12 photos for one Instagram post
Instagram posts take up to 10 images in SkedCast, so a set of 12 is flagged before publishing: pick the best 10 or split them into two posts.
Instagram post preview
This Instagram post preview shows how your caption and image will actually render in Instagram’s own feed, including the point where Instagram cuts the caption off behind "… more" and a reader has to tap to read the rest. It is the exact same preview engine as our general social media post preview tool — this page just defaults to Instagram and answers Instagram-specific questions below it. Third-party measurement (Instagram does not publish this), checked September 2026.
Platform
Instagram preview
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We just shipped a big update to how bulk imports work. Here's a quick look at what changed and why it makes scheduling a mont … more
How do you use the Instagram post preview?
- Paste your Instagram caption. Type or paste your draft Instagram caption into the box; nothing you type is uploaded anywhere.
- Add an image URL (optional). Paste a public image URL to see it in the mockup frame, or leave it blank to preview the caption alone.
- Confirm Instagram is selected. This page opens with Instagram selected; switch platforms in the tabs above the preview to compare.
- Read the truncation point. The preview greys out the part of the caption that falls past Instagram’s real "more" cutoff, so you can see what a scrolling reader sees before they tap through.
- Move your hook earlier if it is cut off. If your key message or call to action falls in the greyed-out part, move it earlier in the caption so it survives the cutoff.
What are the Instagram rules to know?
Instagram crops media to 4:5 in the feed and takes video up to 15 minutes. The limits SkedCast’s composer checks for Instagram before a post goes out, read from the same rules table the composer uses.
| Feed crop | 4:5 in the feed preview |
|---|---|
| Images | up to 10 per post · JPEG · max 8 MB each · aspect ratio 4:5 to 1.91:1 |
| Video | up to 10 per post · MP4, MOV · up to 15 minutes · max 1,024 MB · 9:16 recommended |
| Mixing photos and video in one post | Allowed |
| Alt text | Supported |
| Separate title field | No |
| Text limit | 2,200 characters |
| How length is counted | As you see it: one emoji or accented letter counts as one character |
Good to know
- Instagram cannot post text without media — every post needs at least one image or video.
- Instagram Reels processing is asynchronous — a Reel may take a moment to finish encoding before it appears.
- Instagram does not support animated GIF posts via the publishing API.
- Instagram does not support clickable links in captions — a pasted URL is inert plain text.
- Instagram does not support link-preview cards, polls, or a separate title field.
What does it look like in practice?
A 16 minutes video on Instagram
It is over the 15 minutes SkedCast checks for Instagram, so trim it before scheduling, or post a cut-down version and link to the full one.
Instagram’s real truncation point
Instagram’s feed post caption shows roughly the first 125 characters before "… more" appears. Feed posts show roughly the first 125 characters before "… more". Reels captions truncate far earlier, around 55-60 characters on the Reels tab — this tool models the main feed, not Reels, so a Reels caption will read as cut off sooner than shown here.
A caption that survives the cutoff
A 320-character caption with its hook in the first 80 characters reads completely for a scrolling Instagram viewer even though the rest is hidden behind "… more".
Instagram post preview FAQ
- Where does Instagram cut off a caption?
- Instagram’s feed post caption shows roughly the first 125 characters before "… more" appears. Feed posts show roughly the first 125 characters before "… more". Reels captions truncate far earlier, around 55-60 characters on the Reels tab — this tool models the main feed, not Reels, so a Reels caption will read as cut off sooner than shown here.
- What video can I post to Instagram?
- SkedCast publishes MP4, MOV video to Instagram, up to 15 minutes and 1,024 MB.
- Can one Instagram post mix photos and video?
- Yes. SkedCast can publish photos and video together in one Instagram post, up to 10 items.
- Does Instagram support alt text?
- Yes. Add alt text to each image in SkedCast and it is sent to Instagram with the post.
- Is this preview built specifically for Instagram?
- No — it is the same multi-platform post-preview tool as our general preview, arranged so Instagram’s default view and questions are easy to find from a Instagram-specific search.
- Does the preview upload or store my caption or image?
- No, the preview renders entirely in your browser from the text and image URL you provide; nothing is uploaded, saved, or sent to a server.
Ready to broadcast everywhere?
Sign up free — no credit card. You land on the Free plan, and you can start a one-time 7-day Studio trial from your workspace whenever you are ready. Connect your first accounts, import a batch, and watch one post fan out across every platform.