Instagram Story Size (2026): Dimensions and 9:16 Ratio
Use a 9:16 vertical image or video. 1080 × 1920 pixels is the common choice.
Meta recommends a 9:16 aspect ratio for Stories so your content fills the whole phone screen. 1080 × 1920 is the common 9:16 size: 1080 pixels wide, the same width Instagram uses for feed photos, and 1920 pixels tall. We couldn't find an official Instagram page that requires a specific pixel size for Stories, so treat 1080 × 1920 as a safe default rather than a rule.
Why 9:16 is the Instagram story size to use
- It fills the screen. People watch Stories full screen on a phone held upright. A 9:16 frame matches that shape, so there are no empty bands above and below your image and nothing important gets squeezed into a small box in the middle.
- 1080 × 1920 is sharp without being heavy. It is wide enough to look crisp on phones, every editor and phone camera can export it, and the files stay small enough to upload quickly over mobile data.
- One vertical file works in more places. Reels use the same 9:16 frame (see the Instagram reel size guide), so you can design once and reuse the same canvas for both instead of rebuilding it.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Putting text at the very top or bottom. Instagram lays your profile name, the progress bar, the reply box and its buttons over the top and bottom of every Story. Keep text, faces and logos toward the middle, and check the layout with the free Social Safe Zones tool before you post.
- Sharing a feed image without resizing. A 4:5 or square post leaves empty space above and below in a Story. Either make a 9:16 version or place the post on a background that fills the frame on purpose.
- Using horizontal video. A 16:9 clip shows up as a thin strip in the middle of a tall screen. Shoot vertical, or crop to 9:16 before you upload.
Stories are quick. Carousels are where design time adds up.
A Story is usually a quick update you make in a minute. The posts that take real design time are multi-slide ones on the feed. If you also post carousels on Instagram, that's the part EasySociable can take off your plate (they use the 4:5 size from the Instagram carousel size guide).
EasySociable turns a prompt into a branded carousel for TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, and Xiaohongshu. Ask your AI agent (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor) or use Studio, built on 48 templates. You edit the words and download PNGs.
Free plan includes 3 downloads per month with no watermark. No credit card required.
Proven formulas for your next carousel
Pick a formula, paste the prompt into your AI agent or open it in Studio, and get slides sized for the platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size is an Instagram story?
A 9:16 vertical frame. 1080 × 1920 pixels is the common size to design at.
Can I post a horizontal photo to my story?
Yes, but it will not fill the screen and leaves empty space around it. For a full-screen Story, use 9:16.
Where should I put text on an Instagram story?
Toward the middle. Instagram places your name, the reply box and buttons over the top and bottom edges, so keep key text clear of them.
Are Instagram story dimensions the same as reels?
Both use a 9:16 vertical frame, so one 1080 × 1920 file can work for both. Check text placement for each, because the buttons sit in different spots.
Sources: Meta Business Help Center, Aspect ratios; Instagram Help Center, Image resolution of photos you share on Instagram, checked October 2026.
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Written by Murphy, Founder of EasySociable