How to use this preset
- Add your photo; 1080 x 1350 (4:5) is preset.
- For a square post type 1080 x 1080; for a story type 1080 x 1920.
- Press Resize image; the photo is center-cropped to fill the shape.
- Save it to your phone and post it from the Instagram app.
What Instagram does to your photo
According to Meta's help pages, Instagram stores feed photos at up to 1080 pixels wide and keeps that resolution for any shape between 1.91:1 (landscape, 1080 x 566) and 4:5 (portrait, 1080 x 1350). Anything wider or taller is cropped to fit that range, and anything over 1080 px wide is scaled down. Resizing first means you decide the crop, instead of the app.
| Post type | Size to use | Shape |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait feed post | 1080 x 1350 | 4:5 |
| Square feed post | 1080 x 1080 | 1:1 |
| Landscape feed post | 1080 x 566 | 1.91:1 |
| Story or Reel cover | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 |
Without cropping or white borders
To post a whole photo without cropping, unlock the aspect ratio and set only the width to 1080; the height follows, and as long as the result is between 566 and 1350 px tall, Instagram shows it uncut. Adding white bars to make a square is the other option, but it shrinks the photo in the feed, which is why many people search for a way to avoid white borders.
- Use the same shape for every slide in a carousel; the first slide sets it.
- Profile picture? Crop it with PFP crop.
- Square shortcut: resize image to square. Other ratios: change aspect ratio.
Why resize before uploading
If you upload a photo with an unusual shape, Instagram crops it for you, often cutting off heads or text. Large files are also recompressed heavily, which can make fine detail look smeared. Uploading an image that already has the right shape and a 1080 pixel width gives you control over the crop and keeps the quality closer to what you intended.
Carousels
In a carousel every image uses the shape of the first one. Resize them all to the same size, for example with our bulk resizer set to a 1080 pixel width after cropping each to 4:5.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best size for an Instagram post?
1080 x 1350 pixels (4:5 portrait) uses the most space in the feed; 1080 x 1080 is the classic square.
What size are Instagram stories?
1080 x 1920 pixels, a 9:16 ratio.
Can I resize without cropping?
Yes, use pixel mode with the ratio locked and set the width to 1080.
How do I resize an image for Instagram without white borders?
Crop it to 4:5 or 1:1 instead of padding it. With the preset, the image fills the frame edge to edge.
Do I need to resize photos for Instagram?
Not strictly, but Instagram will crop and scale for you. Resizing first gives you control over the crop and avoids a second compression of an oversized file.