Instagram Ad Size: Choose Dimensions by Placement
Updated September 2026 · By Joseph Pugliese, founder of Linklay
Last verified: September 7, 2026
Instagram ads do not use one universal canvas. Feed ads, Stories and Reels have different presentation shapes, so the correct size depends on the placement selected in Meta Ads Manager.
Quick answer
For feed image ads, use a feed-friendly square or portrait asset such as 1080 × 1080 or 1080 × 1350. For full-screen Stories and Reels placements, build vertical creative at 9:16; Meta explicitly recommends 9:16 creative for Reels.
At a glance
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Feed square working size | 1080 × 1080 px |
| Feed portrait working size | 1080 × 1350 px |
| Stories/Reels ratio | 9:16 |
| Meta Reels recommendation | Vertical 9:16 creative with key elements inside safe areas |
| Key rule | Placement determines the final creative shape |
What should you use?
Treat “Instagram ad size” as a placement question. A square feed image and a full-screen Reel are both Instagram ads, but they occupy different surfaces. Reusing one export everywhere can create padding, crops or poorly positioned text.
How Instagram handles this
For Reels, Meta’s own business guidance repeatedly emphasizes vertical 9:16 creative and safe zones. For feed placements, current image-size references still use square and portrait formats. Build a small set of placement-specific exports rather than asking one asset to fit every screen.
Practical guidance
Do not claim a single universal “best” Instagram ad pixel size. Meta can also optimize, crop or expand creative inside Ads Manager. The durable SEO answer is the decision rule: match the creative to the placement, use 9:16 for full-screen placements, and preview all placements before launch.
Sources and verification
Verified against Meta for Business and Hootsuite on September 7, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size should an Instagram ad be?
It depends on placement. Feed ads commonly use square or portrait assets, while Stories and Reels use vertical full-screen creative.
What ratio should Instagram Reels ads use?
Meta recommends 9:16 vertical creative for Reels.
Can I use one Instagram ad image everywhere?
You can, but placement-specific exports give you better control over cropping and text placement.
Is there one official Instagram ad size?
No. Instagram has multiple placements with different shapes and creative requirements.
Sources
- Meta for Business, Facebook and Instagram Reels ads https://www.facebook.com/business/ads/facebook-instagram-reels-ads
- Hootsuite, Social media image sizes, September 2026 https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-image-sizes-guide/