4 min read · Updated June 15, 2026
Instagram Reels Size & Format Cheat Sheet
Every spec Instagram cares about for Reels in 2026 — dimensions, codec, bitrate, audio. Save this page.
Video specs
Aspect ratio: 9:16 (vertical).
Resolution: 1080 × 1920. Anything smaller gets upscaled by Instagram, which softens it.
Frame rate: 30 fps. 60 fps is accepted but Instagram down-samples it on most devices.
Codec: H.264. HEVC is technically accepted but causes thumbnail glitches.
Bitrate: 5–8 Mbps. Higher than that and Instagram aggressively re-encodes.
Max length: 90 seconds for Reels, 60 seconds for the cross-posted Feed version.
Max file size: 4 GB (you'll never hit this — keep it under 50 MB for fast uploads).
Audio specs
Codec: AAC.
Bitrate: 128 kbps minimum, 192 kbps ideal.
Sample rate: 48 kHz.
Channels: stereo.
Safe zones (don't put text here)
Top 250 px: hidden by the username and audio attribution bar.
Bottom 350 px: hidden by the caption, like/comment icons, and 'Send' button.
Keep text and key visual elements in the middle 1320 px vertically. The Reels Trimmer's overlay grid shows these zones live.
FAQ
Why does my Reel look blurry after uploading?
Instagram recompresses uploads. The fix is to upload a file that's already close to its target bitrate (5–8 Mbps H.264) so it doesn't have to do much. Use our Reels Compressor and the result will look noticeably sharper.
Can I post horizontal video as a Reel?
Technically yes, but it'll show up letterboxed and the algorithm punishes it. Always reformat to 9:16 first.