How to Add 4 Pictures in One Frame on Instagram

Putting four pictures together in a single Instagram post is a fantastic way to tell a bigger story, show off multiple products, or just create a visually compelling piece of content. This guide will walk you through the simplest methods to create a beautiful four-photo frame, from using Instagram's hidden built-in tools to leveraging free third-party apps for even more creative control.

Why a Four-Picture Frame is a Smart Move for Your Feed

Before getting into the how, let's quickly touch on the why. A multi-photo post isn't just a trend, it's a strategic tool for brands and creators. It allows you to break free from the constraints of a single image and offers a canvas for deeper engagement and storytelling.

Here's what makes a four-picture collage so effective:

• Storytelling Power: You can show a sequence of events, like the steps in a recipe, a behind-the-scenes process, or a recap of a weekend trip. Each photo adds a chapter to your mini-story, making the post far more engaging than a single image.
• Visual Variety: A collage immediately stands out in a crowded feed. By combining different angles, close-ups, and wide shots, you create a dynamic composition that grabs a user's attention while they scroll.
• Product Showcases: For e-commerce brands, this format is incredibly valuable. You can display a product from multiple angles, show it in different colors, or pair it with complementary items - all in one post.
• Before-and-After Shots: Whether you're in fitness, home renovation, or beauty, a four-frame layout is perfect for showcasing transformations by including "before," "after," and even "in-progress" shots.

At its core, a collage lets you share more without overwhelming your followers with a carousel. It packs more information and visual interest into a single, digestible frame.

Method One: Using Instagram's Own 'Layout' Feature (The Quickest Way)

Many users don't realize that Instagram has a fantastic, free collage-making tool built directly into the app. It's hidden within the Stories creator, but with a simple workaround, you can use it to create a perfect four-photo grid for your main feed.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your 4-Photo Grid

Follow these steps exactly, and you'll have a ready-to-post collage in minutes.

1. Open the Instagram Stories Creator

Start by tapping the plus (+) icon at the top of your screen or swiping right from your home feed. Select "Story" from the menu at the bottom. This will open the Stories interface.

2. Find the 'Layout' Tool

On the left-hand side of the Stories screen, you'll see a vertical menu of creative tools. Look for the icon that looks like a grid - it will be labeled "Layout." Tap it.

3. Choose the 4-Picture Grid

Right underneath the Layout tool icon, another option will appear: "Change grid." Tap this. You'll see several grid options, including a one-by-two, a three-photo layout, and the classic two-by-two four-quadrant grid. Select the four-square option.

4. Add Your Photos

Your screen is now divided into four empty quadrants. Tap on the bottom-left icon, which looks like a gallery with a plus sign, or tap directly on any of the four quadrants to open your phone's camera roll. Select the first picture you want to add. It will populate the top-left square. Repeat this process for the other three squares. The interface makes it easy to add photos one by one.

• Pro Tip: Want to change a photo? Just tap on the picture you want to replace within the grid, and then tap the "delete" or "replace" option that appears.

5. Make Adjustments (Optional)

Once your four photos are in place, you can tap and drag each image within its frame to adjust the crop and position, highlighting the best part of each shot. Think of it as micro-adjusting for the perfect composition.

6. Save Your Collage to Your Phone

This is the most important step! Before posting to your Story or adding stickers, look for the three dots icon (...) at the top right of your screen. Tap it and select "Save." This will download the completed four-photo image to your phone's camera roll, without any of the extra Instagram Story elements.

7. Upload to Your Instagram Feed

Now, exit the Stories creator. Tap the plus (+) icon again, but this time select "Post." Your newly saved collage will be the most recent item in your photo gallery. Select it, add your caption, hashtags, and location, and post it to your feed just like you would any other picture!

Method Two: Using a Third-Party App for More Creative Flexibility

While Instagram's built-in tool is fast and convenient, sometimes you want more control. Third-party apps offer a world of creative possibilities, including unique layouts, custom borders, text overlays, and backgrounds that align with your brand.

Why Use a Third-Party App?

• Endless Templates: Apps like Canva, Unfold, and PicCollage offer hundreds of pre-designed collage templates beyond the standard four-square grid.
• Customization: You can adjust the width and color of borders, add your brand's background colors or patterns, and overlay text in your brand fonts.
• Higher Quality: Some creators find that saving from dedicated design apps preserves image quality better than saving from Instagram Stories.

Our Top Pick for an Easy and Powerful Option: Canva

Canva is a crowd favorite for a reason. It's incredibly user-friendly, has a robust free version with thousands of templates, and works on both desktop and mobile.

How to Create a Four-Photo Collage in Canva

Step 1: Open Canva and Search for Templates

On the Canva home screen, tap the search bar and type "Instagram Post Collage" or "Photo Collage." Canva will immediately suggest templates perfectly sized for the Instagram feed (usually 1080x1080 pixels).

Step 2: Choose Your Four-Photo Layout

Browse through the countless templates. You can filter by style, color, or theme. Find one that features four photo placeholders in an arrangement you like. It could be the classic grid, four vertical strips, or something more asymmetrical and creative.

Step 3: Upload and Drag-and-Drop Your Photos

In the editor, navigate to the "Uploads" tab on the left and upload the four photos you want to use. Once they're uploaded, simply drag each photo and drop it into one of the template's frames. Canva will automatically crop and fit the image. Double-click any photo to adjust its position within its frame.

Step 4: Customize Borders, Backgrounds, and Text

This is where Canva really shines. Click on the spaces between your photos to change the border color or thickness. Click the background to add a solid color or a textured pattern. Use the "Text" tool to add headings or captions in unique fonts. It's an easy way to make your collage feel truly branded.

Step 5: Download and Save to Your Phone

When you're happy with your design, tap the "Share" button in the top-right corner, then "Download." Choose your file type (PNG is usually recommended for high quality) and save the image to your device.

Step 6: Post to Instagram

Just like with the previous method, open Instagram, create a new Post, and select your finished collage from your camera roll. Write your engaging caption and watch the likes roll in.

5 Tips for Creating Eye-Catching Photo Collages

Knowing how to create the collage is just the first step. Here's how to make sure your four-photo creations are thumb-stoppingly good.

1. Establish a Cohesive Theme

The best collages feel intentional. Tie your four photos together with a consistent theme. This could be a color palette (e.g., all photos feature shades of blue), a subject (your dog's silliest moments), or an event (four highlights from a birthday party).

2. Tell a Visual Story

Arrange your photos to create a narrative flow. If you're sharing a recipe, place the photos in sequential order: ingredients, mixing, baking, and the final amazing dish. This guides the viewer's eye logically through the frame.

3. Balance Your Composition

Avoid using four photos that are too similar. A great collage often has a mix of shots. Pair a wide landscape shot with a close-up detail. Combine a full-body portrait with a shot of just the hands or face. This contrast creates visual interest and makes the whole piece feel more balanced.

4. Keep Editing Consistent

To make the four photos feel like they belong together, apply the same filter or editing style to all of them. Whether you're using a VSCO preset or manually adjusting brightness and contrast, consistency is key for a polished, professional look.

5. Don't Be Afraid of Negative Space

With third-party apps, you can play with borders and background space. Sometimes, giving your photos room to breathe with thicker borders or a simple background color can make the entire collage look cleaner and more sophisticated.

Final Thoughts

Whether you use Instagram's speedy built-in Layout feature or a design app like Canva for more creative freedom, combining four photos into one frame is a simple yet powerful way to make your feed more dynamic. It's an effective technique for storytelling, highlighting details, and stopping the scroll.

Once you've designed your beautiful collage, planning when and how it fits into your overall content schedule is the next step. At Postbase, we built our visual planning calendar specifically for this. It lets you see all your scheduled content in one place, so you can drag and drop your multi-photo posts to craft a perfect feed weeks in advance. It takes the stress out of strategizing and gives you back more time to brainstorm great content.