How to Crop Images for Instagram, Stories & Reels
Instagram uses different aspect ratios for different content types, and if your image doesn't match the expected ratio, Instagram will crop it automatically — sometimes cutting off faces, text, or key parts of your composition. Here's how to get it right every time.
Instagram Crop Ratios by Content Type
| Format | Aspect Ratio | Pixel Size |
|---|---|---|
| Feed post (square) | 1:1 | 1080 × 1080px |
| Feed post (portrait) | 4:5 | 1080 × 1350px |
| Feed post (landscape) | 1.91:1 | 1080 × 566px |
| Stories | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920px |
| Reels | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920px |
| Carousel | 1:1 or 4:5 | 1080 × 1080 or 1080 × 1350px |
Which Ratio Gets the Most Engagement?
The 4:5 portrait ratio (1080 × 1350px) takes up the most vertical screen real estate in the feed, which means more visibility as users scroll. Studies consistently show portrait posts get higher reach and engagement than square or landscape posts. If you're choosing one format for feed posts, use 4:5.
How to Crop Without Losing Your Subject
- Open our Image Cropper and upload your photo.
- Select the aspect ratio preset that matches your target format (1:1 for square, 4:5 for portrait).
- Drag the crop selection to center on your subject — face, product, or focal point.
- Make sure key elements (faces, text, product) are in the center third of the frame, away from edges.
- Download and upload directly to Instagram.
Instagram Stories Tips
For Stories and Reels (9:16), keep your main content in the center safe zone — approximately the middle 80% of the vertical space. The top and bottom 10% are obscured by the UI (username, progress bar, buttons). Placing text or important visuals too close to the edges risks them being cut off.
Carousel Posts
For carousel posts (multiple images), keep all images the same aspect ratio. Instagram crops every image in the carousel to the ratio of the first image. If you mix ratios, images after the first will be cropped to match the first — often with bad results.
Reel Thumbnail Cropping
When uploading a Reel, Instagram lets you choose a thumbnail frame. The thumbnail is displayed in the grid at 1:1 (square), even though the Reel itself is 9:16. Design your Reels so the key visual element is centered — it should look good both in the full 9:16 video and the cropped 1:1 grid thumbnail.