Reference · 5 min read
Instagram Reels Specs and Safe Zones: Size, Format, Length, Cover
Instagram Reels are vertical video, best made at 9:16 and 1080x1920 pixels. The Help Center accepts aspect ratios from 1.91:1 to 9:16, and the Graph API lists MP4 or MOV, H.264 or HEVC, 23 to 60 frames per second, up to 300 MB and 3 seconds to 15 minutes. Meta publishes no pixel safe zone for organic Reels.
What do Instagram's Help Center and API say about Reels files?
| Spec | Help Center (in the app) | Graph API (publishing) |
|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 1.91:1 to 9:16 accepted | 0.01:1 to 10:1; 9:16 recommended |
| Resolution | Minimum 720 pixels | Maximum width 1920 pixels |
| Frame rate | Minimum 30 FPS | 23 to 60 FPS |
| Container | Not stated | MOV or MP4; moov atom at the start; avoid edit lists |
| Video codec | Not stated | H.264 or HEVC; progressive scan, closed GOP, 4:2:0 |
| Audio | Not stated | AAC, up to 48 kHz, mono or stereo; 128 kbps |
| Video bitrate | Not stated | VBR, 25 Mbps maximum |
| Duration | Not stated on this page | 3 seconds minimum, 15 minutes maximum |
| File size | Not stated | 300 MB maximum |
| Cover photo | Recommended 420x654 px (1:1.55); cannot be edited after upload | JPEG, 8 MB, sRGB; 9:16 recommended, otherwise the middle-most 9:16 area is used |
The two sources differ on minimum frame rate (30 versus 23). A 30 FPS export satisfies both. The Help Center page does not state a maximum length; a 2022 Instagram creators post says reels must be 3 minutes or less to be recommended, a page dated 2022 and updated 2023 that may be out of date.
What is the safe zone for Reels?
Meta has not published a pixel safe zone for organic Reels that we could find. Its Business Help Center page on text overlays covers ads. It says that for 9:16 ads in Stories, Reels and Feed you should keep the top, bottom and side edges free of key text and logos, that for non-9:16 Instagram Feed ads the bottom and sides should be kept clear, and that on screens taller than 9:16 the creative may be zoomed (cropping outside the safe zone) or letterboxed. For Reels ads with disclaimers it says to leave the bottom 40% free.
| Source | What it gives | Pixel values? |
|---|---|---|
| Meta Business Help Center (ads) | Keep edges free; bottom 40% free when disclaimers are used | No |
| Instagram for Creators (2022, updated 2023) | Vertical 9x16, no borders, text should not cover most of the screen | No |
| Third-party guides | Differing margins for top, bottom and sides | Yes, and they disagree; we did not rely on them |
| Our own working rule | Keep key text out of the bottom 380 px and right 120 px of 1080x1920 | Yes, ours, not Meta's |
Our rule is a conservative layout choice tested on our own reels, and we have no causal evidence that it changes performance.
How do you export a Reel that fits the listed specs?
- Build the video at 1080x1920 (9:16).
- Encode H.264 video and AAC audio in an MP4 with the moov atom first, at 30 FPS.
- Keep it under 300 MB and between 3 seconds and 15 minutes.
- Keep key text inside the central area, clear of the bottom and right edges.
- Choose a cover: at least 9:16, or accept the middle 9:16 crop.
- Turn on "Upload at highest quality" in the app (Menu, Media quality) if uploads look soft.
An FFmpeg example that matches the listed fields (we did not upload-test every flag): ffmpeg -i in.mp4 -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2,fps=30" -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 48000 -movflags +faststart out.mp4
Where do reels sit relative to carousels?
Reels cannot be items in a carousel. For carousel limits see the carousel specs reference; for a no-camera workflow see how to make reels without filming.
Frequently asked questions
What size is an Instagram Reel?
9:16 at 1080x1920 pixels is the recommended shape. The Help Center accepts aspect ratios from 1.91:1 to 9:16, and the Graph API recommends 9:16.
What video format does Instagram accept for Reels?
Per Meta's API reference: MOV or MP4, H.264 or HEVC video, AAC audio, 23 to 60 FPS, up to 25 Mbps video bitrate, 300 MB and 3 seconds to 15 minutes.
What is the Instagram Reels safe zone in pixels?
Meta has not published pixel values for organic Reels that we found. Its ads guidance says to keep the edges free of key text and logos, and the bottom 40% free when disclaimers are used.
What size should a Reels cover be?
The Help Center recommends 420x654 pixels (1:1.55). The API accepts a JPEG up to 8 MB in sRGB and recommends 9:16; otherwise it uses the middle 9:16 area.
How long can an Instagram Reel be?
Meta's API reference lists 3 seconds to 15 minutes for published reels. The in-app limit can differ by account and version, and the Help Center page we read does not state one.
The Content Engine researches a niche, writes post ideas and renders carousels (PNG) and reels (MP4) on your own computer. USD 67 one time, 7-day refund. It needs a paid Claude plan (Pro or higher), Node.js and FFmpeg, and we have tested it on Windows only.
See the Content EngineSources and our data
- Instagram Help Center: Reel size and aspect ratios — opened 2026-10-30; aspect range, frame rate, resolution, cover size
- Meta for Developers: IG User media reference — opened 2026-10-30; Reels and image specifications
- Meta Business Help Center: text overlays and the safe zone for ads — opened 2026-10-30; ads guidance, no pixel values
- Instagram for Creators: What creators need to know about recommendations (2022, updated 2023) — opened 2026-10-30; 9x16 and keyword guidance
- Our own data: our reels render at 1080x1920; the bottom 380 px and right 120 px rule comes from our playbook and is not a Meta requirement.
Go deeper: how The Content Engine works · pricing and the 7-day refund · compare the options · glossary of Instagram terms · all guides
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