Instagram Story Size
Instagram Stories display at 1080 × 1920 pixels (9:16). The format takes up the full screen on mobile, giving you significantly more visual real estate than a feed post. Keep all important content — text, logos, calls-to-action — within the central safe zone (1080 × 1420 px) to avoid the Instagram UI covering your design.
Specifications
| Pixels | 1080 × 1920 px |
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 |
| Supported formats | JPG, PNG, MP4, MOV |
| Max file size | 30 MB for images / 4 GB for video |
| Safe zone | Keep key content within 1080 × 1420 px centre — 250 px top and bottom reserved for UI |
Design Tips
- →Leave 250 px clear at the top (for the profile bar) and 250 px at the bottom (for the swipe-up / link sticker zone) — critical content placed there will be obscured on most devices.
- →Use the 9:16 canvas natively — don't just drop a square or landscape post inside a Story frame with white bars. Full-bleed vertical visuals perform better.
- →For branded Stories templates: design at 1080 × 1920 px, keep the logo and headline in the central 1080 × 1420 px band, and use high-contrast text over any background imagery.
- →Animate key elements slightly (text slide-in, subtle zoom) even in still image Stories — motion increases watch-through rates on the Story format.
How to Make Instagram Story Designs in Playyy
Three steps, no design software. Set the size once — from the size options or straight in your prompt — and every design comes out at 1,080 × 1,920 px.
- 1
Open Playyy
Playyy runs in your browser, so there's nothing to download. Sign in and you'll land on the Home page.
- 2
Type your prompt and set the Instagram Story size
Describe what you want in the input box on the Home page, then set the size whichever way is quicker. Pick Instagram Story from the size options right underneath — every platform's sizes are in that list, so you don't have to look this one up. Or just say it in your prompt, like "Instagram Story at 1,080 × 1,920 px", and Playyy matches it. Either way the design comes out at 9:16.
- 3
Create your Instagram Story design and download it
Playyy generates the design at the full 1,080 × 1,920 px, so it's ready to upload as it is. Accepted formats: JPG, PNG, MP4, MOV. Keep the file under 30 MB for images / 4 GB for video.
Create Instagram Story designs with Playyy
Type a prompt, pick Instagram Story from the size options underneath it, and export at 1080 × 1920 px — no design software needed.
Start designing free →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Instagram Story size in pixels?+
Instagram Stories are 1080 × 1920 pixels with a 9:16 aspect ratio. This is the same as a full-screen vertical video frame. Keep important content within the central 1080 × 1420 px safe zone — the top and bottom 250 px are covered by Instagram's UI overlays.
What is the safe zone for Instagram Stories?+
The Instagram Story safe zone is 1080 × 1420 px, centred vertically. The top 250 px shows the profile picture and account name. The bottom 250 px is reserved for the CTA button, link sticker, or swipe-up zone. Any text or logo placed outside the safe zone risks being hidden by these UI elements.
Can I use a 1:1 image as an Instagram Story?+
You can, but it will appear as a square image with coloured bars filling the top and bottom of the 9:16 frame. Instagram will auto-fill with a blurred version of your image. For best results, design natively at 1080 × 1920 px to fill the full Story frame.
Why is my Instagram Story blurry?+
Usually because the source was under 1080 px wide and Instagram upscaled it, or because a screenshot was uploaded rather than an exported image. Export at exactly 1080 × 1920 px. Uploading over Wi-Fi rather than a weak mobile connection also helps — Instagram degrades uploads more aggressively on poor connections.
How long does an Instagram Story image show for?+
Five seconds by default for a static image, and viewers can tap through sooner. Design for one message per frame — a Story carrying three separate points loses most viewers before the second one registers.