Key takeaways
- Export Instagram images at 1080 pixels wide; Instagram scales wider photos down to 1080 and enlarges narrower ones.
- Portrait 1080×1350 (4:5), square 1080×1080 (1:1) and landscape 1080×566 (1.91:1) work everywhere, scheduled or posted in the app.
- In the app a portrait post can be as tall as 1080×1440 (3:4), but scheduled posts publish through Meta’s API, which accepts 4:5 at most.
- Stories and Reels are 1080×1920 (9:16); a Reel needs at least 720 pixels and 30 frames per second, with a 420×654 cover.
- Through SkedCast, Instagram images are JPEG up to 8 MB, with up to 10 items in a carousel.
On this page
What size should an Instagram post be?
Export at 1080 pixels wide and pick the height for the shape you want. Instagram’s help centre says it uploads photos at the best quality up to a width of 1080 pixels, keeps a photo at its original resolution if its ratio is supported, and crops it if not (read 4 November 2026):
| Placement | Size in pixels | Aspect ratio | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed post, portrait | 1080 × 1350 | 4:5 | The tallest a scheduled post can be |
| Feed post, tall portrait | 1080 × 1440 | 3:4 | In the Instagram app only |
| Feed post, square | 1080 × 1080 | 1:1 | Works everywhere |
| Feed post, landscape | 1080 × 566 | 1.91:1 | The widest Instagram keeps |
| Carousel item | Same as a feed post | 4:5 to 1.91:1 | Keep every item the same shape |
| Story | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 | Full screen |
| Reel | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 | At least 720 px and 30 fps |
| Reel cover | 420 × 654 | 1:1.55 | Cannot be changed after upload |
| Profile photo | A square, at least 320 × 320 | 1:1 | Shown as a circle |
Why does a scheduled Instagram post have a different limit?
Posting in the Instagram app, a photo can be as tall as 3:4 (1080 × 1440). Every scheduler, SkedCast included, publishes through Meta’s content publishing API, which accepts feed images from 4:5 to 1.91:1 and refuses anything taller. So a 1080 × 1440 image cannot be scheduled as is: crop it to 1080 × 1350, which also works in the app. SkedCast checks the shape when you schedule, so a post Instagram would refuse is flagged while you can still fix it.
What size should an Instagram Story or Reel be?
Both are full screen: 1080 × 1920 pixels, a 9:16 ratio. Instagram’s help centre says a Reel can be any ratio from 1.91:1 to 9:16, with a minimum resolution of 720 pixels and at least 30 frames per second; 9:16 fills the screen. Its recommended Reel cover is 420 × 654 pixels, and the cover cannot be edited after upload, so set it before publishing. For Reel length limits, use the Instagram Reel length checker.
How do you resize an image for Instagram?
Three steps, before you upload or schedule:
Pick the shape
Choose portrait 4:5, square 1:1 or landscape 1.91:1 for the feed, or 9:16 for a Story or Reel.
Resize to 1080 wide
Use the free image resizer with the Instagram preset, or any editor, so the width is exactly 1080 pixels.
Save as JPEG
Export a high-quality JPEG under 8 MB; SkedCast converts PNG and WebP to JPEG automatically.
How do you schedule Instagram posts at the right size?
In SkedCast, upload the image, pick feed post, carousel (up to 10 photos and videos), Reel or Story, and choose a time. Each image is checked against Instagram’s size, shape and file rules before it is scheduled, and the composer shows how it will look. For every network’s sizes on one page, see social media image sizes; to plan the grid first, use the Instagram grid planner.
Sources
FAQ
- What is the best Instagram post size?
- 1080×1350 pixels (4:5 portrait). It fills more of the feed than a square and works both in the app and when scheduled.
- What size is an Instagram Story?
- 1080×1920 pixels, a full-screen 9:16 ratio.
- What size is an Instagram Reel?
- 1080×1920 pixels (9:16). Instagram accepts ratios from 1.91:1 to 9:16, at least 720 pixels and 30 frames per second.
- What is the Instagram Reel cover size?
- 420×654 pixels, a 1:1.55 ratio, per Instagram’s help centre. The cover cannot be changed after upload.
- Can I post a 1080×1440 image on Instagram?
- Yes in the Instagram app, which accepts up to 3:4. A scheduler publishes through Meta’s API, which accepts up to 4:5, so crop to 1080×1350 to schedule it.
- What happens if my image is the wrong size?
- Instagram scales it to 1080 pixels wide and crops any ratio it does not support. A scheduler such as SkedCast flags it before publishing.
- What size should an Instagram profile picture be?
- A square image of at least 320×320 pixels, with the subject centred, because Instagram shows it as a circle.