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Instagram Reel size and format

A reel is a vertical 9:16 video, usually 1080×1920 pixels. Instagram only recommends reels of 3 minutes or less to new viewers, and your text should stay clear of the buttons and caption.

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Artem Starostin, founder of Trendino · Updated November 3, 2026

What size is an Instagram Reel?

Reels are shot and posted vertically, at a 9:16 aspect ratio. The standard frame is 1080×1920 pixels, which is Full HD turned on its side.

Instagram’s own requirements are broader: any aspect ratio from 1.91:1 to 9:16, a minimum resolution of 720 pixels and at least 30 frames per second[1]. A landscape or square video will upload, but it only fills part of the screen. Only 9:16 fills the whole screen.

The same specs work elsewhere too. YouTube accepts Shorts at up to 1080p[2], and VK recommends 1080×1920 for its clips[3].

How to make reels the right size with Trendino

Trendino exports reels in exactly this format. Upload your recording and in 3–5 minutes you’ll usually get a 1080×1920 video at 30 frames per second, with H.264 video and AAC audio. It works for Reels, Shorts, TikTok and VK Clips without re-exporting.

If you filmed in landscape, Trendino crops to 9:16 around your face. The crop is fixed for the whole video and doesn’t follow you, so try not to move too far to either side while recording.

Trendino uses its own margins for captions and graphics: 150 pixels at the top, 440 at the bottom and about 60 on each side, with no text in the bottom-right corner where the like and comment buttons sit. These margins are for regular reels; Meta has its own for ads, covered below. Then Trendino checks every frame and repositions any text that covers your face or crosses those margins.

You can upload MP4, MOV, WebM and more, up to 5 minutes and 1 GB. Your first video after signing up is free. For the full editing workflow, see AI video editing.

Trendino uploader: MP4, MOV, WebM and more, up to 5 minutes and 1 GB
Upload formats and limits

How long can a reel be?

You can record a reel up to 20 minutes long, with one catch: reels over 3 minutes won’t be recommended to new audiences[4].

The limit used to be much lower: in January 2025, Instagram raised it from 90 seconds to 3 minutes[5].

Other platforms have their own limits. YouTube counts square or vertical videos up to 3 minutes as Shorts[6]. TikTok lets you record up to 10 minutes in the app and upload up to 60[7]. VK Clips run from 3 seconds to 3 minutes, and clips under 5 seconds don’t get recommended[3].

To post one video on all four platforms, keep it between 3 seconds and 3 minutes. Over 3 minutes, YouTube treats it as a regular video and Instagram won’t recommend it to new viewers. Trendino takes recordings up to 5 minutes and cuts the pauses and retakes, so the finished video usually runs shorter than the original.

Video specs for Reels, Shorts, TikTok and VK Clips

Here are the key numbers for all four platforms, taken from their help pages. Where a rule only applies to ads, the table says so.

PlatformAspect ratioResolutionLengthKeep text out of
Instagram Reels1.91:1 to 9:16, 9:16 is best[1]720 px minimum, 1080×1920 standard[1]Up to 20 min; 3 min or less to be recommended to new viewers[4]Top 14%, bottom 35%, 6% each side — Meta’s guidance for ads[9]
YouTube ShortsSquare or vertical[6]Up to 1080p[2]Up to 3 min[6]Buttons on the right, caption at the bottom
TikTok9:16, as TikTok recommends for ads[8]540×960 or more for ads[8]Up to 10 min in the app, 60 uploaded[7]Buttons on the right, caption at the bottom
VK ClipsVertical[3]1080×1920[3]3 s to 3 min[3]Top 10% and bottom 20% — VK Ads guidance[10]

Safe zones: where to put text

Instagram overlays its own interface on your reel: labels and buttons at the top and bottom, and the like, comment and share buttons on the right. Anything underneath is hard to read.

Meta only publishes exact margins for ads: keep 6% of the width clear on each side, 14% of the height at the top and 35% at the bottom, and keep the bottom-right corner clear, where the buttons take up 40% of the height and 21% of the width[9]. On a 1080×1920 frame, that’s roughly 65 pixels on each side, 270 at the top and 670 at the bottom. There are no official numbers for regular reels, but the buttons and caption sit in the same places, so these margins make a good starting point.

There’s one more reason to keep text near the center: on phones with screens taller than 9:16, Instagram may zoom in to fill the screen and crop the edges[9]. VK Ads uses smaller margins: keep key details out of the top 10% and bottom 20%[10].

What size should a reel cover be?

Instagram recommends a cover of 420×654 pixels, a 1:1.55 ratio[1]. You can pick a frame from the reel or use your own image.

Since January 2025 the profile grid shows rectangles instead of squares[5], but they’re still shorter than a 9:16 reel, so the grid cuts off the top and bottom of your cover. Keep faces and titles near the center.

Why do reels look blurry?

Instagram doesn’t always upload at full quality by default, because higher quality takes longer to upload. To change that, go to Profile → Menu → Your app and media → Media quality and turn on “Upload at highest quality”[1].

The file itself matters too. Export at 1080×1920, at least 30 frames per second, as an MP4 with H.264 video. For 1080p at 24–30 fps, YouTube recommends 8 Mbps[11], which is a sensible target for reels as well. You can shoot in 4K, but 1080×1920 is enough for posting: Shorts tops out at 1080p anyway[2], and the smaller file uploads faster.

Trendino exports at 1080×1920 and 30 frames per second, using H.264 at up to 10 Mbps.

How to get a reel ready to post

  1. Shoot vertically

    Hold your phone upright and record in 1080p, and you’re already at 9:16 and 1080×1920. If you shot in landscape, Trendino crops to 9:16 around your face.

  2. Export at 1080×1920

    If you edit yourself, export at 1080×1920, 30 frames per second, as an MP4 with H.264. Trendino exports with these settings automatically.

  3. Check the text on your phone

    Check that your on-screen captions and titles stay out of the areas where Instagram puts its buttons and description. For ads, stick to Meta’s margins: 14% at the top and 35% at the bottom.

  4. Upload at high quality

    Turn on “Upload at highest quality” in Instagram and pick a cover frame with the main subject centered.

FAQ

  • What size is a reel in pixels?

    1080×1920 pixels, a 9:16 aspect ratio. Instagram’s minimum is 720 pixels.

  • Can I post a landscape video as a reel?

    Yes. Instagram accepts aspect ratios from 1.91:1 to 9:16, but a landscape video only fills a strip across the middle of the screen, so it’s better to crop it to 9:16. Trendino crops it around your face for you.

  • What file format should a reel be?

    MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio is the safest choice. YouTube recommends it, and Instagram, TikTok and VK all accept it.

  • How long can an Instagram Reel be?

    Up to 20 minutes, but Instagram only recommends reels of 3 minutes or less to new audiences. Shorts and VK Clips stop at 3 minutes.

  • Should I upload reels in 4K?

    You don’t need to. The standard for reels is 1080×1920, and YouTube Shorts tops out at 1080p. A 4K file is bigger, so it takes longer to upload.

  • What frame rate should I use?

    At least 30 frames per second, which is Instagram’s minimum. YouTube recommends exporting at the same frame rate you recorded in.

  • What size is a reel cover?

    Instagram recommends 420×654 pixels (1:1.55). Keep faces and titles near the center, since the profile grid cuts off the top and bottom.

  • Why are the buttons covering my text?

    Your text is too close to the edge. For ads, Meta says to leave the top 14%, the bottom 35% and 6% on each side clear, and those margins work well for regular reels too.

  • Why does my reel look worse after posting?

    Turn on “Upload at highest quality” in Instagram’s settings and post a 1080×1920 file. Instagram asks for at least 720 pixels and 30 frames per second.

  • Can I post the same video to Reels, Shorts, TikTok and VK?

    Yes, if it’s 9:16, 1080×1920 and between 3 seconds and 3 minutes long, with no text under the buttons or caption. Trendino sets the size and text margins for you, so just check the length before you post.

Sources

  1. 1.Reel size & aspect ratios on InstagramInstagram Help Center
  2. 2.Get started creating YouTube ShortsYouTube Help
  3. 3.Как работать с форматами видео ВКонтакте (Working with video formats on VK)VK for Business, September 8, 2025
  4. 4.Record a reel on InstagramInstagram Help Center
  5. 5.Instagram swoops in with 3-minute Reels and rectangular profile gridsEngadget, January 18, 2025
  6. 6.Understand three-minute YouTube ShortsYouTube Help
  7. 7.Camera toolsTikTok Help Center
  8. 8.TikTok Auction In-Feed AdsTikTok Ads Manager Help
  9. 9.About text overlays and the safe zone for ads in Stories and ReelsMeta Business Help Center
  10. 10.Форматы VK Рекламы (VK Ads formats)VK Ads Help
  11. 11.YouTube recommended upload encoding settingsYouTube Help

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