Have you ever posted to Instagram Stories and noticed that the dimensions look off? It can be frustrating, especially when you want your content to shine. Instagram Stories have specific dimensions of 1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels tall, and getting these right is crucial for ensuring your posts look their best.
Instagram, a social media titan with 500 million daily users worldwide, has come a long way since its 2010 debut. Initially centred on static, often over-filtered photos, the platform took a pivotal turn in 2016 by introducing Stories, inspired by Snapchat’s success. This innovation proved revolutionary. Users could now share short glimpses of their daily lives. Quickly, it became the go-to platform, surpassing Snapchat’s user base. Understanding Instagram Story dimensions has become crucial for anyone looking to make the most of this social media platform.
As Instagram continues to evolve, Stories remain a central feature. This guide will explore the exact dimensions of Instagram Stories to ensure your visuals stand out. We’ll also provide tips on using Stories effectively, briefly touch on Reels, and delve into editing apps to enhance your content. Learn how to leverage Stories to foster real-time connections and engage your audience throughout the day, turning your brand into a social media powerhouse.
What Dimensions Are Instagram Stories?
Have you ever posted an Instagram story and wondered why it looked a little off? It might have to do with the dimensions!
Next time, follow these handy guidelines for images and videos:
- Dimension: 1080 pixels wide x 1920 pixels tall
or - Aspect Ratio: 9:16
This is the best dimension for Instagram Stories. It ensures your photos and videos fill the entire screen vertically.
Images
Keep your photos under 30 MB in size and use either JPG or PNG format. Using the correct dimensions and specs helps Instagram display your content in the best possible quality.
Videos
Videos can have a maximum length of 60 seconds. Any video that exceeds this limit, will be automatically trimmed. The maximum video size is 4 GB, and compatible formats are MP4 and MOV.
What is the Safe Zone for Instagram Stories?
Instagram has a designated “safe zone” for stories, ensuring crucial elements like text, stickers, and polls are not hidden by profile pictures or navigation buttons. If your content extends beyond this safe zone, Instagram might crop it to fit within this designated area.
The safe zone is technically 1080 × 566 pixels with a 1.91:1 ratio, but Instagram offers a user-friendly tool to make this easier. Lines will appear on the screen if you add an extra element. They help you centre the element while showing the safe zone’s boundaries. With this, you can be confident your elements will be displayed flawlessly for your audience.
Why does Instagram resize my story?
There are two main reasons why Instagram resized your story;
- Maintaining Optimal Quality: Uploading photos and videos significantly different from the recommended 1080px x 1920px dimensions might trigger a resize to ensure a smooth viewing experience for your audience.
- Safe Zone for Visibility: Instagram uses the safe zone for stories to ensure all elements are visible. If your content extends beyond this safe zone, Instagram might crop it to fit within this designated area. In the next section, we’ll dive deeper into the safe zone.
For photos and videos, content can be shrunk to fit, and a background will fill the rest of the screen. However, this can impact the quality of the content.
Uploading from your phone’s camera usually avoids resizing issues, as the photos are already optimized for Instagram Stories. Edited content can be a problem. Always make sure it adheres to the recommended dimensions to prevent unwanted cropping.
What is the Difference between a Reel and a Story on Instagram?
Reels were launched in 2020 by Instagram to compete with TikTok. Although they are similar to Stories, in that video content can be shared, they have a different reach. Which one you use depends on what audience you are targeting.
- IG Stories: are easily accessible to followers. They only appear for 24 hours before disappearing (unless saved as a Highlight).
- IG Reels: are public and discoverable to users who do not follow your account. Once published, like a normal post, they remain on your account.
The best tip to maximize engagement is to use both formats to reach different audiences. It is also worth noting that Reels can be shared as a Story.
Why Your Brand Should Consider Instagram Stories
No algorithm to tackle
For most people who share content on Social Media, it is unlikely that every single follower will see your post. This is because algorithms make sure that users only get to see content that is relevant to them. Tackling the algorithm can be challenging.
Luckily, Instagram Stories appear at the top of the page. With this valuable real estate, you have a great chance of getting noticed. Users just have to click on one Story, and the next will appear automatically.
Higher engagement rate than regular IG posts
Instagram Stories can lead to a higher engagement than regular posts. After 24 hours, unless saved to a highlight reel, they disappear, creating urgency and exclusivity.
With Stories, you can gather valuable information, not just likes. When sharing an image or video in your story, you have the option to add the following features:
- A Q&A button, where followers can respond to questions or ask you a question. You can either answer these questions privately or share them to your story.
- A poll button, where you can ask your followers a question, and they can choose between two or more given answers. For example, ‘Which dress do you prefer?’ ‘Dress 1’ or ‘Dress 2’.
- With a quiz button, your followers can choose between several answers.
At the bottom of the screen, followers also have the option to directly respond to a story.
Improves Brand Connections
Usually, users are showing off a perfect life on their IG feed. IG Stories allow you to be more real and transparent with your followers. You can post behind-the-scenes content, which is less formal, but offers a glimpse of your brand’s personality and culture. This helps to foster a more personal connection with your audience, strengthening brand connections.
Promoting news
Share all announcements, sales, new posts, and giveaways on an Instagram Story. By grabbing the attention of your followers, you can encourage clients to come into action. Communicate what you want viewers to do after seeing your news. Include links for sales or new blog posts. Or, encourage participation in giveaways with specific instructions.
Driving Sales and Conversions
Shoppable Links allow businesses to tag products in their Stories. Viewers can navigate to the purchase page with a simple tap. Previously, it was not possible to add a direct link to your Instagram Story if you had less than 10,000 followers. Thankfully, this feature is available to everyone.
Promote your followers with high qualitative content by using the right Instagram Story dimensions. This is a great opportunity for you to increase awareness of your brand. Take your customers with you in your business processes and expect an increase in brand visibility.
Tips and Ideas to Create the Perfect Instagram Story
Creating the perfect Instagram story involves a mix of creativity, strategy, and understanding your audience. Here are some tips and ideas to help you craft engaging and impactful Instagram stories:
Plan your Content
- Set Clear Goals: Define what you want to achieve with your Stories. Are you aiming to boost brand awareness, drive sales, or increase engagement?
- Consistency Matters: Decide on a posting frequency that aligns with your goals. According to a 2022 HubSpot Blog survey, 43% of marketers who use Instagram Stories post multiple times a week. Regular posting helps build brand loyalty and keeps your audience engaged.
- Strategic Timing: As Stories disappear after 24 hours, timing is crucial. Choose the optimal days and times to post to maximize your reach. Consider using third-party tools to schedule and upload your Stories for consistent and timely content delivery.
Create your Story
When you have planned your content, it is time to get creative! Creating Stories is easy. Simply click on your profile picture at the top left of your screen when you open the app. The option to Add To Your Story appears.
When you create a story, you can add pictures or videos from your library. Pictures are shown for 5 seconds, while videos can be a maximum of 60 seconds.
Additionally, you have the option to create your own design. This is ideal for text posts. You can select the color of the background you wish and add text (and some other features, like stickers).
This is the most basic way to create and upload Stories.
If you wish to personalize your design, there are numerous tools that you can use. Below you will find a detailed list of some of our favorite tools.
Optimize your Content with Instagram Story Stickers
Make sure your Story stands out from the masses. Avail of the huge library of Stickers that Instagram offers users.
When you have selected your Story, at the top of your screen, you will see a rounded square with a smiley face. Here you will find all the available Sticker options. You can search for what you are searching for or scroll through some of the most popular choices.
Here is a list of some of the most popular, which can help drive engagement:
- Music: Select a song to match the mood of your post. Select the length of the music, up to 15 seconds. This is a clever way to extend the length of a picture post.
- Polls: Create a poll to get the opinions of your followers on specific topics. This may be to gather market information before a product launch or to obtain feedback, for example. If used effectively, it can be a great way to collect data quickly.
- Questions: Question boxes are a great way to engage with followers. You can get their answers to specific questions, or use the sticker to let them ask you questions (Ask Me Anything).
- Countdowns: Create excitement with the handy countdown timer. Whether for an event or product launch, build a sense of suspense for your audience.
- Emoji Sliders: This is another fun way to gather opinions and data. Ask your followers how their day is going or something more business-specific. Whatever it may be, your
- Quizzes: Create quizzes directly on the platform for your followers to test their knowledge. Not only fun, but they can also provide valuable information to users.
- Swipe-Up Links: While this option is only available to accounts with 10,000 followers, it is a great way to bring followers to your site. Similarly, there is a sticker option that everyone can use to add a link to their story.
- Add Yours: Add Yours is a template format that has become very popular. Launched in 2021, you can now add your Story to a public thread. It may be a collection of outfits of the day or funny pets. Whatever it may be, don’t overlook the opportunity to contribute.
- AI Stickers: Use this feature to create specific, tailor-made stickers for your account. Simply tap on AI Stickers and type in a prompt to generate your desired image. Check out this information directly from Instagram to find out more.
There are many more, like emojis and image stickers, that can all be used to create visually impressive imagery. Take the time to experiment with Instagram Stickers to see what works for you and your strategy.
Increase your Reach
While Stories are mostly viewed by followers, there is a way to expand your audience and target new users. Try using:
- Mentions: Mention relevant pages on your Stories. This can make it easier for followers to discover collaborative pages. Also, tagged accounts can reshare your Story to theirs, which can show your content to a wider audience.
- Hashtags: Utilize relevant and trending hashtags to make your Stories discoverable by users who follow or search for those tags. This can help attract viewers who aren’t already following you. Not sure which hashtags to use? Take a look at our Hashtag guide!
- Locations: Add location tags to your Stories to appear in location-based searches. This is a great way to connect with local audiences or people interested in specific areas, further broadening your reach.
Instagram Story Mistakes to Avoid
Creating engaging and effective Instagram stories can be challenging. Here are some common mistakes to avoid, ensuring your stories are impactful and well-received:
- Ignoring the aspect ratio: Uploading content with the incorrect dimensions or aspect ratios can result in your content being cropped or not displayed correctly.
- Text overload: Stories with too much content are overwhelming for users. Stories only appear for a few seconds before the next is shown. Including too much text, makes it difficult to read quickly. Avoid writing too much text. If you have a lot of information to share, consider uploading a video and turning on the automated captions. The text appears as you speak and gives the user time to read it if they do not want to listen to it.
- Neglecting visual appeal: Low-quality images or poorly composed videos are not engaging for your audience. Ensure your stories are clear, well-lit, and properly framed. Blurry or pixelated visuals can turn viewers away.
Ignoring story sequence: Whether you are uploading photos or videos to your stories, ensure that they are uploaded in the right order. Otherwise, viewers will get frustrated with incoherent information and skip the stories. - Overusing hashtags or mentions: While hashtags are a useful tool to increase the reach of your story, too many may appear spammy. Similarly, if many accounts are mentioned, the post will lose not only its visual appeal but potentially the trust of your followers. Use relevant hashtags sparingly. Tag only the necessary accounts to keep your story clean and focused.
- Not using story highlights: Don’t let your efforts go to waste! Instagram stories are only available for 24 hours before they disappear. By saving your stories in highlights, they will be pinned to the top of your profile, above your posts. Save important stories to keep them visible on your profile indefinitely. This way, new followers can quickly catch up on your best content. Create different highlight categories to organize your content and make it easy for viewers to find what interests them.
- Ignoring user interaction: Not engaging with responses to polls, questions, or other interactive features will discourage future interactions from followers. Try to respond, at least to a few, to foster community and to encourage more engagement.
- Not monitoring analytics: Regularly check your Instagram Insights to understand what works and what doesn’t. From this data, you can adjust your strategy accordingly.
- Not adding a call to action: For businesses, missing a clear call to action (CTA) can result in missed engagement opportunities. Encourage viewers to take action, such as visiting your website or participating in a poll. Otherwise, viewers are likely to move on without further interaction. Don’t dismiss the potential impact of your content. Make sure each story provides a clear next step to guide your audience toward deeper engagement with your brand.
Editing Apps to Manage the Right Instagram Story Dimensions
There are several editing options available to help you create and upload to your Instagram Stories. They vary from video apps to photo templates. Here is an overview of some of the best to try out:
➲ InShot
The All-in-One Powerhouse
For those who crave complete control, InShot reigns supreme. Craft stunning Instagram Stories from scratch, whether you’re working with photos or videos.
It offers a comprehensive editing suite. You can trim and split footage, adding polished transitions for the best results.
Avail of the vast library of special effects, filters, customizable backgrounds, and music. Alter the playback speed, creating captivating slow-motion moments or fast-paced highlights. It also offers text overlays in various styles and colors. Available for both Android and iOS devices, InShot’s intuitive interface makes it a breeze to use, even for those with no prior editing experience.
➲ Canva
Effortless Design with Endless Possibilities
Canva takes a different approach, offering a user-friendly online graphic design platform perfect for beginners. While not exclusively focused on Instagram Stories, Canva provides a treasure trove of tools specifically tailored to creating stunning visuals for this popular feature.
Canva boasts a library of thousands of free, customizable templates that cater to every story style imaginable. Leverage the intuitive drag-and-drop interface to effortlessly add photos, videos, and graphics.
Personalize your Story with free fonts, colors, styles, icons, illustrations, and other design elements. It offers a generous amount of free features, with the option to unlock even more premium options. Collaboration is also easier with Canva Teams, allowing you to work on projects with others. Access Canva from anywhere, either through your web browser or the free mobile app available for Android and iOS devices.
➲ A Color Story
Vibrant, Colorful Instagram Stories
For photo enthusiasts, A Color Story offers a delightful editing experience specifically tailored to Instagram Stories. Dive into a vast collection of filters that enhance colors for any style, from vibrant hues to moody tones. Explore light leaks, flares, color fogs, and grain effects to add a unique touch to your photos.
A Color Story provides a set of powerful editing tools, including curves and HSL adjustment, for fine-tuning your photos to perfection. You can save edits as custom filters, ensuring consistent aesthetics across your stories.
➲ CapCut
Professional Video Editing for Everyone
If your stories lean towards video content, CapCut is your secret weapon. This free mobile app allows you to craft captivating Stories with music and images. It goes beyond basic editing.
It offers AI-powered tools for creating subtitles, removing backgrounds, correcting colors, manipulating voice recordings, and creating slow-motion effects. These features, coupled with a user-friendly interface, make CapCut a powerful tool for taking your video stories to the next level.
➲ Go-Daddy Studio (Previously Over)
Stand Out from the Crowd with Ease
Go-Daddy Studio, formerly known as Over, is a mobile app specializing in graphic design overlays. This app lets you layer stunning text, shapes, and illustrations on top of your photos and videos, creating a visually impactful experience for your viewers. Experimenting with different design elements is simple with the drag-to-drop functionality. Choose from a library of pre-designed fonts and graphics, or import your creations for a truly customized touch. Go-Daddy Studio offers a free plan with limited features, with premium options available.
➲ StoryLab
Oscar-Worthy Instagram Stories
Transform your Instagram stories into mini-movies with StoryLab. This mobile app focused on adding cinematic effects. It provides a wide range of AI-Content, ranging from professional-grade filters to animations that elevate your stories from casual snaps to captivating narratives. It even lets you add music and sound effects. While the free version has the basics, a premium subscription unlocks the full suite of tools and effects.
FAQs
What is the size of an Instagram story?
The ideal dimensions for an Instagram story are 1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels tall. This resolution ensures your content fits well on most devices.
Are Instagram stories 9×16?
Yes, Instagram stories are designed with a 9:16 aspect ratio. This vertical format is optimized for viewing on mobile devices.
What size is the Instagram story border?
Instagram doesn’t have a fixed border size for stories, but a typical border might be around 50 to 100 pixels wide, depending on how you want it to appear. If you’re adding a border manually, make sure it doesn’t overlap or obscure important parts of your story.
Why is my Instagram story cropped?
Your Instagram story might be cropped due to the aspect ratio not matching the 9:16 ratio, or because the content doesn’t fit within Instagram’s recommended dimensions. Ensure your images or videos are 1080×1920 pixels for optimal display. Also, Instagram’s interface might crop images slightly to fit different screen sizes or resolutions.
How do I adjust my Instagram story size?
To ensure your Instagram stories look great and are displayed correctly, you can adjust your Instagram story size.
- Use an Editing Tool: Use photo or video editing apps to resize your content to 1080×1920 pixels.
- Instagram’s Built-in Tools: While uploading, you can use pinch-to-zoom and drag to reposition your content to fit within the 9:16 frame.
- Templates: Utilize story templates provided by various apps that are pre-sized to fit Instagram’s dimensions.
