Instagram Post Size Guide
Choosing the wrong size is the quickest way to get a post cropped in the wrong place. This Instagram post size guide covers the shapes worth using, the pixel sizes to make them at, and the margins to keep clear of text.
The sizes at a glance
| Format | Ratio | Pixels | | --- | --- | --- | | Portrait post | 4:5 | 1080 x 1350 | | Square post | 1:1 | 1080 x 1080 | | Tall post | 3:4 | Same ratio, sized to suit | | Story | 9:16 | 1080 x 1920 |
For stories, read the Instagram Story Size Guide. Our full list of formats is on the social media sizes page.
Portrait 4:5 at 1080 x 1350
This is the default choice for most posts. It is taller than it is wide, so it fills more of a phone screen as people scroll, and your picture gets more attention than a square would. Use it for:
- products shown whole, such as bottles, bags or dishes with height
- people, full or half length
- posts with a headline plus an image
- anything where you want the biggest possible presence in the feed
Square 1:1 at 1080 x 1080
The square is the classic. It is balanced, easy to centre, and works well when you will reuse the picture elsewhere. Use it for:
- a logo or simple graphic
- a flat lay seen from above
- a close-up of a face or detail
- quotes and short text cards
Tall 3:4
Tall 3:4 sits between the square and the full portrait. It is handy when you want a portrait look but your subject is a little wider, like a seated person or a plated meal with a side dish.
Safe areas
Placing text too close to the edge risks it being cut, covered or hard to read. In Melon Cut Design the safe area for a post keeps 13% clear on each side and 12% clear at the top and bottom. Keep your headline, price and logo inside that frame.
Also remember the grid. Instagram profiles show posts as a cropped grid, and the middle of the picture is what stays visible. Put the main subject near the centre and nothing essential in the corners.
Choosing quickly
- Do you have one strong subject, and want impact? Portrait.
- Is it a logo, quote or flat lay? Square.
- Need something in between? Tall.
- Posting to Stories or Reels? Not a post size; use 9:16.
Prompts that set the size and the layout
A portrait Instagram post, 4:5, of a single red bicycle leaning on a white wall, soft evening light. Leave clear space in the upper third for a headline.
A square Instagram post, 1:1, flat lay of coffee beans, a small cup and a folded linen napkin on dark wood. Keep the centre uncluttered.
Check the result
After making the picture, check every word and number in it, and look at it small, at phone size. If you cannot read it small, make the text bigger.
For how to write the prompt itself, see Write a Good AI Image Prompt.
Doing it in Melon Cut
In Melon Cut Design, switch to Social and select the post, square or tall format before you describe the picture. The size and safe areas are applied for you, and a custom size is also available if you need one. Pictures cost credits, which you can see on the pricing page.