Guides / Deep diveImage prep

Instagram image sizes for portrait, Reels, and Stories

Most stretched Instagram photos come from forcing one image into the wrong ratio. Decide the destination first, then resize proportionally and crop the overflow.

Common Instagram targets

  • Feed portrait: 1080 × 1350 (4:5) — usually the strongest still-photo default.
  • Feed square: 1080 × 1080 (1:1) — useful for grids and product-led posts.
  • Story / Reel: 1080 × 1920 (9:16) — full-screen vertical.

Resize without distortion

Scale width and height by the same amount until the target frame is covered, then crop the excess. Never stretch only one side to “make it fit.”

If your photo is wider than the target, you will crop left and right. If it is taller, you will crop top and bottom. Keep faces and text away from those edges.

Plan safe zones for vertical video

For Reels and Stories, size is not enough. Platform controls cover the top, bottom, and right side. After you set 1080 × 1920, preview those bands so titles and faces stay readable.

Use the calculator before you open an editor

Enter the original pixel dimensions, choose Instagram portrait, Story/Reel, or another social format, and read the proportional resize plus crop amounts. No image upload is required.

Sources and further reading
Keep going

Use the related pose book or tool next.

Open the image size calculator Check Reels safe zones Find a pose for the post