You took an adorable video of a puppy tripping over its front paws with your DSLR. You want to post it on your pet shop’s Instagram Stories, where you’re sure your followers will react enthusiastically. However, you realize the video isn’t displaying properly—the ratio is off.
If you don’t have the correct aspect ratio, your content may be hard to see or appear distorted, negatively affecting engagement.
Learn about the proper Instagram Story dimensions and tips you can implement to create compelling content.
What are the Instagram Story dimensions?
The optimal Instagram Story dimensions are a ratio of 9:16, meaning the graphic or video is nine units wide by 16 units tall. The correct Instagram Story size has a resolution (the number of pixels) of 1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels tall.
Typically, you’ll have the right dimensions when taking vertical videos and photos on your mobile phone. But if you’re making graphics or taking images and videos on different devices, take note of the aspect ratio and resolution before you post Instagram Stories.
Why post on Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories are fleeting—disappearing after 24 hours—but they can communicate a lot for your brand. Here are a few reasons to consider posting Stories:
Experimentation
Stories enable you to experiment with content. For example, you can share quizzes, questions, videos, collages, countdowns, photos, or polls to engage your followers in different ways.
Since they’re temporary, you can also use your Stories to post content that might seem out of place on your more curated grid. For example, you can add user-generated content that looks less polished but encapsulates the benefits of your products.
Authenticity
Stories is an ideal place to post behind-the-scenes footage or cover an event in real time, giving your followers a genuine look into your brand. According to a Facebook IQ survey, users in Brazil, Indonesia, the UK, and the US turned to Stories to find “unfiltered, authentic content.”
Visibility
Instagram Stories occupy a prime spot on the app: right at the top. This can help increase the visibility of your brand since your Story can be one of the first things your followers see when they open Instagram.
Hyperlinks
You can’t post hyperlinks on your Instagram feed and instead have to direct users to your bio, where you can hyperlink URLs. However, some people won’t take that extra step. Stories let creators and businesses share links, making it easier for potential clients to visit your ecommerce site, blog post, or landing page.
How to create Stories on Instagram
There are a couple of ways to approach video creation for your Stories:
1. On the platform
You can create high-quality content on the Instagram app. Simply tap the plus sign that says “Your story” at the top of the page and choose “Camera.” Hold the white button at the bottom of the screen to record a video. You can also create Boomerangs (short videos that repeat like a GIF) or a collage, or add text. This is a good option if you’re filming candid moments.
2. On your phone or other device
You can also film content on your mobile device or a digital camera and save it to your phone. When you want to add a Story, the app will display your camera roll, from which you can select your content. Creating videos outside of Instagram gives you more control over edits.
Tips for making Instagram Stories
- Shoot vertically
- Consider safe zones
- Keep it concise
- Go natural
- Remember your audio
- Add text and stickers
- Check the resolution
Insta Stories is an ideal place to test out your creative ideas and get feedback from your audience. Here are a few best practices to follow to create great Instagram Stories:
Shoot vertically
Stories appear vertically, so create vertical videos and photos. If you shoot horizontally, you might have white space above and below your video, or the app may zoom in so your image fills the entire screen, degrading your picture quality.
Consider safe zones
Aim to keep the important elements of your content in the Instagram Story safe zone so the app doesn’t cut them off. For example, your profile thumbnail or username may obscure text or interactive elements in the top left corner of your video if you don’t plan accordingly.
Avoid stepping out of the safe zone by keeping the top and bottom 250 pixels free of important elements.
Keep it concise
Instagram’s time limit for a Story is 60 seconds. While you can post several 60-second snippets, you may not engage your target audience that way. As attention spans shrink, it’s necessary to make your point quickly so the average Instagram user doesn’t swipe away before reaching the end of your video.
Go natural
One of the biggest Instagram Story mistakes is posting photos and footage that feel like an ad. While the point of your account is to paint your brand in a positive light, you don’t want your Stories content to feel like too much promotion.
Instead, strike a more casual tone. For example, post a video describing how you entered your field and invite others to share their experiences.
Remember your audio
When creating Instagram Stories, complement your high-quality images and videos with clear audio. Muffled sounds can make users more inclined to skip your content.
Add text and stickers
Consider adding text and stickers to your photos or videos to create more engaging Stories. For example, a call to action can encourage users to interact with your business by visiting your website or signing up for your newsletter. Use stickers or interactive features like questions and polls to invite viewers to interact with your brand within the app.
That said, avoid adding too much text or irrelevant hashtags as that can muddle your message.
Check the resolution
The ideal Instagram Story dimensions are 1080 pixels x 1920 pixels, with a 9:16 aspect ratio. If your Story’s resolution is less than that, you may end up with blurry or low-quality images and videos.
Instagram Story size FAQ
How do you make an Instagram story fit the screen?
Since the Instagram Story format is vertical, shoot vertically. Videos, photos, and graphics with an aspect ratio of 9:16 and a resolution of 1080 pixels x 1920 pixels will look best on the platform.
What are Instagram Stories’ safe zones?
The safe zones are where you can place elements like GIFs and text without the Instagram app cutting them off. To make the most of your limited Instagram screen real estate, avoid posting content in the top and bottom 250 pixels.
Does Instagram Story size matter?
When you create Instagram Stories, the size of your content does matter. The correct Instagram Story dimensions (an aspect ratio of 9:16 and a resolution of 1080 pixels x 1920 pixels) ensure your content isn't blurry, too zoomed in, or partially cut off.
