The Complete Guide to Instagram Story Size and Dimensions

Instagram Stories move fast, but the details behind a sharp, professional-looking Story come down to one thing: getting the instagram story size right. When the size is off, text gets chopped, logos blur, and key visuals disappear behind interface elements. With the right dimensions and a few layout habits, every Story can look intentional and crisp.

This guide breaks down the exact story dimensions, safe zones, file formats, and practical workflows that match how designers, marketers, and creators actually work.

Standard Instagram Story Size and Aspect Ratio

The official instagram story size is:

• 1080 × 1920 pixels

• Aspect ratio: 9:16

That ratio matters more than the raw pixel count. Instagram scales your Story to fit different phone screens while preserving the 9:16 shape. A Story designed at 720 × 1280 or 2160 × 3840 still works as long as the ratio stays 9:16.

Example:

• A restaurant promoting a weekend menu designs a vertical poster at 1080 × 1920.

• The headline fills the top third, a photo of the dish sits in the middle, and the call-to-action (“Swipe up to book”) stays in the lower third.

• Because the artwork respects 9:16, it displays cleanly on both an iPhone 15 Pro and a mid-range Android phone without weird cropping.

If a Story is uploaded in a different ratio, Instagram will automatically crop or add black/blurred bars, which often cuts off edges or makes the design look unpolished.

Recommended Instagram Story Resolution and Quality

The baseline instagram story resolution is 1080 × 1920 pixels, but resolution is about more than pixel count. Compression, file format, and export settings all affect how sharp the Story looks on real devices.

Optimal resolution and formats

For most use cases:

• Size: 1080 × 1920 px

• Aspect ratio: 9:16

• Images: JPG or PNG

• Videos: MP4 (H.264 codec, AAC audio)

PNG works well for graphics with sharp text or flat colors. JPG is better for photographic images where smaller file size matters more than ultra-crisp edges.

Example:

• A SaaS brand announces a product update with a clean graphic: solid background, icons, and text.

• Exporting as a PNG at 1080 × 1920 keeps icons and typography sharp.

• The same design exported as a heavily compressed JPG introduces banding in gradients and fuzzy edges around text.

Bitrate and file size for video Stories

Instagram does not publish a strict bitrate requirement for Stories, but practical ranges work well:

• Bitrate: 3–5 Mbps for most vertical video

• Frame rate: 24, 25, or 30 fps

• Max file size: Stay under 15 MB per 15-second clip for smoother uploads

Example:

• A fitness coach records a 15-second vertical tip video in 4K.

• The raw file is 150+ MB and chokes on upload.

• Re-exporting at 1080 × 1920, 30 fps, 4 Mbps bitrate drops the file under 10 MB.

• The video still looks sharp on mobile, and Instagram applies less aggressive compression.

Safe Zones: Keeping Text and Logos Visible

Even when the instagram story size is correct, important content can still be blocked by the app interface. Instagram overlays the profile name, reply bar, and action icons on top of each Story.

To avoid that, treat the screen like it has built-in margins.

Practical safe zone guidelines

On a 1080 × 1920 canvas, keep key content away from the edges:

• Top safe margin: at least 250 px from the top

• Bottom safe margin: at least 250 px from the bottom

• Side margins: at least 90 px from left and right edges

These numbers are not official, but they reflect how most modern phones render Stories.

Example:

• An ecommerce brand runs a flash sale Story.

• The discount badge (“30% OFF”) initially sits 80 px from the top.

• On smaller phones, the username and progress bar overlap the badge.

• Moving the badge down so its top edge starts at 300 px keeps it cleanly visible on all devices.

Using guides in design tools

In Figma, Photoshop, or Canva, adding guides speeds up layout:

• Draw a 1080 × 1920 artboard.

• Add horizontal guides at 250 px and 1670 px.

• Add vertical guides at 90 px and 990 px.

Design text, logos, and calls-to-action inside this inner rectangle. Background textures, full-bleed photos, and abstract shapes can extend to the edges.

Example:

• A webinar promotion Story uses a full-bleed photo of the speaker.

• The speaker’s face is centered, but the event title and date sit within the safe zone.

• Even if the top of the photo is slightly hidden behind the username, the key information remains readable.

Designing for Different Devices and Screen Densities

Even though the official story dimensions are fixed, real devices complicate things. Phones vary in resolution, pixel density, and notch designs.

How Instagram scales Stories

Instagram fits the 9:16 Story into the available screen height and width, then:

• Crops a tiny bit on some devices to avoid black bars.

• Adjusts interface elements depending on aspect ratio.

This scaling is why content too close to the edges appears inconsistent across phones.

Example:

• A designer previews a Story on a large-screen device (e.g., a Galaxy S24 Ultra).

• Everything looks perfect.

• On a smaller iPhone SE, the same Story feels cramped, and the bottom CTA overlaps the reply field.

• Adjusting the layout to respect safe zones fixes the issue on both devices.

Testing on multiple devices

If access to several phones is limited, use these tactics:

• Use Instagram’s preview: When uploading, check how the Story looks with stickers and text overlays before posting.

• Send to Close Friends first: Share to a private list, then view on different devices in the team.

• Use device simulators: Design tools or browser-based mockups simulate common screen sizes.

Example:

• A fashion label launches a new drop with a Story series.

• The creative team posts the first draft to a private account and reviews it on an iPhone, a Pixel, and a mid-range Samsung.

• On one device, the price tag graphic looks too small, so the team increases font size and re-exports, then republishes.

Image Stories vs Video Stories: Practical Differences

The instagram story resolution rules apply to both images and videos, but each format has its own quirks.

Static image Stories

Static Stories are best for:

• Announcements and promos

• Polls and questions

• Simple infographics

Key tips:

• Use font sizes that remain readable on small screens (at least 32–40 px for body text on a 1080 × 1920 canvas).

• Keep contrast high: light text on dark background or the reverse.

• Avoid super-detailed backgrounds behind text.

Example:

• A local gym posts a Story about new class times.

• The background is a muted, slightly blurred photo of the studio.

• Over it, a solid dark overlay at 40–60% opacity supports white text.

• Class names use 48 px, times use 36 px, and everything sits inside the safe zone.

Video Stories

Video Stories excel at:

• Product demos

• Behind-the-scenes clips

• Short tutorials

Key tips for video:

• Record or export at 1080 × 1920, 9:16.

• Avoid filming horizontally and rotating later; that often crops important parts.

• Add burned-in captions or use Instagram’s caption sticker.

Example:

• A coffee brand films a 12-second vertical clip showing a latte pour.

• The original footage is 4K vertical, then exported as 1080 × 1920, 30 fps.

• A caption (“New seasonal latte, available this week”) is added near the center, away from the bottom reply bar.

File Types, Compression, and Color Profiles

Even with perfect story dimensions, poor export settings can ruin a design.

Choosing the right file type

For images:

• Use JPG for photographic content with gradients and rich colors.

• Use PNG for text-heavy graphics, logos, or flat illustrations.

For video:

• Use MP4 (H.264) with AAC audio.

Example:

• A tech brand posts a Story featuring a gradient background, product photo, and small text.

• A high-quality JPG at 80–90% quality balances file size and clarity.

• Exporting as PNG yields a larger file that Instagram compresses more aggressively, leading to visible artifacts.

Color and brightness considerations

Instagram compresses and slightly adjusts media, so designs should anticipate that:

• Use sRGB color profile when exporting.

• Avoid extremely dark text on slightly less dark backgrounds.

• Keep key visuals a bit brighter than you think; mobile screens and compression reduce subtle contrast.

Example:

• A photographer shares a moody, low-light portrait as a Story.

• The original edit looks perfect on a calibrated monitor, but on a phone, the face becomes too dark.

• A version with slightly raised exposure and contrast holds detail better after Instagram’s compression.

Workflow Tips for Designing Instagram Stories Efficiently

Knowing the correct instagram story size is only useful if it fits into a repeatable workflow.

Set up reusable templates

Create master templates in your design tool of choice:

• Canvas: 1080 × 1920 px, 9:16.

• Guides: safe zones at 250 px from top and bottom, 90 px from sides.

• Text styles: headline, subhead, body, CTA.

Example:

• A news publisher posts 10–15 Stories every day.

• The team builds three templates: breaking news, feature highlight, and quote card.

• Each template uses the correct dimensions, safe zones, and brand fonts.

• Designers only swap images and text, cutting production time while keeping consistency.

Export settings checklist

Before exporting each Story, run through a quick checklist:

1. Canvas is 1080 × 1920 px (or another 9:16 resolution).

2. All important text and logos sit inside safe zones.

3. Font sizes are large enough for small screens.

4. Export format is JPG/PNG for images, MP4 for video.

5. File size is reasonable (under 1–2 MB for images, under 15 MB for video clips).

Example:

• A freelancer preparing a Story ad for a client follows this checklist.

• A quick check reveals that the logo is too close to the bottom edge.

• Adjusting its position avoids overlap with the “Sponsored” label and reply bar.

Common Mistakes with Instagram Story Size (and Fixes)

Even experienced teams run into the same sizing problems repeatedly.

Using the wrong aspect ratio

Uploading 16:9 or square content and relying on Instagram to crop usually yields poor results.

Fix: Always design or export in 9:16. If repurposing horizontal footage, reframe it in an editor and add vertical-friendly elements like text and overlays.

Example:

• A gaming channel uploads a 16:9 gameplay clip directly to Stories.

• Instagram crops the sides, hiding the scoreboard.

• Reframing the clip inside a 9:16 canvas with the gameplay in the center and text above/below solves the problem.

Placing CTAs too low

Calls-to-action positioned at the very bottom often clash with the reply bar or link sticker.

Fix: Move CTAs slightly upward into the lower-middle area.

Example:

• A brand writes “Tap for details” only 40 px above the bottom edge.

• On some phones, the text sits behind the reply field.

• Shifting it up by 200–250 px makes the CTA visible and tappable.

Tiny text and crowded layouts

Trying to fit an entire flyer or web page into a single Story frame leads to unreadable text.

Fix: Break content into multiple Story frames and increase font sizes.

Example:

• A conference organizer squeezes the full agenda into one Story.

• Viewers have to screenshot and zoom in to read.

• Splitting the agenda into 4–5 Stories, each focused on one track, turns it into a scrollable, legible sequence.

FAQ: Instagram Story Size and Dimensions

What is the best instagram story size in pixels?

The best instagram story size is 1080 × 1920 pixels with a 9:16 aspect ratio. This resolution balances quality and file size and matches Instagram’s recommended story dimensions.

Can I upload a Story with a different resolution?

Yes, as long as the aspect ratio is 9:16. For example, 720 × 1280 or 2160 × 3840 works. Instagram scales the content down. However, sticking to 1080 × 1920 keeps the instagram story resolution consistent and avoids unnecessary compression.

Why do my Stories look blurry after upload?

Blur usually comes from:

• Exporting at a low resolution (below 1080 × 1920).

• Over-compressing the file before upload.

• Poor network conditions triggering extra compression.

Export at 1080 × 1920, use reasonable quality settings, and avoid re-saving the same file multiple times.

How large should text be on an Instagram Story?

For a 1080 × 1920 canvas, keep body text at 32–40 px or larger and headlines at 48–72 px or more. This ensures readability on smaller devices and after Instagram’s compression.

What file format should I use for Story images?

Use JPG for photos and PNG for graphics with text, logos, or flat colors. Both formats work with the standard instagram story resolution, but PNG keeps sharp edges and transparency cleaner.

What is the maximum Story video length and size?

Each Story segment can be up to 15 seconds. Longer videos are split into consecutive segments. Aim for video files under 15 MB per segment to reduce upload problems and quality loss.

Do Reels and Stories use the same size?

Both Reels and Stories are vertical and use a 9:16 aspect ratio, so the same 1080 × 1920 canvas works. However, interface overlays differ, so test layouts separately for each format.

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Understanding and consistently using the correct instagram story size, story dimensions, and instagram story resolution turns Stories from quick throwaways into reliable, on-brand touchpoints. With a few templates, clear safe zones, and disciplined export settings, every Story can look like it was built specifically for the screen in your audience’s hand.