What Is the Ideal Instagram Story Size in 2025?

Ever posted an Instagram Story only to have it look... off? Maybe it’s cropped weirdly, stretched in all the wrong places, or just not as sharp as you expected. We’ve all been there, and for a business, ill-fitting Stories are a no-go. 

But don’t worry—I’m here to help you navigate Instagram Story dimensions so your content always fits perfectly.

What is the ideal Instagram Story size?

In 2025, the perfect Instagram Story size is 1080 pixels by 1920 pixels, with an aspect ratio of 9:16. This sweet spot makes your vertical video and image Stories look sharp on any device.

But here's where it gets interesting—while these are the ideal specs, you've got some wiggle room. Instagram accepts various image sizes and aspect ratios, but they might look like they went through a digital taffy puller if not optimized properly.

The same dimensions apply to videos. Whether you're posting organic content or running Instagram video ads, adhering to these specs will ensure your content looks professional and engaging.

📏 While we’re on the topic of Instagram ads, we’ve got the full rundown of all the Instagram ad specs you need to know to ensure professional-looking ads. The article includes the dimensions across Stories, Reels, Feed, and more.

Why are Instagram Story dimensions crucial?

Getting your Instagram Story dimensions right isn't just about being a perfectionist (though there's nothing wrong with that!). Here's why it matters:

1. User experience: Nobody wants to see their favorite influencer's face stretched wider than a pancake or parts of an image chopped off. Proper sizing ensures your content looks professional and easy to consume. Users who have a good experience with your content will likely engage with future posts.

For example, here’s a beautiful landscape photo of a mountain range in Argentina.

Look at how it fits in my Stories.

Sure, I can zoom in on the photo to fit IG Stories’ dimensions, but that comes at a cost. Instagram crops a big chunk of the image, cutting out a lot of that beautiful landscape.

Plus, zooming in reduces sharpness and quality, which is acceptable for a personal account. However, for a brand, it can look unpolished and unprofessional.

2. Brand perception: If you’re serious about success, your content should reflect that. Top brands invest time and resources into making their Stories look polished and intentional—because quality signals credibility. If your Stories look sloppy or poorly cropped, it conveys that your brand doesn’t value attention to detail. And if you don’t, why should your target audience?

What's the Instagram Stories safe zone?

Nothing’s worse than crafting the perfect Story only to have key details hidden behind Instagram’s UI. Or you link Instagram to Facebook, cross-post your Story, and realize your text or logo crops awkwardly on the other platform. 

Staying within the safe zone ensures your text, logos, and CTAs remain fully visible—free from Instagram navigation elements, action buttons (like the swipe-up feature), usernames, and profile pictures getting in the way.

Centering important elements within the middle 1080 x 1420 pixels ensures your message stays clear and visible, boosting viewer experience and engagement.

⏸️ Speaking of navigating Instagram, have you ever struggled to figure out how to pause Instagram Reels? I know I have. That’s precisely why we put together this quick guide to help you cruise through the app without any frustrating hiccups. 

Best practices for Instagram Story design

Creating great-looking Stories isn’t just about dimensions; it’s about smart design choices that keep your audience engaged. Whether you’re posting organic content, sharing promotions, or running ads, these best practices will ensure your Stories look professional and on-brand:

#1: Develop a brand template 

Your Instagram Story templates should be more than just a time-saver—they should ensure brand consistency and high-quality design every time. A solid template keeps your branding, layout, and messaging consistent, no matter who’s creating the content.

Take the example below—each Story is unique, yet they’re all instantly recognizable as the same brand. This proves that templates don’t limit creativity; they provide a foundation for consistency while allowing variety.

What should be standardized in your templates?

✔ Logo - A distinctive and versatile logo representing the brand's identity. 

✔ Brand colors – Stick to a defined color system so your Stories remain recognizable. While some brands use a single consistent palette, others adjust colors based on the message—for example:

• Sales & promos → A bold, high-contrast palette to grab attention.
• Customer reviews → A softer, more neutral look for authenticity.
• Day-to-day branding → Core brand colors for familiarity.

✔ Icons - A set of icons that reflect the brand’s visual style can be helpful for quick identification and enhancing user experience.

#2: Use a clear font hierarchy

An effective font hierarchy guides the viewer’s eye and makes your message clear in seconds. Define text styles so every Story follows a logical structure:

• Primary font: This is the main font used for headlines and titles. It should be bold and attention-grabbing to make a strong first impression.
• Secondary font: This is used for subheadings and essential information that supports the primary font. It should complement the primary font without overshadowing it.
• Body font: This font is used for the main content and should be highly readable. It’s typically simpler and less decorative than the primary and secondary fonts.
• Accent font: Occasionally used for special elements like quotes, callouts, or highlights. It adds a unique touch without overwhelming the overall design.

For example, take a look at KFC’s Valentine’s Day Story:

• “VALENTINE’S” is the largest and boldest, instantly making it clear that this is a Valentine’s Day offer.
• “BUY 1 GET 1 FREE” follows, slightly smaller but still bold, ensuring the core deal is highly visible.
• “ONLY ON THE KFC APP” is enclosed in a red box—less dominant but still eye-catching, reinforcing exclusivity.

#3: Place text strategically

Even the best-designed Story can fall flat if the text isn’t positioned for maximum impact. 

In these Instagram Stories, text is strategically placed to ensure readability and impact. Key messages are well-centered in the middle third of the screen, keeping them clear of Instagram’s UI elements at the top and bottom. The calls to action (e.g., "TAP TO SHOP") are positioned prominently yet unobtrusively, guiding viewers without overwhelming the visuals.

Follow these placement rules to ensure clarity:

• Avoid the top and bottom edges – Instagram’s UI (profile icon, reply bar) can block text.
• Use the middle third for key messages – This is the most visible area for essential details.
• Position CTAs clearly – Place buttons or text-based CTAs where they stand out but not too low.
• Keep it concise – Stories move fast, so make the text snappy and easy to scan.

#4 Design for thumb-stopping impact 

You're competing with countless other Stories for attention, so your design needs to stand out. Start with a strong visual hook—something bold, unexpected, or eye-catching that stops users mid-scroll. 

Strategic use of motion is key, and this Timex Story gets it right: fast, choppy motion—like quick cuts, jump cuts, or rapid zooms—can create a sense of urgency and instantly grab attention.

On the other hand, smooth animations, such as subtle fades or slow pans, can help build anticipation and keep viewers engaged. A well-timed sound hook can also jolt users and capture their attention, especially when they are scrolling passively. Effective audio use, such as a sharp audio cue, a sudden beat drop, or a contrast between silence and sound, can make your Story more immersive. 

#5 Optimize for performance 

A killer ad isn’t just about looking good—it needs to run smoothly, too. Here’s how to nail both quality and performance:

• Keep video file sizes under 4GB
• Use MP4 or MOV formats for videos
• Compress images without sacrificing quality
• Test loading times on different connection speeds
• Image & video dimensions: 1080 px by 1920 px (9:16 aspect ratio)

📚 For a full rundown beyond Stories—covering everything from carousel videos to Reels—read our Instagram post sizes guide for 2025. We’ve also got an article for Facebook ad sizes to ensure you’re optimized on the other side as well ;)

#6 Plan your Story sequence 

Think of your Stories like a mini-presentation. Each frame should flow logically into the next:

• Start with attention-grabbing content
• Build narrative tension
• Place CTAs strategically
• End with clear next steps

Take this Cider Story, for example. Right from the first frame, “edition” hints that more will come.

Instagram Story examples

Let's look at examples of brands crushing it with their Instagram Stories, along with an analysis of why they work so well:

1. Propel Fitness Water

This Instagram Story by Propel Fitness Water nails all the best practices we’ve covered—and more. It’s clean and uncluttered, with a single, undeniable focal point: the product, all while staying within the safe zones to ensure nothing gets cut off. The first thing that grabs you is the beat drop as the effervescent tab hits the water. Then, minimal but high-impact text keeps you locked in. 

The fluid motion of the typography—fast, choppy, and fluctuating—creates an emotional pull that carries you through to the end. Pulling off kinetic typography this smoothly takes a seriously skilled motion designer, but if you’ve got the budget, it’s 100% worth it 😉

2. LEGO

Check out this LEGO Story—it's not your typical product ad. It's interactive instead of pushing a sale, almost like saying, “We don’t want anything from you—we just want to engage.” That is a smart move because it builds a connection first. As the saying goes, people buy from brands they like. When you nurture a connection, you become the natural choice when they’re ready to shop.

Another genius play is that they kept production minimal. There was no high-budget studio shoot—just someone (probably from the social media team) sorting LEGO bricks by color and dropping them into the frame. The real hook? They designed the satisfying sound of the bricks falling to grab your attention and stop you from swiping past.

☝️ Interesting read: While we’re on the subject of swiping past Stories…If you’ve ever wondered, 'What does forward mean on Instagram?' You’re not alone! That’s why we broke it down in an article.

3. KLARSKIN

This Instagram Story ad by KLARSKIN demonstrates the power of using familiar tools to capture attention and engage viewers. By incorporating a relatable element like a Google search page, the ad piques curiosity and makes users pause. Business owners can take inspiration from this tactic by leveraging other everyday tools or platforms that resonate with their audience.

Imagine incorporating elements like a calendar event reminder, a text message notification, or even a navigation map—these are things people interact with daily. By weaving these relatable tools into your Instagram Stories, you can create a familiarity that draws viewers in and encourages them to stop on your content.

4. Rhode

As long as humans have functioning senses, sensory marketing will never go out of style. We can't help but be drawn in by stimuli that trigger our senses—this ad's close-ups of liquids dripping and oozing primarily appeal to our sense of sight. 

The designers designed these visuals to be highly stimulating and pleasing to the user visually, often evoking a sensory response that transcends mere observation. Viewers can almost imagine the liquid's texture, taste, or feel, making the experience more immersive and engaging.

For business owners looking to apply this technique, consider how you can showcase your products' sensory appeal. If you have a clothing brand, feature super close-ups of textures to highlight the softness of cashmere, the intricate stitching of denim, or the luxurious silk drape. The close-ups allow viewers to feel the fabric through the screen, making the product more appealing.

You can use similar tactics to showcase the quality and features of your products. For example, extreme close-ups of an accessory's material and craftsmanship, a gadget's sleek design, or a piece of art's vibrant colors can captivate your audience's senses and encourage them to explore further.

Itching to start creating awesome ads? What if I told you that Madgicx’s AI Ad Generator lets you create high-performing ads by simply uploading a basic product photo? You can prompt it to generate multiple ad variations tailored to your brand in seconds—no design skills are needed.

If you prefer to browse for more ad examples, the Madgicx Ad Library is packed with top-performing Instagram (and Facebook) ads from your industry. Find an ad you love, then brief the AI Ad Generator to create something similar. Want to refine the details? The built-in AI Editor lets you tweak elements, adjust text, and perfect your visuals—all in one place.

There's no better time than now to up your ad game with AI. Try Madgicx's AI Ad Generator now (FREE for 7 days 🔥)

Instagram Story size FAQ

Got questions about Instagram Story sizes? Let’s clear things up!

Is Instagram 16:9 or 4:3? 

Instagram doesn’t stick to just one aspect ratio—it accommodates multiple formats depending on the content type. Feed posts can range from 16:9 (landscape) to 4:5 (portrait), while Stories and Reels are best viewed in a 9:16 format, taking up the full screen on most smartphones.

What is Story sizing for Instagram? 

Story sizing optimizes your content for Instagram's recommended dimensions: 1080x1920 pixels with a 9:16 aspect ratio. That ensures your Stories look professional across all devices.

What size is Instagram Story in 2025? 

In 2025, the optimal Instagram story size for video and images is 1080x1920 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio). This format provides the best viewing experience across different devices and screen sizes.

What size should I crop photos for Instagram Stories? 

Crop your photos to 1080x1920 pixels for optimal display. If you're working with different aspect ratios, ensure your key content fits within the safe zone to avoid getting cut off. The safe zone refers to the central area of your Story that isn’t covered by Instagram’s interface elements, like the reply bar and profile name. Keeping key text and visuals within this space ensures they remain fully visible to viewers.

Conclusion

Mastering Instagram Story sizes might seem technical, but it's about creating the best possible experience for your audience. Whether you post organic content or run ads, the right size can mean the difference between a Story that stops thumbs and one that gets swiped faster than your last dating app mishap. 

Since​ Instagram is constantly evolving, keeping up with the latest Instagram updates ensures your content stays fresh, polished, and optimized for maximum engagement.