Should you’re not an skilled content material creator, it may be tough to find out the very best size for Instagram Reels to get the very best outcomes. And understanding the perfect quantity isn’t every little thing – your metrics may let you know one thing solely totally different.
On this article, we discover every little thing you want to know in regards to the superb size of Instagram Reels and different Instagram content material – in accordance with the workforce themselves.
How lengthy can Instagram Reels be?
Instagram Reels will be wherever from 15 seconds to three minutes in size. Beforehand, Reels had been capped at 90 seconds, till Instagram elevated the size of video uploads in January 2025.
“We’ve heard a number of suggestions from a number of you creators on the market that 90 seconds is simply too quick,” Instagram head Adam Mosseri stated in a video, “So we’re hoping that upping that restrict as much as three minutes will assist you inform the tales that you simply actually wish to inform.”
Technically talking, you’ll be able to add movies so long as quarter-hour on Instagram. Nonetheless, Instagram units very clear boundaries for the way lengthy a reel needs to be to carry out properly (this is a crucial caveat).
When filming a video throughout the Instagram app, customers can select from varied particular durations —15 seconds, 30 seconds, 60 seconds, and 90 seconds. All the things from the reel templates to the concepts you’re proven all cap on the 90-second mark, and also you gained’t be capable to movie further clips. (On the time, of writing, the 3-minute replace had not but rolled out to all customers.)
However whilst you can’t make reels longer than 90 seconds throughout the app, you’ll be able to add longer movies than the accessible cut-off dates within the content material importing part of your app. The video will simply be lower off after the allowed time elapses.
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When you’re accomplished enhancing your video, add eye-catching graphics, a call-to-action (CTA), and hashtags to extend your content material’s discoverability within the Instagram feed.
Are you able to add longer Instagram Reels?
Sure, you’ll be able to add any video as much as quarter-hour, and it’ll mechanically be become a reel.
Once you add a video filmed or edited outdoors the Instagram digital camera, there’s no want to decide on a selected video size. You’ll have entry to a lot of the similar enhancing instruments and performance of the reels course of (no music or additional clips, so ensure so as to add that earlier than you add).
Ensure that your video matches the anticipated Instagram Reels dimensions of 1080 x 1920 pixels so it matches neatly into the feed and offers the full-screen expertise.
If you wish to add an extended reel, merely go to your digital camera roll and choose the video or movies you’d wish to add and so they’ll pop up within the enhancing space.


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How lengthy ought to an Instagram Reel be?
Adam Mosseri, CEO of Instagram, has beforehand shared that importing reels longer than 90 seconds might damage distribution (although we anticipate this to increase to as much as 3 minutes as soon as the replace is absolutely rolled out).
Nonetheless, size shouldn’t be the one issue you must take into account – issues like high-quality visuals and efficient messaging are additionally very important on the subject of social content material and holding consumer consideration.
Many creators work across the instructed restrict for video lengths by directing their followers to “learn extra” within the captions.
They create very quick movies which are pleasing to observe in a loop whereas their viewers reads by way of the captions or engages within the feedback.
How lengthy can an Instagram Story be?
An Instagram Story will be as much as 60 seconds lengthy and can disappear after 24 hours. You possibly can add a number of 60-second movies if you need.
Beforehand, longer movies had been damaged down into 15-second clips as they had been uploaded to Tales, however now the utmost size is 60 seconds, and it stays as a single video.
In addition they gained’t seem in your important feed, different customers’ For You Pages, or following feeds. Your Tales will solely be seen when followers faucet in your profile picture, both whereas viewing your profile or throughout the DMs or messages tab.
Right here’s a fast tutorial to movie or add content material to your Story on Instagram:
Faucet the Create button – the + icon on the backside heart of the display screen if you open the appSwipe to the Story possibility, which is the second possibility within the backside centerRecord your Story or add your content material by tapping the underside left of your screenAdd your stickers, music, or textual content.Hit the → button to add!
How lengthy can Instagram carousels be?
Instagram carousels can have as much as 10 photographs or movies. Customers on cellular can view carousel posts by swiping left, whereas desktop customers can click on by way of utilizing the arrow button on the right-hand facet of a publish.
To create an Instagram carousel publish, select Submit within the creation space and hit the overlapping squares within the center proper of the display screen to pick a number of photos and movies.
You possibly can add trending sounds or music to your Instagram carousel by clicking on the music image within the high proper nook of your display screen. Ensure that your monitor of selection doesn’t run out earlier than the consumer has completed swiping by way of the carousel.
The size of Instagram Reels vs. TikToks vs. YouTube Shorts
TikTok movies will be as much as half-hour lengthy, relying in your area. The utmost video size for YouTube Shorts is 3 minutes (any new movies longer than that might be revealed as common YouTube movies however maintaining the portrait facet ratio). And naturally, the superb time restrict for Instagram Reels can be 3 minutes seconds, however you’ll be able to add movies of as much as 15-minutes in size.
Reels was Instagram’s response to the rise of TikTok’s short-form content material, though TikTok appears to be leaving the short-form area behind to compete with longer-form YouTube movies.
The platforms don’t really feel all that totally different. Actually, it’s frequent for creators to make use of Instagram Reels on TikTok and YouTube Shorts — we even suggest doing so for extra visibility in your posts.
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It’s essential to do not forget that the Instagram algorithm penalizes content material with a watermark from different platforms, which is one thing to think about when cross-posting video content material.
Whereas crossposting your content material is the sensible selection, particularly to ease the content material creation course of, it’s clever to select a main social media platform in your movies and create your content material along with your audience’s wants and preferences in thoughts.
Should you’re caught on which short-form video platform is greatest for you, you may wish to create a social media advertising technique. Everybody from influencers to social media managers finds this course of useful.
This social technique information will get you began and information you thru some questions that will help you make the only option in your social media targets.
Lastly, as an alternative of focusing solely on the size of your movies, bear in mind you must produce high quality content material on Instagram, too. Your movies ought to carry out properly so long as you’re making reels that customers discover attention-grabbing and helpful.