Instagram Reel size and specs
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Size | 1080 x 1920 pixels |
| Aspect ratio | 9:16, vertical |
| Video formats | MP4 or MOV |
| Video length | Up to 3 minutes at the time of writing. Check the app, because the limit has changed before. |
| Cover | 1080 x 1920 pixels, JPG or PNG |
Reel cover size and the grid
A Reel cover is a 1080 x 1920 picture. In recent versions of Instagram the profile grid shows thumbnails in a 3:4 shape, so only the middle 1080 x 1440 part of a cover shows, and 240 pixels are cut from the top and from the bottom. Put the title or the face of your cover in the middle. The tool can shade the part that the grid cuts.
Reel safe zone
On a Reel, Instagram shows your account name, the caption and the audio at the bottom, and buttons for likes, comments and sharing on the right. Keep text and faces away from the top, the bottom and the right edge. About the top 250 pixels, the bottom 420 pixels and a 150 pixel strip on the right are shaded in the tool as a rough guide. The layout changes with the app, so test a Reel before you rely on it.
How to make a Reel cover
- Take a frame from your video, or choose any photo, and open it in the tool.
- Choose Fill to crop it to 9:16, or a blurred background to keep the whole picture.
- Check that the title and faces are inside the unshaded area.
- Download the picture and choose it as the cover when you post the Reel.
This tool resizes pictures. It does not change videos. Film or export your video at 1080 x 1920 pixels.
Related pages
See the Story size, post size and highlight cover size, the Instagram resizer and the guide to Instagram image sizes.