Instagram has become an integral part of any successful social media marketing strategy today. It’s crucial for companies to expand their presence on this site, as it’s one of the most visited online destinations. Instagram’s many sharing options (feed posts, feed videos, reels, stories, and IGTV) make it simple to show off your best visual content to the world. It might be tricky to decide which Instagram post size to use and when, given the variety of possibilities available.
Visual content is Instagram’s main draw. So, it is vital to know the correct sizes if you want your articles to have the best chance of receiving engagement and constructing an aesthetically pleasing feed.
Why should you care about the dimensions of your Instagram posts?
Better visuals aid in telling stories
When telling a tale using photos, it’s important to get the proportions precisely so so that no detail is lost. Your Instagram post may not look well on your profile if the image isn’t the suitable size. This might lead to people missing part of your message.
To prevent unwanted image cropping
In my opinion, this is the single most crucial factor in determining the optimal Instagram post size. If you’ve ever uploaded a picture and then seen it significantly cropped, you know how damaging that can be to your narrative and your intended message.
To guarantee proper formatting of your text
You would like all of the text you include in an Instagram post to appear correctly on your profile. And if you don’t use the proper picture size while making your post, you can have some text cut off. And if you don’t want to lose any letters or words in the process of shrinking the image, you might have to make it too small.
To preserve branding and other design components
In addition to words, your Instagram post might also include a graphical element, like a logo. Throughout the process of making the post, you should check to see that the logo’s size doesn’t overwhelm the picture. Knowing the ideal dimensions for an Instagram post can help you make a high-quality photograph and strategically insert your brand’s logo.
Everything You Need to Know About Instagram Post Size
In order to choose the best dimensions for your Instagram posts, you need first evaluate the quality of your existing images and videos. Have you uploaded all the good pictures? Perhaps they’re hazy, though. Is there anything missing from them? Images appear to have a black or white backdrop, but is it intentional? If that’s the case, you’ll find a lot of useful information here.
Aspect ratio and size are the two most crucial factors. What we mean by “aspect ratio” is the proportion of a picture’s width to its height. Example: 1:2 is a representation of a ratio. Size is given in inches, with the first number representing width and the second, height. Yet, the height and width of your image or video are measured in terms of the amount of pixels.
If the photo’s aspect ratio isn’t one that Instagram recognises, it will be cropped or stretched to suit. For the width of your photos, Instagram will accept anything from 320 pixels up to 1080 pixels. If your photo is narrower than 320 pixels or bigger than 1080 pixels, it will be enlarged.
Together with perfecting your image proportions, you should also devote effort to finding the optimal Instagram posting window for attracting the most likes and comments.
What are the optimal dimensions for an Instagram post?
Image dimensions for Instagram feed posts
Initially, square photos were the only kind that could be uploaded to Instagram. Nevertheless, Instagram now accepts photographs in any orientation, whether they be horizontal, vertical, or square. As a result, you may choose from a broad variety of image formats when uploading them.
Each of these categories of photos requires a specific image size when uploaded to Instagram:
Photos that are square
Although both horizontal and vertical orientations are supported, the most common choice is the square. Instagram recommends using a square picture size of 1080 pixels by 1080 pixels for optimal viewing. Hence, the aspect ratio is a perfect 1. That’s why that ratio is worth considering, since it can yield optimal outcomes. If you don’t, the picture may be shortened.
Images oriented horizontally
For horizontal photographs on Instagram, the best resolution is 1080 pixels wide by 566 pixels tall. For this reason, the aspect ratio is 1.9:1, however 16:9 is also acceptable. Always go for a minimum width of 1080 pixels when uploading photos. When you do this, the image’s quality holds up well even after being compressed.
Vertical images
With Instagram, the best dimensions for a vertical photo are 1080 pixels wide by 1350 pixels tall. This results in a 4:5 aspect ratio. According to research, portrait images are more popular than horizontal or square ones. It’s because profile photographs take up more real estate than other types of photos in the stream.
Your brand may, therefore, get extra real estate on people’s phones by switching to portrait orientation. The larger size also makes them more noticeable, which increases the number of individuals that interact with them.
Instagram’s Maximum Post Size for Videos
In comparison to still photographs, Instagram users are much more likely to engage with videos. These may be uploaded in the same three formats as regular photographs: square, vertical, and horizontal. The optimal Instagram video post size, including recommended dimensions and aspect ratios, is as follows:
Videos must be exactly 1080 pixels on each side and have a 1:1 aspect ratio.
Dimensions of 1080 pixels by 607 pixels and an aspect ratio of 1.9:1 (16:9) are recommended for horizontal movies.
The optimal dimensions for a vertical video are 1080 pixels wide by 1350 pixels high, with a 4:5 aspect ratio.
A Buffer research found that square videos garner more attention than their horizontal and vertical counterparts. In addition to seeing a 30–35% uptick in views, square videos also see an 80–100% uptick in engagement.