Instagram post sizes in 2026, and how to make them with AI
Instagram crops anything that is not the right shape, and since the profile grid turned into tall rectangles the old square-only advice no longer works. Here are the sizes to use in 2026, where text is safe, and how to design each format in a minute with an AI Instagram post maker.
The sizes at a glance
| Format | Size (px) | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square post | 1080 × 1080 | 1:1 | Classic feed post and carousel slide |
| Portrait post | 1080 × 1350 | 4:5 | Takes the most space in the feed |
| Landscape post | 1080 × 566 | 1.91:1 | Shows small on phones; use rarely |
| Story | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 | Keep text out of the top and bottom edges |
| Reels cover | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 | Shown cropped in the profile grid |
| Highlight cover | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 | Only the centre circle is visible |
| Profile picture | 320 × 320 or larger | 1:1 | Displayed as a circle |
Instagram's own numbers change from time to time, so treat this as a working guide and check the app before a big campaign.
The 3:4 profile grid
Since early 2025 the profile grid shows posts as 3:4 portrait thumbnails instead of squares. Your post itself still appears in the feed at the ratio you uploaded, but on your profile page Instagram crops it to 3:4.
What this means in practice:
- A 4:5 portrait post (1080 × 1350) loses only a thin strip at the top and bottom in the grid. It is the safest choice for most posts.
- A square post (1080 × 1080) loses its left and right edges in the grid. Keep the headline and logo away from the sides.
- If you want a post to look exactly the same in the feed and on the grid, design it at 1080 × 1440 (3:4) with a custom size.
Safe zones for stories and Reels
On a 1080 × 1920 story, Instagram puts your profile name at the top and the reply bar at the bottom. Keep important text and buttons out of roughly the top and bottom 250 px. For a Reels cover, the grid shows a 3:4 crop from the middle, so put the title in the centre of the frame.
Highlight covers are shown as a small circle. Use one simple icon in the middle and nothing else.
How to make each format with AI
- Open Lyxvo Design and pick Social media.
- Choose the size: Instagram post (1:1), Instagram portrait (4:5), Instagram story / Reels cover or Highlight cover. For a carousel, pick Carousel slides (1:1) under presentations.
- Write what the post is for: the business, the offer, the price, the call to action and the mood. For example: "Instagram post for 50% off iced coffee this weekend at Kopi Senja, warm colours, big price, 'Order on WhatsApp' at the bottom."
- Press the arrow. The design is made at the exact pixel size of the format, with the text inside the safe area.
- Double-click to edit: change a word, replace the photo with your own from Uploads, or apply your colours from the Brand panel.
- Press Export → Download PNG to save it at full size, ready to post.
Want a 3:4 version for the grid? Pick Blank canvas on the start screen, choose Custom size and enter 1080 × 1440.
One design, every size
A campaign rarely lives in one format. Once your post is ready, right-click it and choose Other size… (Magic Resize) to make a copy as a story, a WhatsApp status or a Facebook post. The agent rearranges the layout for the new shape instead of just stretching it.
To post the same idea as a short video, right-click the design and choose Make a video, or use Export → Video: each design becomes an animated scene (rise, pop, slide, fade or zoom), downloaded as MP4 where your browser supports it.
What makes an Instagram post work
Size is only the start. A post that people stop for usually has:
- One message. "50% off iced coffee" beats a list of five offers.
- Big type. Most people see your post on a phone at arm's length. If the headline is not readable on a small screen, it is too small.
- A clear visual. A product photo, a face or one bold shape.
- Contrast. Light text on a dark area or the other way round; avoid text over busy parts of a photo.
- A small call to action. "Order on WhatsApp", "Link in bio", "Save this post".
- Your brand, quietly. A small logo and your colours, so people recognise you over time.
Captions and carousels
For a carousel (up to 20 images at the time of writing), make the first slide a promise ("5 ways to…") and the last one an action ("Follow for more"). Keep every slide at the same size; Instagram uses the first slide's ratio for the whole carousel. In Lyxvo, ask for a carousel in one prompt, for example "a 6-slide carousel with tips for first-time home buyers", and the agent plans the slides first, then designs them in one style.
Templates if you want a head start
Prefer to start from a design? The free design templates are real, editable posts written for your country (language, prices and places), at the right size. Change the words and photos and download.
Make your next post
Pick a size, describe the offer and download a post that fits the feed and the grid. More formats are in the AI social media post generator, and the social media image sizes guide covers TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Pinterest and WhatsApp.
Try it in Lyxvo AI
Describe it in your own words and the design agent starts on the right flow. Free to start.
Related tool: AI social media post generator for every network