Ad Specs

Instagram Ad Specs

Dimensions, ratios, and safe zones for Instagram feed, Reels, Stories, and carousel ads. Instagram shares Meta's ad system, so specs track Facebook's — but the placements where Instagram wins are the vertical, full-screen ones.


Instagram ad specs by placement

PlacementRatioResolutionNotes
Feed image1:1 or 4:51080 × 1080 / 1080 × 1350JPG/PNG
Feed video1:1 or 4:51080 × 1080 minup to 60 min; keep short
Reels9:161080 × 1920up to 90s
Stories9:161080 × 1920up to 60s per card
Carousel1:1 or 4:51080 × 10802–10 cards

Mind the safe zones

On Reels and Stories, the top ~14% and bottom ~20% of the frame get covered by the username, caption, and CTA button. Keep headlines, logos, and captions in the central band so nothing important is hidden. This is the most common avoidable mistake in vertical creative.

Specs pass the ad; the hook earns the view

A correctly-sized 9:16 Reel still lives or dies on its first frame. Instagram is a visual, fast-scrolling feed, so the opening frame and hook rate matter more here than almost anywhere. Getting the export right is table stakes; getting the hook right is the game.

Test the creative before you boost it

Once your ad meets spec, predicting how it holds attention tells you whether it deserves budget. See Instagram Reels ad testing and ad pre-testing.

Ad specs for other platforms

See Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube ad specs for the other placements you're likely running.

A spec-perfect Reel can still get swiped

Score your Instagram ad for attention before you spend. First analysis free.

Score Your Ad

Frequently asked questions

What are the Instagram ad specs?

Feed ads use 1:1 (1080×1080) or 4:5 (1080×1350); Reels and Stories are full-screen 9:16 (1080×1920). Use MP4/MOV for video, JPG/PNG for images, and at least 1080px on the short side. Because Instagram runs on Meta's ad system, specs mirror Facebook's and change periodically — confirm in Ads Manager.

What is the safe zone for Instagram Stories and Reels ads?

Keep key text and your logo away from the top ~14% and bottom ~20% of a 9:16 frame, where the profile icon, caption, and CTA button overlap the creative. Design the important content into the middle band so nothing critical gets covered.

Do Instagram and Facebook ads use the same specs?

Largely yes — they share Meta's ad platform, so dimensions and file requirements match. The differences are cultural: Instagram skews visual and Reels-first, so vertical 9:16 creative and a strong opening frame matter even more than on Facebook feed.

By Nina Krecicki · Published