We should have called this post “The Reel Deal,” because it’s got all the main points you need to properly format your Instagram Reels. It’s the only cheat sheet you need for Instagram Reel format about specs, ratios, and more.
Below, discover specs, ratios, formatting ideas, and extra — everything you need to make your Instagram Reels look nice, with (sigh) no clever wordplay to be discovered.
Why do Instagram Reel sizes matter?
If you’re going to take the time to make an Instagram Reel, it might look as good as possible, right?
You’ve spent weeks drilling the company mascot on the finer factors of the newest Doja Cat dance routine and choosing the best Instagram Reels hashtags. Don’t blow this master stroke of marketing with a foolish little formatting error!
If you add images or videos that aren’t the correct proportions or dimensions, you’re risking a variety of unflattering outcomes. If it’s an incorrect shape, it could get stretched and distorted. Too large? You might experience an awkward crop. Upload some low-res media, and you’re risking a final product that’s pixelated and ugly when blown up to fill the display screen.
None of these are the end of the world, of course. However, they certainly don’t leave an awesome impression of your brand (unless the impression you’re going for is “unprofessional slop-ster”).
Even when the content of the Reel is an Oscar-worthy performance (as I assume, your Doja-Cat-mascot-dance is), a weirdly stretched frame is going to take the viewer out of the moment… and probably on to the following video (which, I assume, is your competitor’s dancing-mascot video).
And here’s another good reason to care about Instagram Reel sizes: The Instagram Reels algorithm tends to favor videos with high-quality visuals. So using the right Instagram Reels sizes when you edit and upload your video is going to provide the greatest chance to get your masterpiece reaching far and wide.
Instagram Reel sizes 2022
These are the Instagram Reel sizes for 2022, but ensure to bookmark this web page and test back frequently for the most up-to-date intel… because like all different social media dimensions, the sizes of Instagram Reels won’t be the same forever.
As Instagram goes through updates, these dimensions and sizes may change to be suitable with new layouts of the app, so keep your ear to the ground (and keep your eyes on this guide, whatever works).
Cover dimension: 1080 pixels x 1920 pixels
Aspect ratio: 9:16
Recommended upload dimension: 1080 pixels x 1920 pixels.
There are a few issues we have control over in this world. Fortunately, the cover photo of your Instagram Reel is one of them.
Here’s the way to choose your Instagram Reel cover:
- Create an Instagram Reel, hit “next.”
- Now you’re within the Share settings. Choose the preview image (tap on the one that says “cover”)
- Add a frame from your video, or choose “add from camera roll” to go to your photo album.
- Need to crop the image? Faucet “crop profile image” on the Share settings display screen and then reposition or zoom in or out.
Thumbnail dimension: 1080 pixels x 1080 pixels
Aspect ratio: 1:1
Display dimension: 1080 pixels x 1080 pixels
Recommended upload dimension: 1080 pixels x 1920 pixels
Once you’ve chosen the right image for your Instagram Reels cover (see the tip above!), you’ll be able to crop down to a grid-worthy thumbnail for your main feed.
While the cover is a 9:16 proportion, the thumbnail appearing on your feed will be cropped to a 1:1 square.
So, for best results, select an image that’s 1080 pixels x 1920 pixels, but that has a 1080 pixel x 1080 pixel area that will be suitable to crop down to.
