Instagram image size — posts, Stories and Reels
Drop a photo in — everyimg crops it to Instagram's recommended 1080 × 1350 px (4:5), keeps it under 1 MB and lets you shift the crop focus. Switch the preset for squares, Stories or Reels.
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The three Instagram formats
Instagram displays everything at fixed aspect ratios — your image gets cropped or scaled to fit, whether you like the result or not. There are only three formats that matter:
- Feed post (recommended): 1080 × 1350 px, 4:5 portrait. Takes up the maximum allowed screen height in the feed — more space than a square, much more than landscape.
- Feed post (square): 1080 × 1080 px, 1:1. The classic — and still the shape of every thumbnail in your profile grid.
- Story / Reel: 1080 × 1920 px, 9:16. Full screen. Keep faces and text away from the top and bottom edges, where the UI overlays sit.
Why exact pixels matter on Instagram
Instagram stores images at a maximum width of 1080 px and re-compresses every upload with its own settings. That pipeline is why photos often look worse after posting. You cannot switch it off — but you can give it nothing to do: upload a JPG at exactly 1080 px width, under 1 MB, already cropped to a supported ratio. Then Instagram's processing is close to a no-op and your photo stays sharp.
The grid crop trap (updated for 2026)
Instagram changed the profile grid in 2026: thumbnails now preview as 3:4 portrait (1080 × 1440 px) instead of the old 1:1 square. That is good news for 4:5 feed posts — far less gets cut off than before — but a subject at the very top or bottom of a tall photo can still be trimmed. Check the thumbnail preview after processing — the bright frame shows exactly what survives the crop — and shift the focus point if needed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Instagram post size in 2026?
1080 × 1350 px (4:5 portrait) for feed posts — it fills the most screen space. Square posts are 1080 × 1080 px, Stories and Reels are 1080 × 1920 px (9:16).
Why does Instagram make my photos blurry?
Instagram re-compresses every upload. If your image is larger than the display size, it gets resized AND re-compressed — a double quality loss. If it is smaller, it gets upscaled and looks soft. Upload a JPG at exactly 1080 px width and under 1 MB, and Instagram barely needs to touch it.
How do I stop Instagram from cropping my photo?
The feed accepts ratios between 1.91:1 (landscape) and 4:5 (portrait). Anything taller — like a 9:16 phone photo — gets cropped. Crop it to 4:5 yourself first, with the focus point where you want it, so you decide what stays instead of Instagram.
Should I upload PNG or JPG to Instagram?
JPG. Instagram converts everything to JPG on their servers anyway — uploading a PNG just means a larger upload and an extra conversion you cannot control.