So today we are looking at all things Instagram post sizes!
Instagram continues to be a dominant social media platform in 2025, giving creators and businesses opportunities to engage with their audiences in visually dynamic ways.
To maximise your Instagram presence, understanding the ideal post sizes, ratios, and formats is essential for making your content look professional and in turn, your business. So let’s get to it!
Ideal Instagram Post Size/Ratio
Instagram offers various formats for posts, and each has its ideal size and aspect ratio. (as shown below)
The most common formats include square, portrait, and landscape, each tailored to specific types of content:
- Square Posts: In the most classic Instagram format, the ideal ratio is 1:1 with a size of 1080 x 1080 pixels. This format is still widely used for posts and carousels.
- Portrait Posts: These posts are perfect for displaying taller images and videos, maximising screen space. The ideal size for portrait posts is 1080 x 1350 pixels, with a 4:5 ratio. This format performs well because it fills more of the viewer’s screen, capturing more attention.
- Landscape Posts: Horizontal images work best in this format, with a ratio of 1.91:1 and a size of 1080 x 566 pixels. However, they don’t perform as well because of how they fit on the screen.
For videos, ensure they’re uploaded with the same rations as above. Always opt for high resolution to put out the best quality you can (also please always clean your phone lense).
What to Think About When Selecting a Profile Picture
Your Instagram profile picture is the first visual thing people see when going to your profile, so it’s essential to choose one that accurately represents your brand and personality.
Make sure it is clear and of the highest resolution you can. Instagram displays it as a circle with a minimum size of 110 x 110 pixels, but it’s best to upload a photo that’s 320 x 320 pixels to ensure better quality across different screen sizes.
Always bear in mind your brand identity, using logos or a recognisable image using brand colours. If you are a brand in yourself, use a high quality headshot! Also, keep your profile picture consistent across platforms so you can be easily found and recognised.
Instagram Reels: Maximising Engagement
Reels continue to dominate Instagram’s algorithm, giving businesses and creators a powerful way to expand their reach.
Ideal Reel Size:
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Aspect Ratio: 9:16 (full-screen vertical)
- Length: Up to 90 seconds
Best practices for Reels:
Hook Viewers in the First 3 Seconds
Use Trending Audio to Boost Visibility
Add Captions for Accessibility
Incorporate a Clear CTA (Call to Action)
Our Clue Content Reels leverage trends and analytics to create videos that resonate with your audience while keeping your brand identity strong. Below is a client example of Clue Content. This A-Roll is a great Instagram reel which will help increase awareness of the business. The captions embedded throughout allow accessibility, and the branding colours and logo at the end increase recognition.
Carousels: Driving Engagement Through Multiple Slides
Carousels allow you to post up to 20 images or videos in a single post, making them perfect for storytelling and sharing value-driven content.
Why Carousels Work:
- Higher Engagement: The more users swipe, the longer they stay on your post.
- Great for Step-by-Step Content: Tutorials, tips, and before/after transformations work well.
- Repurpose Content: Turn long-form content into bite-sized slides.
Ideal Carousel Image Size:
- Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels
- Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels (recommended for maximum impact)
Best Way to Use Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories is still one of the most engaging features, allowing users to share temporary content that disappears after 24 hours. Stories are perfect for building audience engagement and driving traffic to links, products, or new posts.
To make the best use of stories:
- Use Interactive Features: Add polls, questions, or quizzes to encourage audience interaction. These features boost engagement and provide valuable insights about your audience.
- Incorporate Stickers: Location tags, hashtags, and mentions help increase the discoverability of your stories.
- Create Highlights: Turn important stories into Highlights that appear permanently on your profile. This is an excellent way to showcase key content such as tutorials, promotions, or FAQs.
To ensure your Instagram Stories display properly, use the following dimensions:
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels.
- Aspect Ratio: 9:16.
Instagram Story Tips
- Be Consistent with Design: Use branded logos, colours and fonts to make your stories easily recognisable and visually appealing.
- Use Short, Engaging Text: Since stories are temporary and fast-paced, make sure any text is easy to read and gets straight to the point.
- Time Your Posts: Post stories when your audience is most active. Analyse your Instagram Insights to understand peak engagement times.
- Use Captions for Accessibility: Always include text captions for your stories, as many viewers may be watching without sound. This ensures your message reaches everyone, including those with hearing impairments.
Instagram Post Tips
- ALWAYS upload high-resolution images and videos. Instagram compresses files, so starting with the highest quality ensures your posts look professional.
- Instagram captions can be up to 2,200 characters long. Use this space to tell a story, ask a question, or include a call to action. Include relevant hashtags to boost visibility. Captivate your audience.
- Carousels allow you to post up to 20 images or videos in a single post. Make the most of this!
- Hashtags matter: Use a mix of niche and popular hashtags to increase your reach. Think about what your audience looks at, your (dare I say it) ideal client. If you are a photographer, your client won’t be using #photographer. But by using hashtags they would, you will be shown to them through the glorious algorithm.
The Upcoming Instagram Edits App – What It Means for Video Content
Instagram is launching a new editing app, designed to enhance video editing capabilities directly within the platform. This could mean:
Better Transitions and Effects
AI-powered Editing Suggestions
Smoother Workflow for Reels and Stories
With Clue Content, we stay ahead of these updates to optimise your content strategy accordingly.
Optimise Your Instagram with Clue Content
These are all things we do in Clue. Ok so we won’t write your caption for you, but we will give you a prompt for each piece of content we create for you. We keep in mind your goal (more reach, engagement, follow or link clicks because it always comes down to one of those four things) and help you optimise your IG to achieve this. We analyse account performance to bring data-driven results, always guided by the data and strategy!
Conclusion
In 2024, optimising your Instagram for maximum engagement means understanding the right dimensions, ratios, and formats for posts and stories. By utilising high-quality visuals, interactive features, and insights, and working with someone like us (but always preferably us), you’ll have an Instagram profile that drives results.
Every week we collate personalised, specific data-led insights to help with your content creation and strategy. If you want insights into when is best to post, what platform to optimise or some content ideas, make sure to sign up to the newsletter below.
So what are you waiting for?
