If you want to boost your engagement on Instagram, post more video content. In fact, 91% of Instagram users report that they watch videos on a weekly basis. Understanding the latest Instagram video requirements will help ensure that you post high-quality content that engages your audience.
What are the Instagram Video Requirements?
Instagram has basic requirements for video size, file size and aspect ratio. These requirements are in place to ensure that uploaded videos look as professional as possible.
If you want your videos to look their best, it’s worth understanding and following these requirements.
Aspect ratio is a metric that relates to the video size as a ratio. The ratio is listed as width and height numbers. So, an aspect ratio of 1:1 is a square because the horizontal and vertical numbers are the same.
The first number in the ratio is the width and the second is the height.
As a general rule of thumb, the ideal aspect ratio for Instagram is as follows:
- 1:1 square
- 4:5 square
- 9:16 for stories
Why Aspect Ratio Matters
The aspect ratio matters because it affects the quality of the video and its engagement. A vertical video with a taller aspect ratio tends to be more engaging and impactful.
But that doesn’t mean that horizontal videos should be ignored.
A ratio of 1.91:1 is ideal for landscape videos because it ensures the entire video will be displayed.
The Best Video Feed Size
If you plan to post videos in your feed, it’s important to choose the right size and aspect ratio. This will ensure that your video is displayed properly and without a border.
The Recommended Aspect Ratios For Feed Videos are:
- 9:16 with dimensions of 1080px X 1920px
- 1.91:1 with dimensions of 1080px X 608px
These sizes and aspect ratios are ideal for posting your video content in your feed.
Instagram Video Requirements For Stories
Instagram Stories have been around since 2010, and it quickly became one of the most engaging features on the platform.
If you want to maximize your views, reactions and comments, then you’ll want to choose the right size for your video.
What are the Video Requirements For Stories?
- Aspect ratio of 9:16
- 1080px X 1920px
Reels Upload Requirements
Instagram Reels have the highest reach, but if you want to maximize engagement, it’s important to ensure you’re choosing the right size and aspect ratio.
Instagram recommends the following resolution and size for Reels:
- Aspect ratios of 9:16 or 1.91:1
- Minimum frame rate of 30 FPS
- Minimum resolution of 720 pixels
As for the cover photo, aim for an aspect ratio of 1:1.55 and a size of 420px X 654px.
Instagram Video Formats
Instagram videos can be uploaded in the most common video formats. Current formats that are accepted on Instagram include:
- GIF: A GIF is a short video and can include a video or a series of images put together in an animation. You’ll find many videos uploaded in this format are animated or they are memes.
- MOV: Apple’s QuickTime creates videos in the .mov format, which is accepted on Instagram.
- MP4: The most popular format on modern smartphones is the MP4, and it includes crisp AAC audio and the H. 264 codec for great video quality and low file sizes.
If you have videos that are not in one of these formats, you’ll need to use a converter before trying to upload them.
Instagram Video Length Requirements
Video lengths vary, especially if you have a smaller count. Verified and “large” accounts have the option to upload videos of up to 60 minutes. If you just started your account or aren’t considered a big account, you will have the following restrictions on your video’s length:
- Instagram Feed: 3 seconds – 60 minutes
- Instagram Story: 15 second blocks
- Live Video: Up to 4 hours
- Reels: 15 minutes or less
Videos do have a maximum file size that you must adhere to, or your video won’t upload or will be split, depending on the type of content you’re trying to create.
What is the Maximum File Size For Videos?
Instagram does have a maximum video size that you can upload. You likely won’t reach these limits with short videos on your phone, but it’s good to know them. If you do exceed these limits, your options are:
- Compress the video with H. 264 codec
- Edit the video to be shorter
You’ll Need To Remember the Limits for Two Main Types of Videos.
Stories Size Limits
Your Instagram Stories can be a maximum of 15 seconds long and should not exceed 4GB in size. Each Stories block is 15 seconds long and can be a maximum of 4GB. If you upload a video that is longer than the block limit, it will simply be split into multiple clips and uploaded in succession.
Videos in your feed can be a maximum of:
- 650MB if the video is 10 minutes or less in length
- 3.6GB if the video is up to 60 minutes in length
You’ll need to edit your content to fit within these thresholds to be able to upload it to Instagram. Adhering to Instagram video requirements is fairly simple. Focus on the recommended video sizes and compress your videos if they exceed file size limits.
