Instagram Reels video specs
Published 28 September 2026. Every figure checked against Instagram's and Meta's own pages on 28 September 2026; they change, so follow the links in Sources before you rely on one.
Short answer: make Reels vertical, 9:16, at 1080 × 1920 and at least 30 frames per second. Instagram accepts shapes from 1.91:1 to 9:16 and a minimum resolution of 720 pixels. You can record up to 20 minutes, but reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences. For Reels ads, keep the top 14%, the bottom 35% and 6% of each side clear of text and logos.
| Spec | Organic reel | Reels ad |
|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | Between 1.91:1 and 9:16 | 9:16 |
| Resolution | Minimum 720 pixels | 1440 × 2560 listed; minimum width 250 px (ads under 30 s) or 500 px (30 s and over) |
| Frame rate | Minimum 30 fps | Fixed frame rate (no number given) |
| Length | Record up to 20 minutes; over 3 minutes isn't recommended to new audiences | 0 seconds to 15 minutes |
| File | Not published for app uploads | MP4 or MOV, H.264, stereo AAC at 128 kbps or more, up to 4 GB |
| Safe zone | Not published | Keep 14% top, 35% bottom, 6% each side clear |
| Captions and sound | Auto-captions in the app (phones only) | Captions optional but recommended; sound optional but strongly recommended |
Size and shape
Instagram's help centre says you can upload a reel with an aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 9:16, at a minimum resolution of 720 pixels and a minimum frame rate of 30 fps. In practice 9:16 is the shape to make, because it fills a phone screen, and anything wider gets bars or a crop. The recommended cover photo is 420 × 654 pixels (a 1:1.55 ratio).
Meta's ads guide lists 1440 × 2560 for Reels ads. That's the same 9:16 shape as 1080 × 1920, at a higher resolution, and the guide's minimum widths (250 or 500 pixels, depending on length) are far below either.
How long can a reel be?
Instagram says you can record one or several clips that add up to 20 minutes, and that reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences. So the 20-minute limit is really a limit for people who already follow you; if you want reach, stay under three minutes. Does a launch reel need anything like that? No; we'd make it 15 to 30 seconds.
Reels ads can run from 0 seconds to 15 minutes according to Meta's ads guide, which doesn't give a recommended length.
Safe zones
Meta publishes a safe zone for Reels ads: leave at least 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% on each side free of text, logos and other key elements, so the profile name, caption and buttons don't cover them. On a 1080 × 1920 frame, that's roughly 269 pixels at the top, 672 at the bottom and 65 on each side.
Instagram doesn't publish a safe zone for organic reels (Meta's numbers cover ads only), and yet the same furniture (name, caption, like and share buttons) sits over organic reels too, so the ad margins are a sensible default; the bottom 35% is the easiest one to forget.
Captions and sound
Instagram can add captions to reels automatically; its help centre says the feature works on phones, not on computers. For ads, Meta marks captions "optional, but recommended" and sound "optional, but strongly recommended". Meta's ads guide also says Reels ads need original audio or royalty-free music from Meta's Sound Collection, rather than licensed music.
Where the official pages are vague
- File size and codec for organic reels. Instagram's help centre doesn't give them. The Reels ad figures (MP4 or MOV, H.264, up to 4 GB) are a safe target for both.
- Frame rate for ads. Meta asks for a "fixed frame rate" without a number. The organic page's 30 fps minimum is the one to follow.
- Developers' limits are different. Meta's API for publishing reels from software has its own, stricter limits (for example 15 minutes and 300 MB). Those apply to scheduling tools, not to the app.
How Launch Video Maker's formats map to Reels
Our vertical format is 9:16 at 1080 × 1920, exported as MP4 (H.264 video, AAC audio) at 30 frames per second, which meets Instagram's minimums. Every reel is checked so its essential words sit inside a safe area of 60 pixels on the left, 120 on the right, 220 at the top and 360 at the bottom. That keeps them away from the right-hand buttons and the strip at the bottom where the name and caption start, which suits organic posts. Meta's ad margins are stricter at the bottom, so if you'll run the reel as a Reels ad, check it in the Ads Manager preview first. Music and sound effects are generated for each video, so there's no licensed track to worry about.
A single 15-second vertical reel is the Short, £9. The Bundle (£49) adds a 4:5 cut for the Instagram feed and a 16:9 cut for YouTube.
Questions
- What size should an Instagram Reel be?
- 9:16 at 1080 × 1920 pixels. Instagram accepts aspect ratios from 1.91:1 to 9:16 with a minimum resolution of 720 pixels, and Meta's ads guide lists 1440 × 2560 for Reels ads, which is the same shape.
- How long can an Instagram Reel be?
- You can record clips that add up to 20 minutes, but Instagram says reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences. Reels ads can run up to 15 minutes.
- What is the safe zone for Instagram Reels?
- For Reels ads, Meta says to keep at least 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% of each side free of text, logos and key elements. Instagram doesn't publish one for organic reels, so those margins are a sensible default.
- What frame rate should a Reel be?
- At least 30 frames per second, according to Instagram's help centre.
Sources
All checked on 28 September 2026.
- Instagram Help Centre: Reel size and aspect ratios on Instagram (aspect ratio, minimum resolution, frame rate, cover size)
- Instagram: Reels (20-minute recording limit; over 3 minutes not recommended to new audiences)
- Meta Ads Guide: Instagram Reels video ads (ad resolution, length, file, safe zone, captions, sound, music)
- Instagram Help Centre: Managing subtitles for Instagram Reels videos (auto-captions, phones only)
- Meta for Developers: IG User Media (API publishing limits)