Social Media
Resize Image for Instagram
Instagram forces specific aspect ratios and crops anything that doesn't fit. Here are the exact pixel dimensions for every format so your photo uploads exactly as intended.
Instagram image sizes — all formats
How to resize to Instagram dimensions
Steps: upload your image → switch to Pixel dimensions mode → enter width and height from the table → turn aspect ratio lock off if your photo has a different ratio → click Resize → download.
If your photo is a different ratio from the target, you'll end up with a stretched image. In that case it's better to crop to the correct ratio first using the Crop Image tool, then resize if needed.
Key things Instagram does to your image on upload
Frequently asked questions
What size should I resize my photo to for an Instagram post?
For a square post: 1080×1080px (1:1). For portrait: 1080×1350px (4:5). For landscape: 1080×566px (1.91:1). Instagram accepts images between 320 and 1080px wide — it will scale down larger images and may scale up very small ones. Uploading at 1080px wide guarantees the sharpest result.
What happens if I upload an image that's the wrong size on Instagram?
Instagram automatically crops images to fit within its supported aspect ratios (between 1.91:1 and 4:5). If your image is outside those ratios, Instagram will crop it — often removing the top, bottom, or sides of your photo. To avoid unexpected cropping, resize to the exact dimensions before uploading.
What's the best image size for Instagram Stories?
1080×1920px (9:16 ratio). This fills the full screen on most phones. Keep important content (faces, text, logos) in the centre 70% of the screen — the top and bottom edges can be obscured by Instagram's UI elements (profile name at the top, response bar at the bottom).
Does Instagram reduce image quality when you upload?
Yes. Instagram re-compresses images on upload regardless of what you provide. Uploading at the recommended 1080px width (not larger) gives the best results — Instagram has to compress either way, but uploading a huge file means extra downscaling before compression, which compounds quality loss. Upload at 1080px wide and JPEG quality 80–90% for best results.
Should I upload JPG or PNG to Instagram?
JPEG. Instagram converts all uploads to JPEG internally, so uploading PNG just adds an extra conversion step. Save your image as a high-quality JPEG (85–92%) before uploading to maintain the most control over the compression applied.
How do I resize an image for Instagram without cropping it?
Resize to 1080×1080px (square) and add white or coloured padding on the sides to fill the square frame — this is called 'letterboxing'. Use an image editor to place your image on a 1080×1080 canvas and add blank space on the sides. This way no content is cropped, and the image uploads as a square without distortion.