Instagram Reels specs
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 (vertical) |
| Resolution | 1080 × 1920 px |
| Frame rate | 30 fps (23–60 accepted) |
| Codec | H.264 video, AAC audio, MP4 or MOV |
| Length | up to 3 minutes |
| Feed posts | 4:5 (1080 × 1350) shows largest in the feed |
Keep text and faces out of the bottom 20% and top 10% — the caption, buttons and profile name cover them.
Why Instagram makes your video blurry
Instagram re-encodes everything you upload. A video that is already the right size, frame rate and a sensible bitrate goes through that step with less damage. Uploading a 4K HDR video gives the worst result: it is scaled down and tone-mapped on Instagram’s side.
Fit or crop?
For a horizontal video choose “Fill, crop edges” to fill the screen (the sides are cut), or “Fit with bars” to keep the whole frame. Change it under Advanced settings → Video.
Questions
What size should an Instagram Reel be?
1080 × 1920 pixels, 9:16. Smaller videos are scaled up and look soft.
Can I use the same file for TikTok and YouTube Shorts?
Yes — all three use 9:16 at 1080×1920 with H.264 and AAC.
Why is my Reel blurry?
Usually HDR, 4K or a very high bitrate source that Instagram re-encodes heavily. Converting to 1080p SDR first helps.
Last updated: 2026-10-30