Instagram Reel Size and Length (Official Specs)
Instagram Reels can be up to 20 minutes long, but Instagram won't recommend reels over 3 minutes to new audiences. A reel can use any aspect ratio from 1.91:1 to 9:16, with a minimum resolution of 720 pixels and at least 30 frames per second.
Every value below links to the Instagram or Meta page it came from. Where Instagram publishes no number, we say so instead of borrowing one from a third-party guide.
Last verified: 2026-10-07. Instagram changes these, so if your reel is close to a limit, check the linked page before posting.
Instagram Reels specs (regular posts)
| Spec | Official value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum length | Up to 20 minutes, recorded as one clip or several | Instagram Help: Record a reel |
| Over 3 minutes | Reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences | Instagram Help: Record a reel |
| Aspect ratio | Any ratio from 1.91:1 (wide) to 9:16 (tall) | Instagram Help: Reel size & aspect ratios |
| Minimum resolution | 720 pixels | Instagram Help: Reel size & aspect ratios |
| Minimum frame rate | 30 FPS | Instagram Help: Reel size & aspect ratios |
| Cover photo | 420 × 654 px (1:1.55 ratio); can't be edited after upload | Instagram Help: Reel size & aspect ratios |
| Upload quality | Turn on "Upload at highest quality" under Menu › Media quality (Instagram notes uploads may take longer) | Instagram Help: Reel size & aspect ratios |
| Recommended resolution | Not published by Instagram | – |
| File size and file type | Not published by Instagram for regular reels | – |
| Safe zone | Not published by Instagram for regular reels | – |
What Meta publishes for Reels ads
These numbers are official, but they're for Reels ads. Instagram hasn't published them for regular reels. They're useful if you run ads, or if you want a margin to design against.
| Spec (ads) | Official value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended resolution | 1440 × 2560 px, 9:16 | Meta Ads Guide: Instagram Reels video |
| File type | MP4 or MOV | Meta Ads Guide |
| Maximum file size | 4 GB | Meta Ads Guide |
| Length | 0 seconds to 15 minutes | Meta Ads Guide |
| Safe zone | Keep at least 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% of each side free of text, logos and key elements | Meta Ads Guide |
| Safe zone with disclaimers | Leave the bottom 40% free | Meta Business Help: Safe zones |
Is 1080 × 1920 the right size for a Reel?
Instagram doesn't name a recommended size. 1080 × 1920 is a 9:16 frame, 1080 pixels wide: inside Instagram's accepted ratio range and above the 720-pixel minimum. So it works, and if your editor already exports 1080 × 1920 you don't need to change anything. But 1080 × 1920 is the size most third-party guides use, not Instagram's wording.
Which aspect ratios fit inside 1.91:1 to 9:16?
| Ratio | Shape | Inside Instagram's range? |
|---|---|---|
| 9:16 | Tall (full vertical frame) | Yes (the tallest end) |
| 4:5 | Portrait (taller than wide) | Yes |
| 1:1 | Square | Yes |
| 1.91:1 | Wide landscape | Yes (the widest end) |
| 16:9 | Landscape | Yes |
How long should a Reel be?
Instagram's only official guidance on length is the 3-minute line: longer reels won't be recommended to new audiences. If three guides gave you three different answers, that's why: guides that name an "ideal" length disagree with each other, so we're not adding another guess.
A practical rule: let the script set the length. A single point fits 30 seconds (about 65–90 spoken words); a point with two or three steps fits 60 (about 130–180). Here's how to write a 30- or 60-second script.
Free 9:16 safe-zone overlay for Reels
Grab a free 1080 × 1920 PNG (no account needed) with Meta's Reels ad safe zone marked: 14% top, 35% bottom, 6% each side. On that canvas the margins are about 269 px at the top, 672 px at the bottom and 65 px on each side. Put it on a layer above your edit, keep text and faces inside the clear area, and hide the layer before you export.
Download the Reels safe-zone overlay (PNG)
It follows Meta's ad guidance, the only Reels safe zone Meta publishes. Instagram hasn't published a separate one for regular posts.
Write a Reel script that fits
Once you know the limit, write to it. Captain Hook's Script Generator writes complete 30- or 60-second scripts for Instagram Reels and TikTok: hook, build, landing line and short delivery notes. There's a Free plan, no card needed.
Already posted, and the view count isn't moving? The Video Analyzer reads up to 4 screenshots of one reel's Instagram analytics (no video upload) and explains what worked, what hurt and what to change next.
Related
Questions
How long can Instagram Reels be?
Up to 20 minutes, recorded as one clip or several. Instagram says reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences, so if reach beyond your followers matters, keep it under 3 minutes.
Can I post a 10-minute video on Instagram Reels?
Yes. Ten minutes is under the 20-minute limit. Because it's over 3 minutes, Instagram won't recommend it to new audiences.
What are the Instagram Reel dimensions?
Instagram accepts any aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 9:16, with a minimum resolution of 720 pixels and a minimum frame rate of 30 FPS. For a full-screen vertical reel, use 9:16.
Is an Instagram Reel 4:5 or 9:16?
Both are accepted. 9:16 is the tallest shape Instagram allows (the full vertical frame); 4:5 is shorter and also inside the 1.91:1 to 9:16 range.
Is 1080 × 1920 the right size for a Reel?
It works: it's a 9:16 frame above Instagram's 720-pixel minimum. Instagram itself doesn't publish a recommended size. For Reels ads, Meta recommends 1440 × 2560.
What size is an Instagram Reel cover?
420 × 654 pixels (a 1:1.55 ratio). Instagram notes you can't edit the cover after the reel is uploaded, so pick it before you share.
How long should an Instagram Reel be?
Instagram doesn't publish an ideal length. Its one official line is that reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences. Below that, let the script decide: about 65–90 spoken words fill 30 seconds and 130–180 fill 60.