The Ideal Dimensions For Instagram Stories And Best Practices [2025]

If you want to create Instagram stories that stand out, you should master the ideal dimensions for Instagram stories. This article reveals the technical sizes and recommended specifications for optimal display. Also, we’ll provide design tips and creative strategies for engaging content.

What Are Instagram Stories?

First introduced in August 2016, Instagram Stories is a feature that lets you temporarily share your moments in a slideshow format. You can see stories of yourself and others in a bar at the top of the feed. After 24 hours, these photos and videos will vanish from your profile.

Instagram stories always appear vertically in full-screen mode on mobile devices. When creating stories, you can add various elements like interactive polls, quizzes, stickers, GIFs, music, etc. 

Why Use Instagram Stories? Benefits For Brands

Instagram Stories offer numerous advantages for brands. Here are the benefits you can expect when using the proper dimensions for Instagram stories.

• Boost interaction: Interactive content elements in stories can encourage views and engagement effectively.
• Build real-time connections: Stories about what happens behind the scenes of businesses bring businesses a new and authentic way to connect with followers and foster strong customer relationships.
• Driving website traffic: By adding swipe-up, clickable links to stories, you can direct traffic to your websites or landing pages.
• Feature user-generated content (UGC): Instagram stories allow businesses to repost UGC testimonials on their profile and save them to Instagram Highlights.

Now that you know how Instagram stories can benefit you, let’s explore the ideal IG stories dimensions.

Dimensions For Instagram Stories: Recommended Sizes and Specifications [2025]

What dimensions are Instagram stories? Here’s the official guide from Meta:

• Aspect ratio for IG stories: 9:16 (recommended), 4:5 to 1.91:1 (technically allowed).
• Best resolution: 1080×1920 pixels
• File size for Instagram stories:
  • Images: Up to 30MB
  • Videos: Up to 4GB
• Instagram story length:
  • Images: 6 seconds
  • Videos: 1-15 seconds
• Supported file types:
  • Images: JPG, PNG   
  • Videos: MP4, MOV (H.264 codec recommended)

* Instagram story safe zone

Although Meta doesn’t make official recommendations about the safe viewing zone for Instagram stories, you should beware of this.

Understanding this safe zone will ensure that your important content is visible to all viewers in different screen sizes and devices. 

Here are the recommendations from GDT Agency:

• Optimal display area: 1080×1420 pixels.
• Top buffer: 250 pixels
• Bottom buffer: 250 pixels
• Side buffer: 65 pixels

Create your stories based on the recommended dimensions, mind the safe zone, and test across different devices to confirm proper display.

>>> MIght you like: A Full Guide To Instagram Carousel Dimensions

Ideal Instagram Story Dimensions For Ads [2025]

Meta’s recommended specifications for Instagram story ads are a bit different from organic stories.

Here’s a breakdown:

• Aspect ratio: 9:16
• Resolution: 1440×2560 pixels
• File type: JPG, PNG, MP4, MOV, GIF
• Ad length:
  • Images: 5-16 seconds
  • Videos: 1-3600 seconds
• Maximum file size:
  • Images: 30 MB
  • Videos: 4 GB
• Minimum width: 
  • Images: 500 pixels
  • Videos: 250 pixels

* Instagram story ad safe zone

When designing Instagram story ads, you must pay more attention to the safe zone to avoid your message being covered by the profile icon and call to action.

Here are the guidelines provided by Meta that you should follow:

• Optimal display area: 1270×1689 pixels.
• Top buffer: ~359 pixels (2560 * 14%)
• Bottom buffer: 512 pixels (2560 * 20%)
• Side buffer: ~85 pixels (1440 * 6%)

Keep your essential elements (images, key messages, CTA) inside the central rectangle of 1270×1689 pixels to maximize the display of your story ads.

>>> Explore more: Best Time To Run Ads On Instagram

Troubleshooting Common Dimension Issues With Instagram Stories

Below are some common issues related to dimensions for Instagram stories and how to resolve them.

• Blurry images: Use high-resolution images, follow the recommended resolution, and optimize file compression.
• Unexpected cropping: Use the optimal 9:16 aspect ratio and consider the safe zone for organic posts and ads.
• Inconsistent design: Create cohesive visual guidelines and Instagram story (ad) templates for your brand.

How to Create An Instagram Story

You can create an Instagram story easily using a mobile device. Here’s how:

1. Open the Instagram app.
2. Swipe left or tap the (+) icon at the bottom of the screen and select Story.
3. Add media from your camera roll or capture a new video/image.
4. Add music, text, stickers, and other interactive elements if you would like to.
5. Finally, tap Share to publish your story.

Beyond Dimensions: How To Craft Engaging Instagram Stories?

The story format of Instagram can enable true connections between users and brands. Whether it’s an organic or paid story, there are some general tips to help you improve its performance.

• Speed: Capture attention from the first second and maintain a fast pace to keep the audience staying.
• Stories-first: Design the post vertically in the 9:16 ratio for the story format. Ensure no crucial info is cropped. 
• Multiple scenes: Use short, concise scenes instead of long and slow scenes.
• Motion: Add movement, even to static images using GIFs and effects.
• Mobile shots: Try mobile shots, they often outperform professional studio shots. 
• Mix media: Combine images and videos in your stories.
• Brand: Show your brand logo and elements at the start of your story.
• Objective-driven: Design your story around your marketing objective. For example: stories for awareness should focus on people; stories for sales should focus on products.
• Limit prices: Don’t mention specific prices in your Instagram stories for better performance.
• Text & focal point: Put your key message at the visual focal point of the story for better attention.
• Sound: Add voiceovers and music for better results.
• Stickers: Use stickers naturally, and strategically. Don’t spam.
• CTA: Use strong and clear calls to action, like Shop Now or Swipe Up. Follow the recommendations for the Instagram story safe zone so that the CTA button won’t cover key elements.

By following these suggestions and knowledge of this format, you can deliver captivating stories for your brands. Don’t skip testing to ensure the best results.

Conclusion

This guide to the best dimensions for Instagram stories is vital for developing successful content. By following the recommended specifications together with the given practices in this article, you can create stories that hit the right notes with your customers.

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