Instagram compresses and crops every upload. If your image has the wrong shape or is too small, it can look soft, get cut off or show black bars. Starting from the right size avoids most of that.
Here are the sizes to use for each placement, plus how to keep important content safe.
Key Takeaway: Use 1080 px wide for everything, 4:5 portrait for feed posts when you want the most screen space, and 9:16 for Stories and Reels.
Instagram Image Sizes by Placement
| Placement | Size | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Feed post, square | 1080 x 1080 px | 1:1 |
| Feed post, portrait | 1080 x 1350 px | 4:5 |
| Feed post, landscape | 1080 x 566 px | 1.91:1 |
| Stories and Reels | 1080 x 1920 px | 9:16 |
| Profile photo | 320 x 320 px or larger (shown as a circle) | 1:1 |
Platforms change their specs from time to time, so confirm in the platform's upload screen if exact sizing matters.
Safe Zones for Stories and Reels
The Instagram interface covers the top and bottom of a vertical video or Story with your name, buttons and captions. Keep text and logos inside the middle area, with roughly the top and bottom 15 to 20 percent left clear. Profile grids can also crop posts toward the center, so keep the main subject centered.
Why Instagram Photos Look Blurry
- Too small: an image narrower than 1080 px is stretched. Start from a larger original (see upscaling only as a last resort).
- Wrong ratio: Instagram crops what does not fit. Crop it yourself first with the Crop tool so you control the framing.
- Heavy file: very large files get re-compressed hard. Export a clean 1080 px version and compress it with the compressor.
Prepare Your Image in Three Steps
- Crop to 1:1, 4:5 or 9:16 with the Crop tool.
- Set the width to 1080 px with the Resize tool, or use the Social Media Resizer for ready-made sizes.
- Export as JPG (or PNG for graphics with sharp text) and compress.
For other networks, see the social media image sizes cheat sheet.
Note: Recommended image sizes reflect published guidelines and common practice for Instagram at the time of writing. Platforms change their layouts and limits without notice, so check the current official help pages before you publish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Instagram image size?
1080 x 1350 pixels (4:5) uses the most screen space in the feed. 1080 x 1080 works for square posts, and 1080 x 1920 is for Stories and Reels.
What size is an Instagram Story?
1080 x 1920 pixels, a 9:16 ratio. Keep text away from the top and bottom edges.
Why does Instagram crop my photo?
Instagram supports a limited range of ratios. Anything outside it is cropped, so crop to 1:1, 4:5 or 9:16 yourself first.
Why is my Instagram photo blurry?
Usually the image is smaller than 1080 px wide, or it was already heavily compressed. Upload a clean, correctly sized original.
What size should my Instagram profile photo be?
Upload at least 320 x 320 pixels, square. Instagram displays it as a circle, so keep the face centered.
Summary: Use 1080 px wide, pick 4:5 for feed and 9:16 for Stories and Reels, and keep key content in the safe zone. Prepare files with the free Social Media Resizer.