideshows from a link, a topic or pasted text using templates modeled on posts that went viral, and you can adjust slides, brand colors and fonts in the editor.
When the post is ready, schedule it to Instagram from the queue or calendar, and send versions to TikTok, Pinterest, LinkedIn and other channels with their own captions. The free plan includes 2 channels and 20 published posts a month.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Instagram post size?
For most posts, 1080 x 1350 pixels (4:5). If you want maximum screen space and an uncropped profile grid preview, use 1080 x 1440 pixels (3:4). Both look sharp and both work for carousels.
Are square Instagram posts still worth using?
Yes, when the content suits a square, such as quote graphics or images you'll reuse across several platforms. Just remember that square posts take less space in the feed and get their sides trimmed in the 3:4 profile grid.
What happens if I upload a photo with the wrong dimensions?
If the aspect ratio falls outside 1.91:1 to 3:4, Instagram crops it to fit a supported ratio. If it's narrower than 320 pixels, Instagram enlarges it, and if it's wider than 1080 pixels, Instagram shrinks it. Cropping can cut off text, and enlarging makes the image soft.
Should I only post in the 3:4 format?
Not necessarily. 3:4 gives you the most space and a clean grid, but 4:5 is nearly as tall and is easier to reuse on other platforms. Pick one tall format and stick with it so your grid looks consistent.
Why do my Instagram photos look blurry after I upload them?
The usual causes are a file smaller than 1080 pixels wide, an upload on a weak connection, a data-saving setting in the app, or an image that was already compressed by a messaging app. Export at 1080 pixels wide, turn on Upload at highest quality and upload over Wi-Fi.
How many photos can I put in an Instagram carousel?
Up to 20 photos and videos per carousel in the Instagram app. Scheduling tools that publish through Meta's API may support fewer slides, so check your tool's limit if you plan to schedule long carousels.
Pick your default size, save it as a template in your design app, and every post you make after that fits the feed and the grid. When you want help filling your calendar, Start free — no credit card required.