Short answer: for feed posts, use a portrait 4:5 image (1,080 x 1,350 pixels is the common choice). Meta's documentation says feed images must sit between 4:5 and 1.91:1, and recommends 9:16 for Stories and Reels. A carousel can hold up to 20 photos or videos in the Instagram app.
| Format | Shape | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Feed photo | 4:5 to 1.91:1 | 4:5 portrait fills the most screen |
| Story | 9:16 | Recommended by Meta to avoid cropping |
| Reel | 9:16 | Recommended by Meta |
| Carousel | Up to 20 items in the app | All slides are cropped to the first slide's shape |
Why 4:5 portrait
4:5 is the tallest shape Instagram allows for a feed photo, so it takes up the most space in someone's feed. Square (1:1) and landscape (up to 1.91:1) work too, but show smaller.
Carousels
Instagram raised the carousel limit to 20 photos or videos in August 2024. Meta's publishing documentation notes that carousel images are cropped based on the first image, so make every slide the same shape.
File type and size
For posts published through Meta's API (what scheduling tools use), JPEG is the only supported image format, with an 8 MB maximum per image. If your phone saves HEIC or PNG, a tool may convert it for you, or you can export as JPEG.
How Suara helps
Suara is done for you: share your Instagram or website, and Suara makes a week of posts every week from your own photos, in your look and voice. Each post comes to you in a Telegram chat, and nothing is posted until you approve it. Your first week is free. Start your free week. Suara makes feed posts at 1,080 x 1,350 and Stories at 9:16, so they fit without cropping.
Questions
What is the best Instagram post size in 2026?
Portrait 4:5. Meta allows feed images between 4:5 and 1.91:1, and 4:5 shows largest in the feed. 1,080 x 1,350 pixels is the common size.
What size is an Instagram Story?
9:16. Meta recommends 9:16 to avoid cropping or blank space.
How many photos can a carousel have?
Up to 20 photos or videos in the Instagram app, since August 2024.
