Instagram wants 1080 by 1920 pixels for vertical videos, 1080 by 608 for horizontal ones
The resolution is the width and height of your video measured in pixels — tiny dots that make up the image. Instagram displays videos at different sizes depending on whether you're posting to your feed, Stories, or Reels, but the platform works best when you upload at one of two standard sizes. For a vertical video (the kind that fills a phone screen), upload 1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels tall. For a horizontal video, upload 1080 pixels wide by 608 pixels tall.
If your video is a different size, Instagram will shrink or stretch it to fit, which can make it look blurry or distorted. Uploading at the right resolution means Instagram displays your video at its sharpest without having to resize it.
Key Takeaways
- Vertical videos should be 1080 by 1920 pixels; horizontal videos should be 1080 by 608 pixels.
- Instagram will resize videos that don't match these dimensions, which can make them look blurry or stretched.
- Most phones record at a resolution higher than Instagram needs, so you may need to export or crop your video before uploading.
- The aspect ratio — the relationship between width and height — matters more than the exact pixel count if you're resizing.
Why Instagram has specific resolution requirements
Instagram's app is designed to display videos at a certain size on a phone screen. When you upload a video that's too small, Instagram enlarges it, which makes the image pixelated and blurry — like zooming in on a photo until you can see the individual dots. When you upload a video that's too large, Instagram shrinks it down, which wastes the detail you captured and makes the file take longer to upload.
By uploading at 1080 by 1920 for vertical or 1080 by 608 for horizontal, you're giving Instagram a video that's already the right size. The app displays it without resizing, so the image stays sharp and the upload is faster.
How to check your video's current resolution
On a Mac, right-click the video file, select "Get Info", and look for the dimensions listed under "Video". On Windows, right-click the file, select "Properties", then click the "Details" tab and scroll down to find "Frame width" and "Frame height". On a phone, most video editing apps will show the resolution when you open the file — look for a number like "1920x1080" somewhere in the interface.
If your video is already 1080 by 1920 or 1080 by 608, you can upload it directly. If it's a different size, you'll need to resize it before uploading.
How to resize a video to the right resolution
On a phone, use a free video editing app like CapCut or InShot. Open your video, look for a "Resize" or "Aspect Ratio" option, and select the vertical (9:16) or horizontal (16:9) preset. The app will automatically crop or adjust your video to fit. Then export the video — the app will save it at the resolution you selected.
On a computer, use free software like DaVinci Resolve (Windows and Mac) or iMovie (Mac only). Import your video, go to the export settings, and set the resolution to 1080 by 1920 for vertical or 1080 by 608 for horizontal. Then export the file. If you're using a paid tool like Adobe Premiere, the process is similar — find the export settings and enter the resolution manually.
If you don't want to edit the video, you can also crop it directly in Instagram before you post. Open the video in the Instagram app, tap "Next" after selecting it, and use the crop tool to adjust the frame. Instagram will then upload it at the correct resolution.
What happens if you upload the wrong resolution
Instagram will resize your video automatically, but the result may not look the way you intended. A video that's too small will appear blurry or pixelated. A video that's too wide or too tall will be cropped — Instagram will cut off the sides or top and bottom to make it fit the standard size, which means parts of your video won't be seen.
Uploading at the wrong resolution also makes the file larger than it needs to be, which means slower uploads and more data use on your phone. If you're posting Reels or Stories, Instagram is even stricter about the size — uploading at the wrong resolution there can make your video look distorted or have black bars on the sides.
Aspect ratio versus resolution — which one matters more
The aspect ratio is the relationship between width and height — for example, 9:16 (vertical) or 16:9 (horizontal). The resolution is the actual pixel count. Instagram cares about both, but aspect ratio is what determines whether your video fills the screen or has black bars.
If you resize a video to 1080 by 1920, you're setting both the aspect ratio (9:16) and the resolution (1080 pixels wide). If you only change the aspect ratio without changing the resolution, Instagram will still resize it when you upload, which can make it blurry. Always set both the aspect ratio and the resolution to match Instagram's requirements.
Quick reference for different Instagram formats
| Format | Resolution | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Feed (vertical) | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 |
| Feed (horizontal) | 1080 × 608 | 16:9 |
| Stories | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 |
| Reels | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I upload a video that's larger than 1080 by 1920?
Yes. Instagram will resize it down, so the image will still be sharp. However, the file will be larger, which means slower uploads and more storage use on your phone. Uploading at exactly 1080 by 1920 is more efficient.
What if my phone records at 4K resolution?
Most modern phones record at 4K (3840 by 2160 pixels or higher), which is much larger than Instagram needs. When you export the video from your phone's camera app or a video editor, you can choose a lower resolution — select 1080p or 1080 by 1920 in the export settings, and the app will resize it for you.
Do I need the exact resolution, or is close enough okay?
Instagram is flexible with small differences — a video that's 1070 by 1910 will look fine. But if your video is significantly different (like 720 by 1280), Instagram will resize it, which can make it look blurry. Aim for the exact resolution or as close as your editing app allows.
Why does my video have black bars on the sides after I upload it?
Black bars appear when the aspect ratio doesn't match Instagram's standard. If you uploaded a horizontal video (16:9) to a vertical feed slot, or vice versa, Instagram adds bars to make it fit. Crop or resize your video to the correct aspect ratio before uploading.
Is there a difference between uploading to Feed, Stories, and Reels?
Stories and Reels both use 1080 by 1920 (vertical). Feed videos can be vertical (1080 by 1920) or horizontal (1080 by 608). If you upload a horizontal video to Stories or Reels, Instagram will add black bars. Always match the resolution to the format you're posting to.