What is the difference between story and Reel size?

Both use 9:16 (1080x1920px). Stories disappear after 24 hours; Reels are permanent and go to your profile grid. The dimensions are identical.

Last updated: September 2, 2026

Instagram Story Size Guide 2026: Dimensions, Safe Zones & Templates

Q: What are the safe zones for Instagram stories?

Keep text and important elements 250px from the top (username bar) and 340px from the bottom (reply bar). Leave 60px margins on the sides.

Q: Can I post horizontal photos to Instagram stories?

Yes, but they will be cropped or letterboxed. For best results, use 9:16 vertical images or crop horizontal photos to fit the story frame.

The correct Instagram story size in 2026 is 1080x1920 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio). This guide covers exact dimensions, safe zones, and design tips for stories, Reels, and highlights.

Instagram Story Dimensions at a Glance

Format	Dimensions	Aspect Ratio	Duration
Story	1080 x 1920px	9:16	15 seconds per slide
Reel	1080 x 1920px	9:16	15s, 30s, 60s, or 90s
Highlight Cover	1080 x 1080px	1:1	Permanent
Story Ad	1080 x 1920px	9:16	Up to 120 seconds

Key Takeaway

Always create stories at 1080x1920px (9:16). This is the only ratio that fills the entire mobile screen. Anything else will be cropped, letterboxed, or appear smaller.

Story Safe Zones: Where to Place Text and Stickers

Instagram overlays UI elements on stories. Keep important content within these safe zones:

Top 250px: Username, time, and camera icons overlay here
Bottom 340px: Reply bar, swipe-up/link stickers, and send button
Left/Right 60px: Edge padding for different phone models
Center safe area: The usable space is roughly 960x1330px

Sticker Placement

If you add a link sticker, poll, quiz, or mention sticker, it sits in the lower third of the screen. Place your main text in the upper-middle area to avoid overlap.

Stories vs Reels: Same Size, Different Strategy

Both stories and Reels use the same 9:16 dimensions, but the content strategy differs:

Stories: Casual, behind-the-scenes, interactive (polls, questions, quizzes)
Reels: Polished, edited, hook-driven content for the Explore page
Stories: Disappear after 24 hours (unless saved to highlights)
Reels: Permanent on your profile, indexed by Instagram search

Story Template Ideas

Use our free story template maker to create professional story designs:

Announcement: Bold headline + date + CTA button
Behind-the-scenes: Photo + "New Post" sticker + link
Q&A: Question box + branded background
Poll: Two-option poll with engaging question
Countdown: Timer sticker for product launches or events
Quote: Branded quote card with attribution
List: Numbered tips or steps with clean typography

Free Tools for Instagram Stories

Story Size Checker - Verify your images and videos match Instagram story dimensions
Story Template Maker - Design custom story templates with announcement, question, poll, and countdown layouts
Highlight Cover Maker - Create matching highlight cover icons for your profile

Best Practices for Story Design

Design for vertical: Never use horizontal images in stories
Keep text large: Minimum 24pt font for readability on mobile
Use brand colors: Consistent colors make stories recognizable
Add motion: Animated text or GIFs increase engagement
Use interactive stickers: Polls, questions, and quizzes boost engagement by 2-3x
Post 3-7 stories per day: The algorithm rewards consistent posting

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the correct Instagram story size in 2026?

1080x1920 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio). This fills the entire mobile screen.

What are the safe zones for Instagram stories?

Keep text 250px from the top and 340px from the bottom. Leave 60px margins on the sides.

Can I post horizontal photos to Instagram stories?

Yes, but they will be cropped or letterboxed. Use 9:16 vertical images for best results.