What size should Instagram posts be in 2026?
Post photos at 3:4 portrait, 1080 × 1440 px. That is exactly the shape of a tile in the Instagram profile grid, so nothing gets cropped there, and the feed shows the whole image too. 4:5 (1080 × 1350) still works, but the profile trims a thin strip on the left and right. Stories and Reels stay 9:16 (1080 × 1920).
For years the rule was simple: post 4:5 portraits at 1080 × 1350 and the profile shows a square crop. In 2025 Instagram changed the profile grid from square tiles to 3:4 portrait tiles and started accepting 3:4 uploads. Since then, the format that looks right everywhere is 3:4.
Every format and what the grid does with it
| Format | Pixels | Feed / opened post | Profile grid (3:4 tiles) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3:4 portrait | 1080 × 1440 | Shown in full | Shown in full — no crop |
| 4:5 portrait | 1080 × 1350 | Shown in full | About 3 % trimmed on the left and right |
| 1:1 square | 1080 × 1080 | Shown in full | About 12 % trimmed on the left and right |
| Landscape 1.91:1 | 1080 × 566 | Shown in full | Heavily cropped, only the middle remains |
| Story / Reel 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 | Full screen; top and bottom covered by buttons | Reels: middle 3:4 part shown |
Values rounded. Instagram changes details from time to time — check one test post in your own profile before a big series.
Carousels: the first slide decides
All slides of a carousel share one format, and it is set by the first slide. If slide 1 is 3:4, every following slide is shown as 3:4 too. Build the whole carousel in one size from the start instead of cropping later.
How to export 3:4 in Postfolio
- Choose the format. Tap the format button at the top and pick Post 3:4. Every slide is now 1080 × 1440.
- Build your slides. Panorama splits, borders and templates all follow the format automatically.
- Export. You get full-size files without recompression, ready to upload. For profile-grid splits the editor also marks what the grid will show.
When 4:5 is still fine
If your existing feed is 4:5 and you like how it looks, you do not have to switch. Just keep faces, text and horizons away from the outer few percent on the left and right, because that strip disappears in the grid.
Questions, answered straight.
What is the best size for Instagram posts in 2026?
3:4 portrait at 1080 × 1440 px. It is shown in full in the feed and fills a profile tile without any crop.
Does Instagram crop 4:5 posts in the profile grid?
Yes, slightly. The profile grid uses 3:4 tiles, so a 4:5 post loses a thin strip on the left and right — about 3 % per side.
Can I upload 3:4 photos to Instagram?
Yes. Instagram accepts 3:4 portrait uploads (1080 × 1440) for posts and carousels.
What size are Instagram carousel slides?
All slides share the size of the first slide. For a carousel that looks right in the feed and in the grid, use 3:4 at 1080 × 1440 for every slide.
How do I make 3:4 Instagram posts on my phone?
In Postfolio choose Post 3:4 as the format. Every slide is built and exported at 1080 × 1440 — free in the web app and in the iOS and Android apps.
Try it on your own photos.
Build and preview for free — no login, no watermark. Your photos never leave your device.
iOS and Android: free download, full editor. Pro is a one-time purchase of €4.99 — never a subscription.