Perfect Instagram Story Size, Dimensions & Trends (2025)

Know about Perfect Instagram Story size, dimensions, and trends in 2025. Get the best tips, creative ideas, and latest features to boost engagement.
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Priyanshu
March 23, 2025
Perfect Instagram Story Size, Dimensions & Trends (2025)
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Instagram is ranked the third most popular social media platform worldwide, with over 2 billion users monthly. It has come a long way since its humble beginning in 2010, it has some amazing features that people are enticed to explore, like reels, stories, highlights, shopping, brand collaboration, and what not.

The Role of Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories are brief, short-form content that lasts for a day. They allow users to share moments, advertise products, and interact with their audience in real-time.

This blog focuses on Instagram story sizes, creative ideas, and smart tips for regularly connecting with your audience. This guide will teach us how to make the most of Instagram Stories in 2025.

Evolution of Instagram Stories

Instagram launched the Stories feature in 2016, allowing users to share fun photos or behind-the-scenes videos for a day.

Since then, the feature has evolved on many levels, and many advanced features have been integrated within it so that users can create more engaging stories using stickers, filters, music, polls, links, and more.

YearKey Updates
2016Started as an image and video sharing, including a boomerang feature
2017Launched story highlights, stickers, location tags, polls, and hashtags
2018Partnered with Spotify for small clips of music sharing
2021Added link, small business sticker, and Instagram playback
2022Increased stories video length from 15 to 60 seconds
2023Introduced Live Story Replay Feature to revisit stories later
2024Enabled comments on stories for 24 hours, AI stickers for stories
2025Addition of a new tab for story highlights, special effects, and filters using AI


Perfect Instagram Story Size and Dimensions

The Instagram Story size is 1080x1920 px. But here's some more information about the dimensions and size of Instagram stories for different formats. Get to know how to ensure they display well on multiple phone screens!

Instagram Image Stories Size and Formats

ParameterDetails
Instagram Story Size in Pixels1080x1920 pixels
Instagram Story Size in Inches3.6 x 6.4 inch
Instagram Stories Aspect Ratio9:16
Story Visibility5-15 seconds (each story)
Accepted image formatsJPG and PNG, up to 30 MB

The suggested image size for Instagram Stories is 1080x1920 pixels; however, we can also use these resolutions (720x1280 px, 1440x2560 px, 2160x3840 px), as long as the aspect ratio of 9:16 is maintained.

IG stories are made to be watched in a full-screen, vertical orientation on phones. This dimension ensures that the images are seen on iPhone and Android devices equally, providing a more engaging experience for your viewers.

Safe Area for Instagram Story Image

While putting a story on this platform, it’s important to keep a safe area for logos, profile icons, swipe-up arrows, and text buttons so that these elements are visible clearly. The recommended safe area zone is 1080x1420 pixels with a top and bottom margin of 250 pixels. 

Instagram Video Stories Size and Formats

ParameterDetails
Instagram Story Dimension in Pixels1080x1920 pixels
Instagram Story Aspect Ratio9:16
Video LengthUp to 60 seconds
Supported video formatMP4 and MOV, up to 4 GB

Instagram video stories must also adhere to the same 9:16 aspect ratio to fill the full screen. If posted in horizontal (landscape) mode, the video will automatically crop out certain parts. Therefore, it is advised to shoot high-resolution video in portrait mode vertically.

Instagram Story Highlights Size

ParameterDetails
Highlights cover dimension1080x1080 pixels
Highlights cover size in inches3.6 x 3.6 inches
Highlights Aspect Ratio1:1 (square format)

The collections of the stories that are permanently preserved on your profile (until you choose to remove them) are called Instagram Highlights. The most important thing to remember is that highlights will show up as square images even when your stories are viewed in a vertical 9:16 aspect ratio. We can organize those highlights with unique icons or pictures for every category.

Instagram Story Ads Size

The dimensions and size are identical to those of the original Instagram story. Use excellent-quality graphics and 15-second videos with clearly visible call-to-action buttons for optimal results.

Instagram Story Sizes Comparison Table

FormatSize (Pixels)Size (Inches)Aspect Ratio
Image Story1080 x 19203.6 x 6.4 inches9:16
Video Story1080 x 19203.6 x 6.4 inches9:16
Highlights Cover1080 x 10803.6 x 3.6 inches1:1
Safe Zone (Design Only)1080 x 14203.6 x 4.7 inches9:16 (within)

Also Check: Standard Banner Sizes Cheat Sheet

Top 4 Instagram Story Tips & Tricks to Boost Engagement

Tip #1: Use Stickers, Polls, and Quizzes 

The majority of Instagram's users, who are usually Gen Z, enjoy using emoticons for communication, stickers for reactions, and the interactive elements of the app.

Instagram has loads of stickers that can be used to engage with users directly. It’s quite a creative way to interact using questions, polls, quizzes, reveals, and countdown stickers. Additionally, it helps brands become more visible and build a natural relationship with their fan base.

Tip #2: Use Video Content 

Video content, be it short or long, is creating magic on all platforms. According to Insivia, video content is memorable, and viewers retain 95% of the information presented in a video. People love to see content in the form of short videos; it can be behind the scenes, paid collaboration, new product launch, or just showcasing how your day went. 

Tip #3: Be Real and Consistent

Instagram Stories is a powerful medium to tell a story about yourself. It’s important to post genuine stories that don’t seem to be highly promotional. Try to be consistent with the designs and aesthetics so that it sets you apart from others. Posting stories at the right time, when more users are likely to engage, regularly can be very effective

Tip #4 Repost Stories

Share reviews or mentioned posts/stories posted by followers and tag them. The user-generated content can increase credibility and trust among users. It provides an opportunity for your followers to feel valued and acknowledged. In a way, other followers are inspired to participate and share their experiences. 

8 Most Creative Instagram Story Ideas & Examples

1# Fun filters

Instagram has introduced many fun and creative filters, like appearance, aesthetics, humor, special effects, and more to try. Brands can experiment with these face and background filters as per their preference to start an engaging connection with their followers. You can also use appealing Meta AI images directly in the stories.

instagram fun filters screenshots

2# Challenges & Giveaways

This Instagram story idea goes viral and provides an opportunity for users to participate. Users can create stories based on the given challenge and stand a chance to win prizes or collaborations. It can be a dance, meme, or fitness challenge. It increases your visibility and brings new users to your profile.

3# Event Announcement

This is a terrific idea to create buzz around the upcoming event by putting up a story. The event can be a new product launch, an upcoming sale, a partnership with any celebrity, a new shop opening, or any news you want to share with the people. This idea for an IG story adds a sense of surprise and excitement that has to be used occasionally.

Also Check: How to Create Facebook Event

4# Sneak peek BTS

Everyone loves to know behind-the-scenes stories. Behind-the-scenes content brings authenticity to your name, which makes followers a small part of your journey. Share a little bit of your personal life or the day-to-day activities of the brand with your followers.

5# Tips and Tricks

Stories are the ideal format for sharing tips and tricks or guides for use. Short instructional videos, whether they are about tech tips, workout techniques, or food recipes, work efficiently. Similar to a reel, this concept offers some value to the audience in the form of a 30 or 60-second video.

Instagram keeps on bringing new stickers into the stories to make them more fun, interactive, and actionable. These are some of the popular stickers that you can use to encourage engagement:

exciting stickers
Source: Amazon
PollsSliderMusicReveal
QuizLinkHashtagCountdown
QuestionsMentionAvatarGifs

7# Reviews and Testimonials

You can include user-posted videos or images that tell stories about how they have used your product or service. Your followers will trust you more as a result of this Instagram story idea, and they will be more inclined to try your products. This establishes a natural relationship with the follower by acknowledging them.

8# Before and After

These kinds of stories go easily viral as they showcase the transformation story of a person, interior design, or final product display. You can show your creativity and frame a before-and-after story that suits your product or service. 

Trend #1: Shoppable Stories

With Shoppable Story stickers, brands can now turn user inspiration into sales. Short-form shoppable content, such as unboxing videos, time-limited promotions, and brief product demos, is growing in popularity. Any product in the catalog can be linked, and buyers can navigate to the website immediately. 

Trend #2: Real-time collaborations

With Instagram's co-create feature, brands or influencers can collaborate on a story to give their input in real-time. To collaborate on an Instagram Story, you can make a "split story" in which one person posts the first section and ends with a prompt to visit the collaborator's profile to do the next part. This way, you can create a collaborative narrative across both accounts for the story.

Trend #3: Advanced Analytics

Instagram story analytics show how well your stories are performing. Deeper insights into user interests, preferences, and behaviors are available to brands.

There are three types of metrics:

  • Engagement
  • Reach
  • Navigation

Analyzing metrics like watch time, views, impressions, profile visits, comments, and forward and backward taps can help you enhance your storytelling approach.

Trend #4: AI, AR, and VR integration

Stickers are more engaging and captivating and allow users countless options to customize their content in 2025. Hyper-personalized content has become a popular trend due to the development of AI-powered solutions.

With the use of new stickers, users may incorporate mini-games, polls, and questions more engagingly with AR and VR effects

Final Thoughts

Instagram Stories is becoming a great tool for communicating, especially with younger audiences. The first and foremost thing an individual or a brand needs to know is Instagram stories sizes, layouts, and enabled fun features.

Influencers are using these tips to establish a stronger connection with their audience, while brands are using this trend for market research.

You can keep your audience interested and build your community by utilizing interactive elements, trying out original ideas, and posting frequently.

FAQs on Instagram Story Sizes

How to add a link to an Instagram story?

To add a link, select the stickers tab while creating a story and use the "LINK" sticker. You can add website, blog, or YouTube links, preview them, and customize the sticker text.

How long can an Instagram story be?

Instagram story videos can be up to 60 seconds long. However, all stories disappear after 24 hours unless saved as a 'highlight' on your profile.

How do you share a story on Instagram?

Follow these steps to share a story:

  • Tap the + icon from your profile picture or bottom center.
  • Select or capture an image/video.
  • Add templates, music, or AI-generated visuals.
  • Customize with stickers, text, or filters.
  • Share it on your profile.

What are the dimensions of an Instagram story?

Instagram stories use 1080x1920 pixels with a 9:16 aspect ratio to fit a smartphone screen. Supported file types include JPG, PNG, MP4, and MOV.

How do you repost an Instagram story?

You can only repost a story if you're tagged in it. Go to your messages, open the tagged message, tap 'Add to your story', customize it, and post.

How to download an Instagram Story?

You can save stories by going to profile settings > Archiving and Downloading, then enabling 'Save story to gallery'. Alternatively, third-party apps can be used for downloading stories.

What is the Instagram story size in inches?

The Standard Instagram StorySize in inches is 3.6 x 6.4 inch. This size ensures that your instagram story appear clear and full screen across all mobile devices.

Can I use a 4x6 inch image for Instagram story?

A 4x6 inch image does not match the ideal Instagram story size in inches (3.6 x 6.4 inches), so it will get cropped. It's better to stick with the exact 9:16 aspect ratio.

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