How to crop a picture for Instagram
- Open the photo; the Instagram sizes are listed in the panel.
- Choose Post · portrait for the most screen space in the feed, Post · square for the grid, or Story / Reel for full-screen.
- Crop and share straight to Instagram from your phone, or download.
Post, portrait and story in one go
A Crop Set (Square + Portrait + Story + Wide) makes all the shapes from one photo, each positioned on its own, and downloads them together — or shares them to Instagram from your phone in one step. The portrait 4:5 post takes the most room in people’s feeds, so it is usually the best choice for a single photo.
| Shape | Ratio | Recommended size |
|---|---|---|
| Post · square | 1:1 | 1080 × 1080 |
| Post · portrait | 4:5 | 1080 × 1350 |
| Story / Reel | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 |
| Profile picture | 1:1 | 320 × 320 |
Sizes checked 2026-09-24. Platforms change their guidance from time to time.
Frequently asked questions
Which size gets the most space in the feed?
Portrait 4:5 at 1080 × 1350. It is taller than a square and shows larger on phones.
Why does Instagram crop my story?
Stories are 9:16. Other shapes get cropped or padded. Crop to 9:16 yourself so you choose what stays, and keep text away from the top and bottom edges.
Does Instagram reduce quality?
Instagram re-compresses every upload. Uploading exactly 1080 pixels wide avoids an extra resize on their side.