How to Make a Video Fit on Instagram

You’ve created an amazing video, but when you go to upload it to Instagram, you hit the dreaded wall of cropping. The app forces you to cut off important parts of your shot, turning your perfectly framed content into a creative dead end. This guide will walk you through exactly how to make any video fit perfectly on Instagram, whether it’s for a Reel, Story, or Feed post. We'll cover the right dimensions you need and the best tools to resize your content without losing quality.

Understanding Instagram's Video Requirements

Before you can resize a video, you need to know what you’re resizing it for. Each placement on Instagram has its own specific set of rules, and the most important one is the aspect ratio - the proportional relationship between the video's width and height. Getting this right is the foundation of making your video fit correctly.

Instagram Reels

Reels are Instagram’s dominant format, designed for full-screen, vertical viewing. To make your video perform its best, you should always format it specifically for the Reels feed. For detailed steps on how to create and post Instagram Reels, refer to our guide.

• Aspect Ratio: 9:16 (full-screen vertical)
• Recommended Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
• Maximum Length: 90 seconds
• Maximum File Size: 4GB

Pro-Tip: Remember the “safe zone.” Instagram overlays your caption, profile name, and the like/comment/share buttons on the bottom and sides of your Reel. Keep any important text, faces, or product shots centered so they don't get covered by the user interface.

Instagram Stories

Stories share the same full-screen vertical format as Reels, making it easy to create content that works for both placements. The main difference is the shorter length.

• Aspect Ratio: 9:16 (full-screen vertical)
• Recommended Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
• Video Length: Up to 60 seconds per Story segment
• Maximum File Size: 4GB

Pro-Tip: Just like with Reels, be mindful of the UI. The reply box at the bottom and your profile icon at the top can block parts of your video. Also, interactive elements like polls, stickers, and quizzes take up screen space, so plan your video layout accordingly.

Instagram Feed Posts

The Instagram Feed is the most flexible placement, accepting three different aspect ratios. While you can post vertical 9:16 videos here, they will be cropped slightly when viewed in the main grid.

Portrait (4:5)

This is the best-performing aspect ratio for the Feed. It takes up the most screen real estate without being as tall as a Reel, drawing more attention as users scroll.

• Aspect Ratio: 4:5
• Recommended Resolution: 1080 x 1350 pixels
• Maximum Length: 60 minutes (posts over 1 minute become a Reel)

Square (1:1)

The original, classic Instagram format. It’s a safe choice, but a portrait 4:5 video will command more visual attention in the feed.

• Aspect Ratio: 1:1
• Recommended Resolution: 1080 x 1080 pixels

Landscape (1.91:1)

Landscape video should be used sparingly on the Instagram Feed. While it’s suitable for cinematic or widescreen content, it occupies the least amount of vertical space on the screen and is easiest for users to scroll past.

• Aspect Ratio: 1.91:1 is the widest accepted ratio, although 16:9 will be accepted with black bars added automatically.
• Recommended Resolution: 1080 x 566 pixels

How to Resize Any Video to Fit on Instagram

Now that you know the target dimensions, let's get into the practical steps for resizing your video. Here are three methods, from the quickest fix to the most professional workflow.

Method 1: Using Your Smartphone’s Built-in Editor

For simple cropping, you may not need a special app. Your phone’s native photo and video editor can often handle a basic resize, which is perfect for trimming a landscape video into a square or portrait format.

For iPhone Users (Photos App):

1. Open the Photos app and select the video you want to edit.
2. Tap Edit in the top-right corner.
3. Tap the Crop icon at the bottom (it looks like a square with rotating arrows).
4. Tap the Aspect Ratio icon in the top-right corner (it looks like stacked rectangles).
5. Choose a preset like Square, 9:16, or 4:5. You can pinch and drag the video to reframe it within the new aspect ratio.
6. Tap Done to save your newly resized video.

For Android Users (Google Photos or Gallery App):

(Note: Steps may vary slightly depending on your phone's manufacturer.)

1. Open Google Photos or your phone's Gallery app and select your video.
2. Tap Edit at the bottom.
3. Find and tap the Crop tool.
4. Tap the Aspect Ratio icon and select your desired format, such as 1:1, 4:5, or 9:16.
5. Drag the video to position it correctly within the frame.
6. Tap Save copy to save the changes.

Best for: Quick and simple crops when you don't need fancy features.

Method 2: Using a Free Mobile Video Editing App

For more control, dedicated video editing apps are the way to go. They not only let you resize your video but also give you options for handling the background if you don’t want to crop in. Apps like CapCut, InShot, and VN Video Editor are fantastic and free.

Here’s a general guide that applies to most of these apps:

1. Import Your Video: Open the app and start a new project by importing the video from your camera roll.
2. Find the Aspect Ratio Setting: Look for a button labeled "Format," "Canvas," or "Aspect Ratio." This is your command center for resizing.
3. Select an Instagram Preset: The app will have presets for every social media platform. Choose 9:16 for Reels/Stories, 4:5 for a feed post, or 1:1 for a square video. Your canvas will immediately change shape.
4. Position Your Video: If your original video is now smaller than the canvas (for example, a horizontal video on a 9:16 canvas), you have two choices:
   • Zoom to Fill: Pinch to zoom in on the video until it fills the entire frame. This means you’ll crop out the sides of the video. Drag the video around to keep the most important action in the center.
   • Fit to Frame &, Fill the Background: Keep the video at its original size and use the empty space around it. Most apps let you fill this space with:
     • A solid color.
     • A custom background image.
     • A blurred version of the video itself (a very popular and professional-looking option).
5. Export Your Masterpiece: Once you're happy with the framing, export the video. Always choose the highest quality setting, typically 1080p resolution and 30 or 60 frames per second (fps), to combat Instagram's compression.

Best for: Almost everyone. This method offers the most flexibility, is easy to learn, and produces professional results right on your phone.

Method 3: Using Desktop Video Editing Software

If you edit your videos on a computer, resizing is a standard part of the workflow in programs like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or the free and powerful DaVinci Resolve.

The process is similar to mobile apps but offers even more precision:

1. Create a New Sequence/Timeline: Instead of starting with your video file, start by creating a new sequence with the exact Instagram dimensions. For example, in Premiere Pro, go to File >, New >, Sequence. In the settings, manually enter the resolution: 1080 x 1920 for Reels, 1080 x 1350 for portrait feed posts, etc.
2. Import and Place Your Video: Drag your video clip onto this new, correctly-sized timeline. It may look too small or too big.
3. Scale and Reposition: Select the video clip and go to the Effects Controls panel. Adjust the "Scale" and "Position" parameters to zoom and reframe the shot until it fits perfectly. This gives you exact control over the framing.
4. Export with High-Quality Settings: When exporting, use a preset like H.264 and make sure the output resolution matches your sequence settings. A higher bitrate will result in a larger file but better quality after Instagram compresses it.

Best for: Creators who already have a desktop-based editing workflow and want maximum control over quality and framing.

Best Practices for Visually Stunning Instagram Videos

• Film Vertically When You Can: The easiest way to avoid resizing headaches is to film in 9:16 from the start. If you know a video is destined for Reels or Stories, just turn your phone sideways.
• Protect the Safe Zone: Always assume the edges of a 9:16 video will be covered by interface elements. Keep the visual "story" of your video - the action, the text, the key shots - in the center third of the screen.
• Don't Be Afraid of the "Background Fill": Forcing a horizontal video to fill a vertical frame by zooming in can drastically reduce quality and cut out important context. Using a blurred background is a stylish solution that preserves your entire shot. This is especially useful for interview clips, podcasts, and reposting YouTube content.
• Think About Your Grid Thumbnail: When you post a Reel or a video to the Feed, Instagram lets you choose a cover image or a frame from the video to serve as the thumbnail on your profile grid. Remember that this thumbnail is cropped to a 1:1 square. Adjust the positioning of your chosen cover so the most compelling part of the image is centered in the square preview.

Final Thoughts

Getting your video to fit on Instagram all comes down to aligning its aspect ratio with the placement you're using. By understanding the specifications for Reels, Stories, and Feed posts and using the right tools to resize your content, you can move past frustrating cropping issues and focus on creating content that captivates your audience.

Once you’ve perfectly formatted your videos, the next step is getting them scheduled and published without hassle. We built Postbase because we knew creators needed a tool designed for today’s video-first world. You can upload your Reels, Stories, and Shorts once, customize them for each platform in one place, and then trust that they’ll publish reliably, exactly when you planned.

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