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.
Create Instagram Story designs with Playyy
Set a custom canvas to 1080 × 1920 px, generate visuals from a text prompt, and export at the right dimensions — 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.