How to Format a Video for Instagram

Getting your video format right for Instagram is the difference between a post that looks polished and professional versus one that's awkwardly cropped and ignored. This guide breaks down the exact specs you need for every type of video on the platform. We’ll cover the correct aspect ratios, resolutions, and file formats for Reels, Stories, and Feed videos so you can stop guessing and start posting with confidence.

Why Instagram Video Formatting Matters (A Lot)

You might think formatting is just a small technical detail, but it has a huge impact on your video’s performance. At its core, proper formatting is about respecting the viewer's experience on the platform. Instagram is a mobile-first app, which means people are holding their phones vertically. Videos that fill the screen are more immersive and hold attention longer. When a video is formatted incorrectly - like a wide, horizontal video crammed into a vertical Reels frame - it becomes tiny, surrounded by black bars, and is almost instantly skipped.

There are three main benefits to getting it right:

• Better User Experience: A correctly formatted video is easier and more pleasing to watch. It feels native to the platform, not like a sloppy afterthought. This encourages viewers to watch longer, which signals to the algorithm that your content is valuable.
• Professional Brand Image: Jagged edges, pixelation, or awkward crops make your brand look amateur. Clean, crisp, perfectly framed video shows attention to detail and reinforces that your brand is professional and trustworthy.
• Improved Performance: The Instagram algorithm favors content that keeps users on the app. Videos that are formatted to be engaging and visually appealing - especially vertical videos that command the full screen - tend to have higher engagement rates and longer watch times. In turn, Instagram is more likely to show your content to a wider audience.

The Core Components of Instagram Video Formatting

Before jumping into the specific requirements for Reels or Stories, it’s helpful to understand the basic technical terms. Getting these fundamentals right is the foundation of a great-looking video.

Aspect Ratio

Think of aspect ratio as simply the shape of your video, written as a ratio of width to height. A 1:1 aspect ratio means the video is perfectly square (width and height are equal). A 9:16 aspect ratio means the video is much taller than it is wide, which is perfect for full-screen vertical viewing on a phone. The aspect ratio is arguably the most critical setting to get right.

Resolution

Resolution refers to the number of pixels that make up your video’s width and height. A higher resolution generally means a sharper, clearer image. For Instagram, you don’t need to export in 4K. The platform compresses large files anyway, so aiming for a resolution of 1080 pixels on the shortest side is the gold standard. For example, a 9:16 video would be 1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels tall.

File Format &, Codec

This is the type of container your video is saved in. While there are many video formats, Instagram’s strong preference is for MP4. It’s universally compatible and offers a great balance of quality and file size. When you export your video, you’ll also see an option for the codec. The best codec for the web and social media is H.264, as it’s standard across nearly every device and platform.

Frame Rate (FPS)

Frame rate, measured in frames per second (FPS), determines how smooth your video looks. While cameras can shoot at various frame rates like 24, 60, or even 120 FPS, the standard for social media is 30 FPS. Sticking to 30 FPS will ensure your video plays back smoothly without any issues on Instagram.

Video Length &, File Size

Instagram has different time limits for each video placement. A Reel can be up to 90 seconds, while an In-Feed video can be much longer. File size is also a constraint - Instagram generally requires video files to be under 4 GB. For most social media videos, you’ll be well under this limit if you follow the recommended resolution and format guidelines.

Your Instagram Video Specs Cheat Sheet

Stop the guesswork. Here are the exact settings you need for every video type on Instagram. Bookmark this page or screenshot this section for a quick reference.

Instagram Reels Format Specs

Reels are Instagram’s short-form video workhorse and have the highest potential for organic reach. Since they are designed for full-screen viewing, the format is strict.

• Aspect Ratio: 9:16 (full vertical screen)
• Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
• Video Length: Up to 90 seconds
• File Format: MP4
• Frame Rate: 30 FPS

Actionable Tip: Pay attention to the "safe zones"! The bottom fifth of a Reel is covered by your caption and profile info, and the right side has the like, comment, and share icons. Keep any important text, logos, or faces centered and away from the edges to avoid them being obscured by the user interface.

Instagram Stories Format Specs

Stories share the same vertical format as Reels but are designed for ephemeral, day-to-day content rather than discovery. The specs are nearly identical.

• Aspect Ratio: 9:16
• Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
• Video Length: Up to 60 seconds per Story slide (Instagram will automatically slice longer videos into 60-second segments)
• File Format: MP4
• Frame Rate: 30 FPS

Actionable Tip: When designing a video for Stories, remember that people might add interactive elements like polls, quizzes, or question stickers. If your video is an advertisement or designed for user interaction, leave some "blank" space where these elements can be placed without covering important visuals.

Instagram Feed Video Format Specs

Feed videos (sometimes called in-feed videos) are the posts that appear on your main grid and followers’ home feeds. Unlike Reels, you have a few options for aspect ratio here, but one is clearly better than the others.

Portrait (Highly Recommended)

• Aspect Ratio: 4:5
• Resolution: 1080 x 1350 pixels
• Why it's best: The 4:5 format takes up the most vertical screen real estate possible in the feed. This extra visual territory helps your video stand out and stop the scroll more effectively than a square or landscape video.

Square (Still a Good Option)

• Aspect Ratio: 1:1
• Resolution: 1080 x 1080 pixels
• Why it's good: The classic Instagram square is a safe and reliable choice. It looks clean in the feed and on your profile grid. While it doesn't maximize screen space like 4:5, it's still a strong performer.

Landscape (Avoid If Possible)

• Aspect Ratio: 16:9
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
• Why you should avoid it: On a mobile device, a horizontal video appears as a tiny rectangle in the feed, surrounded by a sea of white space. It fails to capture attention and is easily scrolled past. Only use this if the wide format is absolutely essential to your video’s content.

For all Feed videos, the other specs are the same:

• Video Length: Up to 60 minutes
• File Format: MP4
• File Size: Under 4 GB

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Formatting

Knowing the specs is half the battle. Here are a few common slip-ups that can ruin an otherwise great video:

• Uploading a huge 4K file. Instagram’s compression algorithm can be aggressive. If you upload a massive 4K video file, the platform will heavily compress it, which can sometimes result in worse quality than if you just uploaded a properly sized 1080p file in the first place.
• Ignoring the thumbnail. Your video’s cover photo (or thumbnail) is the first thing people see on your profile grid or in the Reels tab. Don't leave it to chance. Choose a compelling, high-quality frame from your video or upload a custom-designed cover image that catches the eye and makes sense with your brand's aesthetic.
• Using the wrong file format. If you try uploading a .AVI or .WMV file, it will likely fail. Stick to MP4 with the H.264 codec to guarantee compatibility every time.
• Centering your horizontal video vertically. A common mistake is taking a 16:9 video, putting it into a 9:16 project, and leaving huge black bars at the top and bottom. This is just as bad as uploading the horizontal video directly. Take the time to properly re-crop or re-edit your footage for a vertical frame.

Quick Guide: How to Format Your Video with Any Editing App

Whether you're using a professional tool like Premiere Pro or a mobile app like CapCut, the process for setting up your video format is pretty much the same. Here's a simple, universal workflow:

1. Create a New Project/Sequence: When you first open your editor, create a new project. The first thing it will ask is for your sequence settings.
2. Set the Resolution and Frame Rate: This is the most important step. Manually enter the pixel dimensions you need. For a Reel, type in "1080" for the width and "1920" for the height. Set the frame rate to 30 FPS.
3. Import &, Edit Your Footage: Drag your video clips into your new 9:16 (or 4:5) timeline. You'll likely need to scale and re-position them to look good inside the vertical frame.
4. Export with the Right Settings: Once you're done editing, go to the export menu. Choose MP4 as the format and ensure the H.264 codec is selected. Double-check that your resolution and frame rate match your project settings, then hit export. You’re ready to upload!

Final Thoughts

Mastering Instagram's video formats might seem technical, but it’s a simple skill that dramatically elevates the quality and performance of your content. By sticking to the recommended aspect ratios and resolutions for Reels, Stories, and Feed videos, you guarantee your hard work looks professional and grabs attention in a crowded feed.

At Postbase, we know that creating great video is one thing, but managing and scheduling it across multiple platforms - each with its own pesky formatting rules - is another. We built our platform from the ground up to be video-first, helping you upload your content once and easily schedule it everywhere without the headaches of re-formatting. It takes the guesswork out of the posting process, so you can focus on making amazing content, not fighting with export settings.