Trying to figure out the best Instagram video dimensions? Show
It’s disappointing to have a beautiful video ready and only to have it published in Minecraft quality. Much less posting a video only to realize that the crop ruined your thumbnail. Considering that Instagram is the haven for video advertisements, teasers, and other marketing tactics, your IG game should be on point. More than a
billion users are checking out Instagram every month, so the importance of getting your brand out there can’t be understated. That’s why we’re here to help you publish the best Instagram videos possible. By the end of this article, you’ll know how to use Instagram’s four video formats, find the best Instagram video editing program for beginners, and even figure out why
your Instagram Stories look blurry. Strap yourselves in, as we’re going to make you a professional in no time! Instagram’s Best Video FormatsYour final video file matters. This is one of the secrets to keeping your audio pristine and your video quality crystal clear when uploading to Instagram. Here are the ideal video formats and specifics for Instagram videos:
While a lot of articles claim that H.264 files are better, this file type is just a codec for MP4. The 3,500 bitrate is widely recommended too. Since Instagram only supports HD or 1080p video, then a higher bitrate won’t increase your video quality. Let’s clarify some of the jargon here before we continue: Frames per SecondThe frames per second or FPS refer to the number of pictures there are in one second of your video. Since a video is merely a series of pictures displayed one after another, the more pictures (frames) there are in a second means that there’s more for the viewer to see. This gives the impression of smoother videos (60 FPS). Video CodecsCodecs are
how your video files are saved. It’s how the data of your video files is written down into a container, like the MP4. Without getting into too much detail, the H.264 codec is simply a way to encode your video file into an MP4 container. The H.264 is a revolutionary way of storing videos efficiently and is the best codec for Instagram videos. BitratesA bit is the measurement of data. Whereas, a bitrate is the number of bits being processed. A higher bitrate means there are more bits to process, resulting in more information and better video quality. Since Instagram only supports 1080p video, a bitrate higher than 3,500 will produce more quality than Instagram allows on your videos—making it useless. Instagram Video ResolutionsGone are the days of “squaregram”. Instagram used to only support square photos back in the day but now lets users post in over five different aspect ratios. Each video orientation has its own pros and cons. The maximum and minimum resolutions mean that your video will be sized down or up and don't forget about Instagram stories margins. Videos uploaded in a smaller resolution will be enlarged to the minimum requirements, and videos that are too large will be sized down to fit the maximum resolution.
Note: the resolutions are arranged in width×length. Instagram’s Unspoken RulesLet’s just say that it’s hard to find official guides from Instagram. The social media platform has a lot of
unspoken rules that aren’t made clear from the get-go. Here are some things to consider if you’re thinking of uploading videos to Instagram.
It’s good to note that while Instagram Stories don’t necessarily have a limit on uploads, meaning you can upload tons of stories, that medium shouldn’t be spammed with videos. You’re better off posting your video on your Instagram profile and then linking the post to your Instagram Story, so your followers can easily see it. Instagram Video LengthsYou can post an Instagram video in four ways, with varying lengths. Here’s a complete rundown of video lengths visualized through a table.
The length of your video drastically changes depending on the format you’re uploading to. That said, each video format has its own perks and proper situations. We’ll talk about all four of them in-depth below. In each section for each individual post format, make sure to dive into the best practices such as how to upload the videos for each IG content type, where to find each type of content format within IG, and what the icons mean when you’re there. IGTVThis video format is the closest thing you can get to a YouTube video on Instagram. That said, Instagram’s video controls can feel a bit wonky, so we don’t recommend posting
IGTVs that always hit the 10-minute mark. If you want to increase your video length limit to 1 hour, you’ll have to get your account verified by Instagram. IGTV best practices: Posting something between 2 to 4 minutes and linking the remainder of the video to your YouTube channel. 2 to 4 minutes is long enough to get your viewer invested in the video
but short enough for them to watch it. IGTV things to avoid: Don’t substitute a YouTube channel with IGTV. YouTube has better controls and an easier interface, so longer videos will do much better there. Cropping of your videos plays a huge part in being successful with IGTV. When viewed, your IGTV’s aspect ratio is 9:16, so it generally covers a whole phone screen. However, when your IGTV is viewed through your Instagram profile, the thumbnail is square
cropped (1:1 aspect ratio). When you click on the thumbnail, it goes into a short preview which is portrait cropped (4:5 aspect ratio). Keep this in mind because you’ll have to show your thumbnail for square and portrait aspect ratios. This is especially important if you're taking a video of somebody because their face can easily be cropped out of the thumbnail. Feed VideosThese four creators do an excellent job with video content. (From left to right: @moismai, @shinewithnatasha, @michaelcarlmoore, and @sunnylenarduzziThese 3 second-to-1 minute videos are the best for gags and behind-the-scenes reels. There are no controls for these types of videos, meaning your viewers can’t rewind or skip through the video. That’s important to consider because viewers might miss the punchline or highlight of your video. So plan around the limitation through captions or replays at the end of your clip. Feed videos best practices: Start your feed video with something flashy, like a hook. You can either use attention-grabbing visual effects like zooms or caption something interesting in the first few seconds of your video. Also, keep your feed videos only at about 30 seconds long. Feed videos things to avoid: While you can use landscape mode for videos too, we don’t recommend it as it makes your video size quite small on the screen. You’ll
be better off uploading a portrait video because you’ll generally want to take as much screen space as you can. Also, avoid uploading a video with a 1-second punch line, especially one at the end of a 60-second clip. Feed videos don’t play with sound by Instagram’s default settings. So it’s important to either subtitle your videos and make them visually engaging. Users can easily enable sound by just tapping on the
video though. Similarly, we’ve all been at the receiving end of watching a video but then looking for comments to read. Unfortunately, Instagram feed videos will automatically stop and then restart if you scroll away from them. This can be a huge hassle for your viewers. Thus, a great practice is to keep your readers' attention through your caption or with subtitles. Pack in as much information as you can without having them to scroll down, but also keep your captions interesting enough so your readers expand and read the entire thing. ReelsUse the in-app editor for quick and simple edits or one of our top 3 editing tools for more creative control.Instagram Reels are like the more permanent version of Instagram Stories. These videos can last up to 30 seconds and will last forever on your profile. Yes. Your profile has a separate tab for Instagram Reels, the same it does for your Feed and IGTV videos. Reels are more powerful than Stories because they have music controls, timers, video alignment features, and many more. Despite that, they behave a bit
similarly. Reels best practices: Use Reels to show snippets of your lifestyle or content on Instagram’s Explore section. These act like public Stories and Feed videos, but can be played with Instagram’s music collection. You should also use Reels as an alternative to TikTok, so if you have a TikTok video, then posting that idea as a Reel is great for marketing. We suggest removing the TikTok watermark using a website like
ssstik.io, so that Instagram doesn’t penalize your videos. You can also share your Reels to your Story, where they will play and act like regular Stories. Reels things to avoid: Don’t confuse Reels with regular Instagram feed videos. Reels cater more to the trending and entertainment side of Instagram, so informative videos might feel a bit out of place. Most users confuse Reels with Stories, but
they both have their own advantages. Reels are an excellent way to show a story-like video to your viewers, complete with in-video music and other Instagram effects. Unlike Stories, Reels can be shared publicly and appear on Instagram’s Explore page, along with other Reels. Have you ever tried watching a Facebook video? When you open a video, other videos are prepared for you to just scroll down to so that you’re always on your phone. The same applies to Reel. Suppose if someone is looking at an entirely different video and your Reel has the same soundtrack or hashtag. Instagram might recommend your Reel together with the other video.
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