Instagram Story Dimensions: 1080×1920 (2026) – Size, Ratio & Quality Guide

Instagram Story dimensions are 1080×1920 pixels (width × height) with a 9:16 aspect ratio. This is the size recommended by Instagram for Stories (see the Instagram Help Center for official specs). Use 1080×1920 for full-screen, sharp Stories with no cropping. Minimum recommended size is 540×960 or 600×1067 pixels. For video, use MP4 (H.264); for images use JPG or PNG. Keep important text and graphics outside the safe zone: leave roughly 250px from the top and 340px from the bottom so profile picture, username, and message box don’t cover your content.

If you're looking for Instagram Story dimensions, Instagram Story size, or Instagram Story aspect ratio for 2026, you're in the right place. On this page you'll find:

• Exact Instagram Story dimensions – 1080×1920 pixels and why that size works best.
• Instagram Story aspect ratio – 9:16 vertical and how to avoid cropping.
• Resolution and quality – Best Instagram Story resolution and export settings for no quality loss.
• Safe zones – Top and bottom areas to avoid so profile picture and message box don’t cover your content.
• File size & duration – Image under 30 MB, video up to 4 GB, 1–60 sec per Story (optimal 5–15 sec).
• Export settings – Format, frame rate, and design tips for Instagram Stories (video and image).
• Quick reference table – All Instagram Story dimensions in one place.
• FAQ – Quick answers on Instagram Story size, ratio, and resolution.

Use the table of contents to jump to the section you need. For more Story and Reel growth, see our Instagram Reel dimensions and Instagram caption generator.

By the end of this guide you will be able to:

• Set the correct Instagram Story dimensions – Use 1080×1920 pixels and 9:16 aspect ratio so your Stories are full-screen and sharp.
• Export without cropping – Avoid black bars and cropping by matching your project and export to Instagram Story size before editing.
• Choose the right resolution and format – Export at Instagram Story resolution 1080×1920, MP4 (H.264) or JPG/PNG, and 30fps for video.
• Fix blurry or cropped Stories – Know why it happens and how to fix it with the right Instagram Story dimensions and export settings.
• Use a quick reference – Have all Instagram Story dimensions (size, ratio, format) in one place for any editing app.

Pair correct dimensions with strong captions and posting times: use our Instagram caption generator and best time to post on Instagram.

To get Instagram Story dimensions right from the start, have these ready:

• Video or image editor – Any tool that lets you set resolution and aspect ratio (e.g. CapCut, Canva, Adobe Premiere, InShot, or Instagram's in-app camera). Set 1080×1920 and 9:16 before or when exporting.
• Your footage or image – Vertical (9:16) works best. If you have horizontal or square clips, reframe or crop; setting the canvas to 9:16 first avoids surprises.
• Export access – Know where the export or Save settings are so you can set resolution to 1080×1920, format to MP4 (H.264) or JPG/PNG, and frame rate to 30fps for video.
• About 2–5 minutes – Checking and changing Instagram Story dimensions in your editor or export dialog is quick once you know the numbers.

Then jump to Exact Instagram Story Dimensions and Export Settings for the exact values, or use the Quick Reference Table at a glance.

The exact Instagram Story dimensions for 2026 are 1080 pixels wide × 1920 pixels tall (1080×1920). This is the size recommended by Instagram for Stories—the official spec ensures full-screen display with no letterboxing or cropping. It is the best Instagram Story size for full-screen vertical Stories with minimal quality loss. Instagram displays Stories in a vertical feed, so Instagram Story dimensions should be vertical: width 1080, height 1920.

Instagram Story pixel size matters: 1080×1920 is full HD (1080p) in portrait. Smaller sizes (e.g. 540×960) may look soft; larger sizes are often downscaled by Instagram, so 1080×1920 is the sweet spot. When people search for Instagram Story dimensions in pixels, this is the answer: 1080×1920. For more Story and Reel tips, see our Instagram Reel dimensions and Instagram caption generator.

The Instagram Story aspect ratio is 9:16 (vertical). That means for every 9 units of width, you have 16 units of height. Instagram Story dimensions 2026 follow this ratio: 1080÷9 = 120, 1920÷16 = 120, so 1080×1920 is exactly 9:16. If you use a different Instagram Story size (e.g. 16:9 or 1:1), Instagram will letterbox or crop your Story, so stick to 9:16 for full-screen Instagram Stories.

Instagram Story aspect ratio 9:16 is the same as Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts vertical format. Export your project as 9:16 before uploading so you avoid black bars or cropping. For captions that match your Stories, use our Instagram caption generator and Instagram hashtags for likes.

Instagram shows your profile picture, username, and message box on top of your Story. To keep important text and graphics visible, use Instagram Story safe zones:

• Top safe zone: Leave about 250px (roughly 14% of height) from the top so the profile picture and username don’t cover your content.
• Bottom safe zone: Leave about 340px (roughly 20% of height) from the bottom so the message box and reply area don’t cover your content.

Design your Instagram Story dimensions canvas at 1080×1920, but keep key info (headlines, logos, CTAs) inside the middle area. This way your Instagram Story size stays correct and nothing important is hidden by the app UI. For more design and posting tips, see our Instagram highlight names and Instagram caption generator.

Instagram Story resolution should be 1080×1920 for the best balance of quality and file size. Instagram Story resolution 1080x1920 is full HD vertical; Instagram will compress uploads, but starting at 1080×1920 keeps detail. Minimum Instagram Story dimensions Instagram recommends are 540×960 or 600×1067; going below that can look blurry. There is no need to upload 4K for Stories—Instagram often downscales, so best Instagram Story size remains 1080×1920.

Instagram Story quality settings in your editor: set export resolution to 1080×1920, 9:16, and use high bitrate (e.g. 10–20 Mbps for H.264 video) for clean playback. For more reach, pair correct Instagram Story dimensions with strong captions: Instagram Reels caption generator and best time to post on Instagram.

When using the correct Instagram Story dimensions (1080×1920), stay within Instagram’s limits:

• Image file size: Under 30 MB for photo Stories (JPG or PNG).
• Video file size: Up to 4 GB for video Stories (MP4 recommended).
• Video duration: 1–60 seconds per Story; optimal engagement is often 5–15 seconds.
• Photo display: Each photo Story shows for about 7 seconds by default (viewers can tap to skip).
• Stories per day: You can post up to 100 Stories per day; they expire after 24 hours unless saved to Highlights.

Stick to Instagram Story size 1080×1920 and these limits to avoid upload errors or compression issues. For more growth tools, see our Instagram Reel dimensions and Instagram hashtags for likes.

Use these Instagram Story export settings to avoid cropping and quality loss:

• Resolution: 1080×1920 (Instagram Story dimensions in pixels).
• Aspect ratio: 9:16 (Instagram Story aspect ratio).
• Video format: MP4, H.264 video codec. Instagram Story format MP4 is widely supported.
• Image format: JPG or PNG for photo Stories.
• Frame rate: 30fps (or 24fps) for video Stories.
• Bitrate: 10–20 Mbps for high quality video; 8 Mbps minimum for acceptable quality.

These Instagram Story export settings give you the best Instagram Story size and Instagram Story resolution for 2026. After export, use our Instagram caption generator and Instagram highlight names before posting.

Instagram Story no cropping is possible when you use the correct Instagram Story dimensions: 1080×1920 and 9:16. If your video or image is horizontal (16:9) or square (1:1), Instagram will add black bars or crop to fit. To avoid that, set your timeline or export to Instagram Story size 1080×1920 and Instagram Story aspect ratio 9:16 before you start editing. That way, Instagram Story dimensions vertical match the app and you get full-screen Stories with no cropping.

Quality loss often comes from low resolution or heavy compression. Export at Instagram Story resolution 1080x1920 with a solid bitrate (see Export Settings above). Avoid uploading already-compressed or low-res clips. For more Story growth, see our Instagram caption generator and best time to post on Instagram.

Use this table for Instagram Story dimensions 2026 at a glance:

This is the best Instagram Story size and Instagram Story resolution for 2026. For captions and hashtags, use our Instagram caption generator and Instagram hashtags for likes.

Use this checklist to confirm your Instagram Story dimensions are correct before you upload:

• My project or export resolution is 1080×1920 (width × height).
• My aspect ratio is 9:16 (vertical), not 16:9 or 1:1.
• I exported as MP4 (H.264) for video or JPG/PNG for image, with 30fps (or 24fps) for video.
• I set the timeline or canvas to 9:16 before editing so nothing is cropped or letterboxed.
• My Story looks sharp on my device (no obvious blur from low resolution or over-compression).

If everything above is checked, your Instagram Story dimensions are set for 2026. Next: add a strong caption and post at a good time with our Instagram caption generator and best time to post on Instagram.

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