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Understanding Instagram's Accepted Aspect Ratio Ranges

When posting images or videos to Instagram through our app, it's crucial to adhere to the platform's specific aspect ratio requirements to ensure optimal display and functionality.

What is an Aspect Ratio? 

An aspect ratio represents the proportional relationship between an image's width and height, expressed as width:height (e.g., 4:5). To determine the numerical value, divide the width by the height. For instance, a 4:5 aspect ratio equates to 0.8 (4 divided by 5).  

Instagram's Accepted Aspect Ratio Ranges 

Instagram supports specific aspect ratios for different types of content:  

  • Images: Between 4:5 (0.8) and 1.91:1 (1.91) 
  • Stories: Recommended at 9:16 (0.56) 
  • Reels: Recommended at 9:16 (0.56); accepts between 0.01:1 and 10:1, but deviations may result in cropping or blank spaces 

Ensuring your media falls within these ranges allows for automatic publishing. Content outside these parameters may require manual adjustments or could be scheduled as notifications. 

Calculating Aspect Ratios 

To calculate an image or video's aspect ratio: 

  1. Divide the width by the height.
  2. Compare the result to Instagram's accepted ranges.

Examples: 

  • 1200 x 1200 pixels: 1200/1200 = 1 
  • 1200 x 1500 pixels: 1200/1500 = 0.8 
  • 1200 x 629 pixels: 1200/629 = 1.907 

Instagram strictly enforces these ratios without rounding; for example, an image at 1200 x 628 pixels results in an aspect ratio of approximately 1.9108, which exceeds the acceptable range. 

Recommended Image and Video Sizes 

While specific pixel dimensions are flexible, maintaining the correct aspect ratio is essential. Here are some examples:  

  • Square: 600 x 600, 800 x 800, or 1200 x 1200 pixels  
  • Portrait: 800 x 1000 (0.8), 1200 x 1500 (0.8), or 1500 x 1800 pixels (0.84)
  • Landscape: 800 x 600 (1.33), 1200 x 800 (1.5), or 1500 x 1200 pixels (1.25) 

Instagram's API permits image file sizes up to 8MB. If an uploaded image exceeds this, our app will resize it to a width of 1920 pixels to comply with Instagram's requirements. The minimum accepted dimensions are 150 x 150 pixels; smaller images will be scaled up accordingly. 

Displaying Images in Our App 

Instagram has introduced a 3:4 grid format, but images should still be uploaded at a 4:5 ratio. In our app, image uploads may display in a 1:1 format within the composer, calendar, and queue. However, the post preview will accurately reflect the 4:5 format, ensuring your content appears as intended on Instagram.  

By adhering to these guidelines, you can ensure your content is published seamlessly and appears optimally on Instagram.