Short-form video · Global

Instagram Reels export settings and upload specs.

What Instagram Reels publishes about reels uploads, with a link to each source, and the settings we would export with.

Recommended export

Shinel recommendation

1080 x 1920 · 30 fps · H.264 High level 4.0 · 8 Mbps VBR · keyframe every 2 s · AAC 128 kbps 48 kHz · Rec. 709 (BT.709), 8-bit 4:2:0, limited (TV) range

Instagram Reels publishes no bitrate. This follows YouTube's published table for the resolution, which every major platform handles well. Meta re-encodes every upload, so more bitrate than this mostly adds upload time.

Change resolution, fps or HDR in the generator

Instagram Reels upload limits

Each value links to where it was published.

Aspect ratio

Any ratio between 1.91:1 and 9:16 (help); 9:16 recommended to avoid cropping or blank space (API) Reel size & aspect ratios on Instagram | Instagram Help Center, checked 2026-10-25

Resolution

1440 x 2560 (ads spec); minimum 720 px (help); API limit is 1920 px horizontal Meta Ads Guide: Instagram Reels video ads, checked 2026-10-25

Frame rate

Minimum 30 fps (help); API accepts 23-60 fps Reel size & aspect ratios on Instagram | Instagram Help Center, checked 2026-10-25

Video codec

H.264 or HEVC, progressive scan, closed GOP, 4:2:0 chroma subsampling (API) IG User Media (Instagram Graph API reference: Reel Specifications, Story Video Specifications), checked 2026-10-25

Container

MP4 or MOV, no edit lists, moov atom at the front of the file (API) IG User Media (Instagram Graph API reference: Reel Specifications, Story Video Specifications), checked 2026-10-25

Bitrate

VBR, 25 Mbps maximum (API) IG User Media (Instagram Graph API reference: Reel Specifications, Story Video Specifications), checked 2026-10-25

Max file size

300 MB via the Content Publishing API; 4 GB in Ads Manager (ads spec). In-app limit not published. IG User Media (Instagram Graph API reference: Reel Specifications, Story Video Specifications), checked 2026-10-25

Max length

Record and edit up to 20 minutes in the app; reels over 3 minutes are not recommended to new audiences. API: 15 minutes. Record a reel on Instagram | Instagram Help Center, checked 2026-10-25

Min length

3 seconds (API) IG User Media (Instagram Graph API reference: Reel Specifications, Story Video Specifications), checked 2026-10-25

Audio

AAC, 48 kHz maximum, mono or stereo, 128 kbps (API) IG User Media (Instagram Graph API reference: Reel Specifications, Story Video Specifications), checked 2026-10-25

Good to know about Instagram Reels

Help centre: turn on Settings > Media quality > Upload at highest quality; higher quality may upload slower.
Recommended cover photo: 420 x 654 px (1:1.55); cannot be edited after upload (help).
Ads spec safe zone: keep about 14% top, 35% bottom and 6% each side free of text and logos.
Length history: 90 s until January 2025, then 3 minutes; help centre now says up to 20 minutes, with the 3-minute cap kept for recommendations.

Instagram Reels export settings by editing app

Other Instagram formats

Frequently asked questions

What are the best export settings for Instagram Reels?

1080 x 1920, 30 fps, H.264 High, 8 Mbps VBR, AAC 128 kbps at 48 kHz, in an MP4. Instagram Reels publishes no bitrate. This follows YouTube's published table for the resolution, which every major platform handles well. Meta re-encodes every upload, so more bitrate than this mostly adds upload time.

What is Instagram Reels's maximum file size?

300 MB via the Content Publishing API; 4 GB in Ads Manager (ads spec). In-app limit not published..

How long can a Instagram Reels video be?

Record and edit up to 20 minutes in the app; reels over 3 minutes are not recommended to new audiences. API: 15 minutes..

What aspect ratio does Instagram Reels use?

Any ratio between 1.91:1 and 9:16 (help); 9:16 recommended to avoid cropping or blank space (API).

Shinel Studios

Rather send the footage and get Instagram Reels-ready edits back?

Our editors cut, caption, colour and export to each platform's spec, with 2 revision rounds. Shorts come back in 48-72 hours, long videos in 5-10 days.

See video editing Prices