Instagram Story Length (2026 Guide): Time Limits, Specs & Tips

Instagram Story length means two things: how long each segment can be (15 seconds when recording in-app, or up to 60 seconds when uploading) and how long Stories stay on your profile (24 hours). Instagram has kept the 15-second segment limit and 24-hour visibility unchanged; we update this guide if that changes. Unlike Reels, which can be up to 90 seconds and stay on your feed, Stories are short, full-screen clips that disappear after a day. That’s why time limits and duration matter—you have a small window to grab attention. Use the right Story dimensions (1080×1920, 9:16) so your Stories look sharp and don’t get cropped. For more Instagram specs, see Reel dimensions and post size.

Instagram keeps each Story segment to 15 seconds when you record in the app so that Stories stay quick and easy to watch. If you upload a longer video (e.g. 30 or 60 seconds), Instagram splits it into 15-second parts. There’s no limit on how many segments you can post in one Story thread—you can post 10 or 20 in a row—but each individual clip is capped at 15 seconds. For best engagement, many creators use 5–15 seconds per segment and hook viewers in the first 2–3 seconds.

Stories disappear 24 hours after you post them. They don’t show up in your main feed or in search; they only appear at the top of the app and on your profile ring for one day. If you want to keep them longer, add them to Highlights. For more reach, post when your audience is most active; see our best time to post on Instagram and Instagram Explore page guides.

Story length is 15 seconds per segment (or up to 60 seconds when uploading, then split). Reel length can be up to 90 seconds and lives on your feed and in Explore. So: Stories = short, 24-hour; Reels = longer, permanent. If you’re repurposing content, keep Stories under 15 seconds per clip and use Reels for 15–90 second videos. For specs, both use 9:16 and 1080×1920—check Story dimensions and Reel dimensions.

• Hook in the first 2–3 seconds so people don’t tap away.
• Use 5–15 seconds per segment when possible; shorter often gets better completion.
• Export at 1080×1920 and 9:16 so Stories aren’t cropped—see Instagram Story dimensions.
• Post consistently; Stories help you stay visible without flooding the feed.
• Use stickers, polls, or questions to boost interaction.

Photo Stories don’t have a “length” in seconds—they’re a single image that viewers can tap through. You can still add multiple photo segments in a row; each one is one “slide” and stays on screen until the viewer taps. For video Stories, the 15-second rule applies per clip: in-app recording is capped at 15 seconds per segment, and uploaded video up to 60 seconds is split into 15-second segments. So when we talk about Instagram Story length, we mean video duration. Photo Stories are limited by image count and file size (e.g. under 30 MB per image)—see Story dimensions for resolution and format.

Instagram counts Story length per segment: each video segment can be up to 15 seconds when recorded in the app, or up to 60 seconds when uploaded (then split). Story views are counted when someone has seen your Story for more than a fraction of a second—so very short segments (1–2 seconds) still count as a view if they’re seen. For completion rate, Instagram looks at how many people watch a segment to the end; shorter segments (5–15 seconds) often get higher completion, which can help with reach. The 24-hour clock starts when you post the first segment; all segments in that Story thread disappear together after 24 hours.

Avoid these to get the most from your Instagram Story length:

• Uploading in the wrong aspect ratio — Stories use 9:16 vertical. If you upload 16:9 or 1:1, Instagram will letterbox or crop and the result can look unprofessional. Use 1080×1920 and 9:16.
• Making segments too long without a hook — 15 seconds is the cap, but if the first 2–3 seconds don’t grab attention, viewers tap away. Front-load the most important or engaging moment.
• Ignoring the 24-hour window — Stories disappear after 24 hours. If you want to keep them, add them to Highlights when they’re still live.
• Mixing Story and Reel length — Reels can be up to 90 seconds and stay on your feed. If you repurpose a Reel for Stories, trim to 15 seconds per segment or upload up to 60 seconds and let Instagram split it. See Reel length for comparison.

Highlights are saved Stories that stay on your profile until you remove them. The 15-second and 24-hour rules still apply to the original Story—you’re just saving a copy to a Highlight. Each Highlight can contain multiple Story segments (each up to 15 seconds of video). There’s no separate “length limit” for Highlights; the limit is how many segments you add. For Highlight names and organization, keep your best-performing Stories (with strong completion in the first few seconds) and group them by topic so visitors can find them easily.

This guide is reviewed for accuracy and updated when Instagram changes limits. The 15-second per segment and 24-hour visibility rules have been consistent; we check official sources before publishing. For the latest official specs, see:

• Instagram Help Center – official support and policies.
• Instagram for Creators – product updates and best practices.

We combine these with testing and creator feedback to keep this Instagram Story length guide useful. More guides: Reel length, caption generator, how to repost.