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How long does an instagram video have to be


Instagram Video Length Guide (2023): Posts, Stories, IGTV

Adam is Head of Content at Wyzowl. Leading a talented, fearless team of writers, Adam's passions include video, growth marketing, brand storytelling and referring to himself in the third person.

In this article we’re going to break down the ideal Instagram video lengths for posts, Stories, Reels and Live video.

Video performs incredibly well on Instagram, with the platform seeing an 80% increase (since 2017) in the time that users spend watching video on the platform. 

And marketers are taking note. According to our State of Video Marketing survey, 58% of video marketers plan to include Instagram in their video marketing strategy. 

But simply posting videos to Instagram isn’t enough to guarantee success. You need to make sure that your content fits and is engaging for users – and that includes ensuring the video length is just right. 

So, with that said, let’s take a look at the video lengths for each different type of Instagram video.  

Article Contents

Instagram video length limit

First of all, let’s take a look at the length limits. This is the maximum amount of time each type of Instagram video can run for. 

It’s important to note here that, as of October 2021, IGTV no longer exists. Instead, in-feed video posts and IGTV have been combined into Instagram Video. 

This means it will be easier to upload and find long-form videos on the platform. In a public statement about the update Instagram stated: 

“We love that our creator community has embraced video as a key format to tell their stories, entertain and connect with their audiences, and that’s why we want to make it even simpler to create and discover videos on Instagram.”

Instagram Video posts have a maximum length limit of 10 minutes (although some verified accounts have an extended length of 60 minutes). 

All of these videos can be found under the video tab on a user’s profile: 

When users scroll through their feed and see an Instagram Video post, they can watch a 60 second preview within their feed and then decide if they want to watch the full thing.

As for the length limits of other types of Instagram videos:

If you have videos that exceed these length limits then there are some ways to get around this. 

Instagram Length Hacks

If you have an existing video that exceeds the length limit on Instagram but you really want to post it, then you have the opportunity to trim the video to fit the limit. 

This functionality is built right into Instagram so you are given the easy option to do this when you upload: 

If you’re happy with your trimmed video then you can stop there. However, if you want to include the whole thing (length limit be damned!) then you can create a carousel post. 

A carousel post allows you to share up to 10 photos or videos in one post, which your users can simply swipe through.

So if you want to share a long video then you can just cut this up into separate clips and upload as a carousel post: 

You can do the same with Instagram Stories. Each story is only 15 seconds, but you can upload 4. These will play one after the other to a maximum limit of 60 seconds (each story is represented by a bar at the top of the screen): 

Instagram Video post length

An Instagram Video post is exactly what it sounds like! It’s a video post to Instagram. These videos appear in-feed, alongside image posts. Here’s an example: 

Instagram Video posts can be between 3 seconds and 10 minutes in length (60 minutes for selected accounts). 

If your video post is longer than 60 seconds then a preview will be played in the feed and users can choose to watch the remainder of the video on your profile.

As mentioned above, if you have a video that exceeds the 10 minute mark that you’d really love to post to Instagram then you can get around this by using the in-platform editor to trim the video, or you can upload the video in segments as a carousel post.

Instagram Stories video length

Instagram Stories are short videos that are posted to your profile and automatically disappear after 24 hours. Here’s an example: 

Each Story can be up to 15 seconds in length. However, you can share up to 4 Stories at a time, to a maximum length of 60 seconds. 

Instagram Stories last for 24 hours, or you can save them to a highlight reel so that people who visit your profile can view them any time: 

Instagram Reel video length

Reels is Instagram’s answer to TikTok. They’re short, vertical clips, usually set to music that can be anywhere from 15-60 seconds long. Here’s an example: 

Reels have their own dedicated section in Instagram. Here, like TikTok, you can scroll through trending videos. 

Reels can also be found on user’s profiles and on the explore feed: 

Instagram Live time limit

When you go live on Instagram you can stream for up to 4 hours. This has been extended from the original limit of 1 hour. 

You can also save your live stream to your profile for up to 30 days so that people who weren’t able to watch in real time can catch up.  

Instagram video ad length

The rules for Instagram video ads differ to those of regular videos. In-feed video ads can be between 3-120 seconds long, like this one: 

Instagram Story ads are a little bit different. Typically, users can share up to 4 Story cards (to a total of 60 seconds). With Story ads, this is extended to 10 cards (to a total of 150 seconds).

However, only the first 3 cards will be displayed within the normal Instagram Story feed. After that viewers are asked to opt in to watching more with a tap. 

Final thoughts

Currently, almost 15% of all posts on Instagram are videos. Video is only growing in popularity on Instagram, so there’s never been a better time to start upping your video marketing game on the platform. 
Looking for somewhere to start? Check out our Social Media Videos page.

Instagram Video Length - The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need

If you want to leverage Instagram for your brand, you know how crucial videos are and what they can do for you. But given the number of different formats that Instagram has for videos and the introduction of new formats like reels, it’s tricky to keep a tab.

Hence, we’ve put together this guide that will get you up to speed with all the restrictions about video lengths, so you can nail your Instagram video strategy in 2022.

We’ve also added some pro-tips and templates from InVideo that will help you make the most of each video format. And while you’re at it, make sure to check out InVideo’s Instagram page where we share informative videos on how to turn these templates into impactful videos for your brand.

Instagram video formats we’ll cover today:

1. Instagram Feed Video
2. Instagram Story Video
3. IGTV Videos
4. Instagram Live Video
5. Instagram Reel Videos
6. Instagram Video Ads

Let’s get started!

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1.

Instagram Feed Video

Length: 3 Seconds- 60 Seconds

Resolution and aspect ratio: 1080×1920 / 4:5

If you want to post a video on your Instagram feed or profile, you need to stay within the 60-second limit. If you have a video longer than a minute, you must select a 60-second frame within the app, and post it on your feed.

The app’s in-built editor allows you to trim the video and select your preferred part. From there, you can directly post it on your profile.

To do this, select the ‘+’ icon on your profile. Select the video you want to post and select ‘next.’

Click on the ‘trim’ section right next to the filters. Drag the bar to your preferred 60-second video frame, and press ‘next.’

And there you go.

Now you can post the video on your feed with an engaging caption.

How to cut your long video into carousels?

You cannot always have a 60-second video, sometimes you might have a video longer than that. But Instagram limits you to post the video.

What if we told you, there’s a hack around it?

You can cut your long video into smaller ones to form a carousel post. Carousels allow you to put ten photos or videos in a single post, where your audience can swipe and view them all.

To do this, you can trim your original video into 1-minute clips using your phone’s in-build editor. However, for finesse, we would recommend using a professional video editor like InVideo.

Once you’ve trimmed all the videos, open the Instagram app. Tap on the ‘+’ icon and select multiple videos through a small icon on the right. The carousel icon looks like multiple squares on top of each other. Through this, choose your trimmed videos in sequence and then select ‘next.’ And you’re done!

Pro Tip: 3 Things to keep in mind before you post on your feed

Your Instagram feed is like your visual lookbook. Here are three things to keep in mind before you think of ideas for your Instagram feed posts:

#1 - Anything you post here stays for a long time and is visible to anyone who comes to your profile. This makes it necessary for you to focus on your content’s quality and relevance to your audience.

#2 - Every post affects your page’s overall theme. It needs to align with your brand’s content and visual identity.

#3 - By posting a video on your feed, you’re asking for your audience’s time and attention. Give them content that’s packed with valuable into and is designed professionally.

Here’s an example of an Instagram feed video we did for our own Instagram channel.

Want to learn more about how you can create a consistent visual identity for your brand? Check out this video for 10 easy tips or head over to our Instagram page to see how we use videos to build an overall theme for the brand.

Looking for more video ideas for your Instagram posts? Check out these 15 Instagram video ideas that you can get started with today.

2. Instagram Story Video

Length: Upto 15 seconds

Resolution and aspect ratio: 1080 x 1920 or 9:16

Instagram stories allow you to post a video of upto 15 seconds. If you upload a longer video, it automatically chops it into individual videos of 15 seconds. However, it only cuts the video into four parts, which means you can upload only 60 seconds of video at large.

Once you upload the video, you can add text, GIFs, stickers, music, or an additional photo or video to the same story. You can do this through the in-built story features.

If you want to record your story video, live within the app, hold the button while you record. It will automatically create a maximum of 1-minute videos chopped into four parts of 15 seconds.

What if you want to upload videos longer than a minute?

If you want to upload videos longer than a minute, you can cut it in your camera roll and post them as separate stories of 15-seconds each. We would suggest using InVideo for seamless editing.

Here are some Instagram story hacks to make your videos more interesting.

Pro Tip: 5 Ways to Get More Story Views for Your Videos

Instagram stories are free real estate for you to engage with your audience. Posting videos here can invite messages from your followers and help them get involved with you on a deeper level. Look at these five ways to get more story views and engagement for your videos:

#1 - Use relevant GIFs and stickers to make your stories more interactive and visually appealing.

#2 - Using the poll and question stickers, involve your audience in your stories and share responses.

#3 - Give them a sneak peek into your life and work by including some behind-the-scenes videos.

#4 - Show your face on stories to engage and connect with your audience on a one-to-one basis.

#5 - Create videos that are natively designed to fit the aspect ratio of the format (9:16) as opposed to simply force-fitting videos that were originally made for Instagram feed.

This could get cumbersome at times, but with InVideo, you can simply duplicate a video to the native Instagram story size at the click of a button.  

Here’s an example of how we recreated this 1:1 feed video into a native story video to give our audience a super immersive experience.

Instagram Feed Video

Instagram Story Video

Use this template for your brand

3. IGTV Videos

Length: Upto 10 minutes for regular accounts and 60 minutes for large/verified accounts.

Aspect ratio: 9:16 or 16:9

Instagram allows you to post long-form content on your feed as an IGTV video. You can upload a video of 1 minute to 10 minutes from your mobile device and 60 minutes from the computer app.

When you post an IGTV on your feed, your audience can see a preview of 15 seconds only. If they want to continue watching it, they will have to click on ‘Keep watching.’

To make your audience want to watch the entire video after the preview, you need to optimize the first 5-10 seconds.

One way of doing this is that you will front-load your best insight or part from the video and place it in the beginning so that it immediately catches people’s attention and compels them to watch the entire piece.

For example, GaryVee picks up the most valuable piece of his video and places it in the first 5 seconds with his signature mark.

Here’s another example of Simon Sinek front-loading the main crux of his conversation to give you a sense of the value you will derive if you watch the whole video.

Pro Tips to create more engaging IGTV videos:
#1 - Add captions to your videos

With IGTV, you’re posting content of a higher duration, demanding more of your audience’s attention. If you want to keep them engaged and prevent drop-offs, add captions to your videos.

You can add captions using InVideo’s online editor in less than 10 minutes - making your video more accessible to a wider audience. 

It makes it easy for users to navigate your video and get what you’re saying with greater understanding. You can easily add captions to your IGTV videos, using InVideo.

#2 - Use a branded IGTV cover

When you post an IGTV video, you can either choose a frame for your video as the cover or upload one from your camera roll. This cover will appear on your feed before a user starts watching the video.

To align it with your brand’s identity and your profile’s visual aesthetic, combine your brand colors and create an IGTV cover template using a simple tool like Canva.

Tip #3 - Optimize your title, caption, and hashtags

Unlike other videos on Instagram, IGTV lets you add a title to your video. Make sure you add a compelling title that sums up the topic. In the caption, mention the things you discussed in bullet points. You can also add timestamps here to make it easier for your audience to navigate through the video.

Last but not least, use the most optimal hashtags to maximize the reach for your videos.

Want to know more about finding the right hashtags? Check out this video.

4. Instagram Live Video

Length: Upto 4 hours

Resolution and aspect ratio: 1080 x 1920 or 9:16

Till the first half of 2020, Instagram restricted users to go live for a maximum of 60 minutes, just like Facebook. However, they’ve now increased the duration from 60 minutes to 4 hours which gives us an amazing opportunity to interact with our audience for a significant period of time.

However, if you want to go live for more than 4 hours, all you’ve got to do is restart your live session at the end of the first one and you can pick up where you left off.

Another change introduced recently is that you now have the ability to go live with 4 people. Earlier, if you were hosting a live session, you could only invite one person as a guest. Now, you can invite up to three people and thus, do a session with 4 people on the live giving you the ability to tap into their respective audiences.

You can also share and save your Instagram live session as an IGTV on your feed for your audience to watch a replay.

Turn your Instagram Live videos into snackable social media videos

With the world’s easiest Instagram video editor

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Pro Tip: 5 Ways to get more Instagram Live Viewers

The live feature is a great way to interact and collaborate with other creators in your field, and with your audience. More viewers mean more engagement and a chance of getting more followers and profile visits.

You can see the number of people who attended your live session as soon as it ends.

Let’s see how you can attract a higher number of viewers.

#1 - Give your audience a sneak peek of what’s in it for them with a story reveal of the topic and some bullet points.

#2 - Use the countdown feature on your story to invite people to attend the live session.

#3 - Share your Instagram live timings and details on other social media platforms and relevant groups to invite more people.

Get more eye-balls for your Instagram Live videos

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#4 - Prepare a poster if you’re doing a live session with a guest and ask them to share it on their profile.

For example, see how Pitchground uses their posters as thumbnails while posting the live session to IGTV.

#5 - Use a question sticker on your story to ask people some questions you should answer during the live. Chances are they will attend if they’ve asked you a question.

Want to know how you can use Instagram live for business? Watch this video for everything you need to know about going live on Instagram.

5. Instagram Reel Videos

Length: Upto 30 seconds

Resolution and aspect ratio: 1080 x 1920 or 9:16

Instagram’s newest addition- Reels lets you provide super snackable 30-sec videos

You can upload a video from your camera roll, or you can shoot it within the app. You can use filters, slo-mo effects, or add music. The reels feature also allows you to shoot in breaks to set a timer and shoot in different locations, attires, or however you want. Even if you’re uploading a pre-recorded video, you can combine other parts or videos to form a single reel.

You can also make the most of these ready-to-use templates on InVideo that allows you to create engaging Reels in less than 10 minutes!

Here’s a detailed tutorial on how you can make the most of Reels:

Pro Tip: The Best Kind of Content for Reels

Reels are exploding on Instagram, and if you want to leverage that for your page, start creating them now. Here are some easy content ideas for you:

- Cover your audience’s common pain points.
- Talk about updates in your industry.
- Talk about your learnings and inspirations.
- Share lists of your favourite tools, books, creators, etc.
- Share tutorials, tips, and tricks.

Want to learn how you can get massive reach for your brand via reels? Watch this video.

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6. Instagram Video Ads

1. Feed Video Ad

Length: Upto 60 seconds

Resolution and aspect ratio: 1080×1920 or 4:5

When you post video ads on your feed, they get stacked between your regular feed posts. You will see ads on your feed with a ‘sponsored’ title under the name and a call-to-action like ‘Sign up now’ or ‘View more.’

You can either choose to post a single video ad of 60 seconds or a maximum of 10 slides as part of a carousel. This allows you to engage your reader for a longer time. It’s more or less like a long-form sales page which can result in conversions. Check out these ready-to-go video ad templates that you can use to churn out thumb-stopping video ads for your brand in minutes. 

Pro Tip: Best Practices for Feed Video Ads

To stop people from scrolling and ensure they take the desired action, here are some actionable best practices for feed video ads:

#1 - Videos are muted by default, so consider adding captions to your videos.

For example, here’s how GaryVee adds captions to his videos.

#2 - Have a hook in the first 5 seconds, or you lose them.

Here’s a classic example of how Netflix hooks its audience in the first 10 seconds.

#3 - Don’t promote the offer, promote the benefits.

#4 - Optimize the thumbnail to attract more audience

Here’s an example of how Jay Shetty uses a consistent thumbnail template for his videos.

#5 - Add a clear and compelling call-to-action

2. Story Video Ad

Length: Upto 15 seconds

Resolution and aspect ratio: 1080×1920 or 9:16

Instagram story ads allow you to add either one story of 15-seconds or a carousel story of 150 seconds. They are placed in between organic stories, and you can see them while casually swiping your follower stories.

You can add 10 story cards of 15 seconds each. However, Instagram shows the user only three stories by default, after which they can choose to watch more with the ‘Expand story’ CTA.

These ads cover the entire space and have the option of taking the user to your profile, a landing page, or a direct message through the CTA.

Since these videos show up between organic stories, your first card or the first 5-seconds need to be very attractive and compelling, so your audience continues watching or takes the desired action.

Pro Tip: Best Practices for Story Ads

With story ads, you want to get swipes and conversions so here are some best practices to optimize your ads:

#1 - Position your text strategically because you already have ‘sponsored’ text on the top and ‘swipe up’ text at the bottom.

#2 - Try and show a human face instead of an all-text video ad to make it more relatable.

#3 - Perform A/B testing to see what works.

#4 - Brand your ads with color and font consistency.

This story ad by Spotify uses the bright color combination like in their app advertisements, consistent font, and their logo. It reflects the consistency in brand personality across channels.

#5 - Add music and captions to make it more engaging.

Here’s a very good example where Jay Shetty used music and captions to amplify the messaging of his video.

Want to grow your brand with Instagram story ads?

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Wrapping it up

Now that you know all the specifications + best practices for each video type, it’s time for you to execute and make the most of Instagram videos for your brand in 2022.

You also have at your disposal more than 5000 ready-to-use templates and InVideo’s intuitive online editor to create engaging videos for Instagram.

If you are looking to get feedback on your Instagram videos or have any further questions, come continue the discussion on the InVideo community– a safe space for you to connect with and learn from 20K other marketers, creators, and business owners just like yourself.

Found this article helpful? Please do share it with your friends and peers who are looking to get started with Instagram videos.

What video format is needed for Instagram

In this article, we will analyze what video format is recommended for Instagram, how the requirements for video files for stories, posts in the feed and IGTV differ, and also consider the parameters for Reels short videos.

  • Video options for Instagram
  • Instagram video requirements
  • Conclusion

Video options for Instagram

Before we get acquainted with the requirements for video on Instagram, let's see what parameters you need to pay attention to.

Image quality

To get good views and high blog traffic, you need to ensure good image quality. At the same time, Instagram has its own size limits for each type of video. Make sure that your file fits within these limits, otherwise Instagram will automatically optimize it with a decrease in quality.

Before shooting, set the optimal resolution and fps settings to maintain normal quality and not exceed the size limit. nine0003

Bitrate

This video parameter for Instagram means the degree of compression of the stream and determines the minimum size of the channel that passes this stream without delay. The higher the bitrate, the better the quality of the video, but it also increases the file size.

You can view the bitrate using the MediaInfo application: there are versions for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac. Open the file in the application, and it will give you detailed information about the characteristics of the video.

Screenshot from MediaInfo 9 application0016 Resolution

This parameter indicates the number of pixels per unit area of ​​the image. The higher the resolution of the video for Instagram, the clearer it will be when playing.

Different types of video content on Instagram have different resolutions: from 600 × 315 px to 1080 × 1920 px. You can change the setting in a video editor, such as Movavi, or in an online converter, such as Online video converter.

Recommended reading: Social Media Image Sizes: A Marketer's Guide to Creating Beautiful Posts. nine0003

Format

Instagram has no restrictions - it is theoretically possible to use video in any format. But two are recommended: MP4 and MOV.

You can convert the video file format in the same way as the previous option - using a video editor or using an online converter.

Duration

Each video format on Instagram has its own duration - from a few seconds to an hour. On social networks, dynamic content and short videos are preferred, but sometimes you need to post a long video, IGTV is suitable for this. nine0003

Aspect Ratio

When uploading content to Instagram, you must follow the aspect ratio requirements, otherwise the file will be cropped. In the next section, we will discuss the required ratios for each type of video. The easiest way to change it is in Canva or InShot.

Requirements for video on Instagram

Requirements vary for different types of content on Instagram, but there are some common points.

Stories

It is desirable to create vertical videos for stories. Horizontal ones are allowed, but the image will be positioned in the middle of the screen, and there will be empty space above and below. Due to this, it will be difficult for subscribers to see the details. nine0003 This is what horizontal stories look like.

The aspect ratio for stories is 9:16. Resolution from 600 × 1067 px to 1080 × 1920 px. The duration of each story is no more than 15 seconds. If you upload a video longer, Instagram will automatically split it into pieces of 15 seconds. The file size should not exceed 4 gigabytes, otherwise its quality will decrease during the optimization process.

Feed post

Feed posts have more options: square, landscape, and vertical. Choose the format according to your goals. If you need to show a distant plan, the environment of an object, horizontal shooting is suitable. For close-ups and focusing on details, or for portraits, a vertical format or 1:1 ratio is suitable. nine0003

Resolution for square videos - from 600 × 600 px to 1080 × 1080 px.

Square video format for Instagram

Resolution for vertical videos is from 600 × 750 px to 1080 × 1350 px. The aspect ratio is 4:5.

Vertical video format for Instagram

Resolution for horizontal videos - from 600 × 315 px to 1080 × 566 px, aspect ratio is 1. 91:1.

Horizontal video format for Instagram

If you prefer vertical videos in the feed, try not to fill the video on the entire screen of your smartphone. If there is text under the video, it may not be noticed. And when the block with likes and comments is not visible, this can reduce user activity in relation to the publication. nine0003

For a post in the feed, the duration of the video must not exceed 60 seconds, and the size must not exceed 650 megabytes. Bitrate - from 3000 kilobits per second.

Cover art can be selected from still images to make the video look harmonious in the feed.

IGTV

IGTV format is used for reviews, interviews and live recordings. When uploading from a smartphone, the duration of the video should be from 59 seconds to 15 minutes. You can post videos up to 60 minutes long from your computer.

Both horizontal and vertical orientation are suitable for IGTV. In the first case, the ratio is 9:16, in the second - 16:9. Frame rate - from 30 frames per second, resolution - from 720 px, MP4 format.

Videos up to 10 minutes long can be up to 650 megabytes. If the duration is longer, the maximum possible size is increased to 3.6 gigabytes.

For IGTV videos, you can choose a cover with an aspect ratio of 1:1.55. If necessary, you need to edit it in advance, since after downloading it will not be possible. nine0003

The video will appear in the corresponding section of the account and in the general feed - 60 seconds of preview will be available there. You can remove the video from the feed, but leave it in the IGTV section.

Reels

This is a new short video format for Russia. Instagram is quite active in promoting it: your reels can quickly get a lot of views and bring in a new audience that is interested in the subject of the account.

In Rils, you can apply effects, use retouching, slow down or speed up the video, set a timer, create video collages. It is possible to remove the background and add your own photo or video as it - to do this, select the Reveal Background effect. nine0003

The recommended resolution is 1080 × 1920 px. You can add tracks from a huge library. The maximum duration of the rils at the moment is 60 seconds. This format bears a strong resemblance to TikTok videos.

Recommended reading: “How to promote TikTok from scratch for free”, “TikTok advertising: a guide to creating and setting up”, “A guide on how to make videos on TikTok for business, and a bonus - 20 ideas for short videos.”

Reels video will not be shown in full size in the feed: 1920 px will be reduced to 1350 px. Not everyone is accustomed to the new format, and you can still see complaints about “cropped video” in the comments. If you want users to avoid these issues when viewing from the feed, try to place content closer to the center.

You can remove the rail from the tape, while the roller will remain in a separate tab. For more information about the Reels format, see the Instagram Help Center.

Conclusion

We found out what video format Instagram supports and what requirements it imposes on different types of video content. nine0003

If you're running an Instagram business, you might find SendPulse's tools useful. Chatbots will reduce the burden on staff and increase the speed of responses. We have chatbots for Instagram, Telegram, VKontakte, Facebook and WhatsApp.

Create landing pages and multilinks in our constructor. Make mailings by email, SMS or Viber using our services. Use push notifications and free CRM.

How to set the optimal video size for Instagram on a computer

If you're shooting Instagram videos with a digital camera instead of a smartphone, you'll likely need to edit them on your computer before posting. And if you need to save the same file in several formats - for example, for the feed and for stories - cropping can take a lot of time.

To make it easier, we've prepared detailed instructions on what Instagram video sizes are considered optimal, how different aspect ratios look in the feed, and how to quickly save an Instagram video in the correct size and format. nine0003

We use VSDC as the editing software. It is a free video editor for Windows that is suitable for both simple operations such as trimming and adding audio, as well as for more complex tasks such as creating a picture-in-picture effect, color correction, and working with sound.

Looking for a convenient and free video editor for PC?

Download VSDC

VSDC has special video export profiles for Instagram and other social networks in the required size. This means that you can automatically apply the optimal settings for each social platform, and adjust them if necessary. nine0003

We will show how this works in detail below. But first, let's talk about the optimal video size for Instagram.

How big should a video be to post on Instagram?

The answer to this question depends on what type of post you are planning. Currently, you can post on Instagram:

  • Video post in the feed (minimum 3 seconds; maximum 1 minute)
  • Stories (minimum 1 second; maximum 15 seconds)
  • IGTV (minimum 15 seconds; maximum 10 minutes)

The general requirements for any video on Instagram are as follows: MP4 format, H. 264 codec, 30 frames per second - maximum frequency, resolution - 1080 pixels wide. Lower quality videos - 600 pixels wide - are allowed, however, you should understand that on a visual platform like Instagram, you should always strive for maximum image quality. nine0003

Let's move on to the aspect ratio of the video for Instagram. Here you have several options.

If your video for is a regular post in feed, you can choose any aspect ratio between 1.91:1 (horizontal video) and 4:5 (portrait/vertical mode). Naturally, if your goal is to draw attention to the publication as much as possible, we advise you to choose the second option, because it takes up much more space on the smartphone screen. The recommended settings for vertical video on Instagram are 1080 x 1350 and 864 x 1080 pixels. However, if you shot the original video in a non-portrait mode, it will be difficult to apply the optimal aspect ratio. In such cases, it is worth using square videos with a standard 1:1 ratio. The optimal resolution here would be 1080 x 1080 pixels. nine0003

The best video resolution for Instagram Stories is 1080 x 1920 pixels. And, of course, for maximum organicity, shoot video initially in portrait mode.

Finally, if you're editing a video for IGTV , you can save both a 9:16 vertical video and a 16:9 horizontal video. It is worth remembering that when an IGTV video is viewed in the feed, it is loaded in portrait mode, so it is again recommended to shoot vertically for optimal results. nine0003

How to save the video in the optimal size for Instagram

After you have finished editing, you can save the video in the desired format and size as follows:

  1. Go to the "Export project" tab.
  2. In the top menu on the left, select "Internet" and "For Instagram".
  3. Go to profile settings at the bottom. Using the dropdown menu, specify the width of the video: 600px, 1080px, or 1080px (Full HD).
  4. Then select the video orientation from the menu to the right: square, vertical or landscape. nine0006
  5. In the upper left corner of the preview window, select the "Fit video to the selected resolution" option, if necessary.
  6. Finally, use the Export Video button to save the video to your computer.

To change any of the video parameters - width, height or frame rate - use the "Change profile" option, this button is located below the preview window. If you need to create and save your own video export profile, see this guide. nine0003

How to quickly split a video for sharing on Instagram

If your video is longer than allowed, you can quickly split it into parts and post sequentially to the carousel or stories. The easiest way to do this is with cropping markers:

  1. Still in the same "Video Export" tab, go to the upper right corner and use the "Set Markers" button.
  2. In the new window, use the cursor and the "Add Marker" button to mark the video split points. nine0006
  3. Click the Apply Changes button in the lower right corner.
  4. Now open the "Advanced Options" tab in the menu below the export profile settings.
  5. Uncheck the "Combine scenes into one" option and select the "Split file by markers" option.
  6. Export the project. The video will be saved to your computer as multiple files - as indicated by the markers.

General Guidelines for Posting Videos to Instagram

Saving videos in the optimal size for Instagram is not difficult if you use a program with preset export options. Maintaining maximum quality, however, can be more difficult. We recommend that you try the following tips: