Guide
Instagram Reels specs: length, size, shape and frame rate
Instagram lets you make Reels up to 20 minutes long, but Reels over 3 minutes are not recommended to new audiences. Use a shape between 1.91:1 and 9:16, at least 30 frames per second and at least 720 pixels. Reels ads take MP4 or MOV files up to 4 GB and 15 minutes, in 9:16.
Reels are Instagram's main video format, and they reward vertical, short and smooth video. The rules are not hard, but two of them catch software teams often: the minimum frame rate and the point at which Instagram stops showing a Reel to new people. These numbers come from Instagram's and Meta's own pages, linked at the end, and were checked on 16 October 2026.
Instagram Reels specs
| Spec | Organic Reel |
|---|---|
| Length | Up to 20 minutes (over 3 minutes is not recommended to new audiences) |
| Aspect ratio | 1.91:1 to 9:16 |
| Frame rate | At least 30 frames per second |
| Resolution | At least 720 pixels |
| Cover image | 420 × 654 |
The 3 minute point matters more than the 20 minute limit. A Reel longer than that can still be posted, but Instagram says it will not be recommended to people who do not follow you. For a product video meant to reach new users, stay well under it.
Instagram Reels ad specs
| Spec | Reels ad |
|---|---|
| File size | Up to 4 GB |
| Length | Up to 15 minutes |
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 |
| Recommended size | 1440 × 2560 |
| File types | MP4 or MOV |
| Minimum width | 250 pixels under 30 seconds, 500 pixels at 30 seconds or longer |
Boosting a Reel from inside the Instagram app has its own simpler rules, such as a shorter maximum length. Check the boost screen in the app when you use it.
The frame rate catch
Instagram asks for at least 30 frames per second. Many films are exported at 24 or 25 frames per second, which looks fine on a website but falls below that minimum. If your editor's default is 24, change it to 30 for the Reels version. Our free video specs checker measures the frame rate of your file in the browser and flags this before you post.
Designing a product video for Reels
- Lay it out for 9:16. Do not crop a 16:9 film. Re-frame the product so the part that matters fills the screen. Our guide to video aspect ratios for product launches explains how.
- Keep text away from the edges. Instagram draws its buttons, captions and profile details over the bottom and right of a Reel. Keep key text and the product in the middle of the frame.
- Start with the point. People scroll Reels quickly, so show the product working in the first seconds.
- Add captions. Many Reels are watched without sound. Put the key words on screen, or use our SRT subtitle maker for a caption file.
The cover and the first frame
The cover is what people see in your profile grid, so choose one that names the product or the feature in a few large words. The first frame matters even more in the Reels feed, because it decides whether people stop. Start on the product doing something, not on a logo or a blank screen. Our video frame grabber saves any frame of your film as a sharp image you can use as the cover.
Other places to post the same film
The same vertical film usually works on TikTok and YouTube Shorts as well, and a 1:1 or 4:5 version suits feeds. Our LinkedIn video specs guide covers LinkedIn's limits. If you want every version made for you, every package we make includes 9:16, 16:9 and 1:1, and Launch + Ads adds three openings in each shape for Meta and LinkedIn ads.
Frequently asked questions
How long can an Instagram Reel be?
Instagram's help page says you can record and edit Reels up to 20 minutes long. It also says Reels over 3 minutes will not be recommended to new audiences, so for reach beyond your followers, keep a Reel to 3 minutes or less. An older Instagram page still says 60 seconds, but the newer page is current.
What size should an Instagram Reel be?
Use 9:16 vertical. Instagram accepts shapes between 1.91:1 and 9:16, with a minimum of 720 pixels. Meta recommends 1440 by 2560 for Reels ads, and 1080 by 1920 is a common export for organic Reels.
What frame rate does Instagram need for Reels?
Instagram asks for a minimum of 30 frames per second. A video exported at 24 or 25 frames per second is below that, so export at 30 if you can. Our video specs checker estimates the frame rate of your file before you post.
What size is the Reels cover image?
Instagram gives 420 by 654 pixels for the Reels cover. Choose a frame or upload an image that still reads clearly when Instagram crops it in your profile grid, so keep the words in the middle.
Sources
- Instagram Help: Reels length
- Instagram Help: Reels format, frame rate and resolution
- Meta Ads Guide: Instagram Reels video ads
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Keep reading
Video aspect ratios for a product launch
You usually need 16:9, 9:16, 1:1 and 4:5. Here is where each fits, how to lay them out instead of cropping, and why to check platform specs before exporting.
LinkedIn video specs: size, length, shape and format
LinkedIn video specs for posts and ads, from LinkedIn's own help pages: file size, length, aspect ratio, resolution, frame rate and the formats it accepts.
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