All Instagram post dimensions
Verified on 2026-08-10 against Instagram Help Centre — photo and video dimensions . Platforms revise these regularly — if another page does not say when it last checked, treat its numbers with suspicion.
| Use | Size | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait (4:5) | 1080×1350 | 4:5 | takes the most feed space |
| Square (1:1) | 1080×1080 | 1:1 | the classic format |
| Landscape (1.91:1) | 1080×566 | 540:283 | — |
| Story / Reel (9:16) | 1080×1920 | 9:16 | — |
| Profile picture | 320×320 | 1:1 | displayed as a circle |
Platform limits
| Constraint | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum width used | 1080 px — anything wider is downscaled |
| Minimum width | 320 px |
| Aspect ratio range | 1.91:1 (landscape) to 4:5 (portrait) |
| Re-encoding | Always. Instagram re-compresses every upload |
| Accepted formats | JPEG and PNG |
Why these numbers
Instagram displays feed images at 1080 pixels wide. That single number explains most of the advice you will read anywhere else. Upload something wider and it is downscaled on their servers, with their encoder settings rather than yours. Upload something narrower and it is stretched up, which looks worse than either.
The aspect ratio decides how much vertical space your post occupies as someone scrolls, which is why 4:5 portrait — 1080 × 1350 — has become the default recommendation. It is the tallest ratio Instagram permits in the feed, so it simply occupies more of the screen than a square. Anything taller than 4:5 gets cropped, and the crop is automatic rather than something you approve.
The second thing worth understanding is that Instagram re-encodes everything. There is no upload path that preserves your file. What you control is what their encoder receives: an image already at 1080 wide, in the right ratio, at high quality, gives their compressor an easy job. An oversized image forces two rounds of processing — their downscale, then their compression — and the difference is visible in fine detail and gradients.
This is also why uploading a heavily compressed file is a mistake. Instagram will compress it again regardless, and the artefacts compound. Give it a clean, high-quality image at the exact dimensions and let their pass be the only lossy step you cannot control.
Sizes here were verified on the date shown. Platforms change these specifications regularly, and any page that does not tell you when it last checked is asking you to trust numbers that may be years old.
Frequently asked questions
What size should an Instagram post be in 2026?
1080 × 1350 pixels for portrait, which takes the most space in the feed, or 1080 × 1080 for square. Instagram displays feed images at 1080 pixels wide regardless, so there is no benefit to going larger — anything wider is downscaled on their servers with their settings rather than yours.
Does Instagram reduce my image quality?
Yes, always. Every upload is re-encoded server-side and there is no way to opt out. What you can control is what their encoder receives: an image already at 1080 wide in a supported ratio needs only one compression pass, while an oversized one gets downscaled and then compressed, which visibly degrades fine detail.
Why does Instagram crop my photo?
Because it falls outside the accepted aspect ratio range, which runs from 1.91:1 landscape to 4:5 portrait. Anything taller or wider is cropped automatically to fit, and you do not get to approve the crop. Resizing to a supported ratio first means you decide what stays in frame.
Should I upload JPEG or PNG?
JPEG for photographs. Instagram re-encodes to JPEG anyway, so uploading a PNG just means a larger upload for the same result. PNG only helps for graphics with text or flat colour, where the sharper source survives their compression slightly better.