Instagram sizes change more often than most cheat sheets get updated. This guide covers the numbers that actually matter in 2026, and what they mean if you're planning a split-photo grid.
Feed posts
| Format | Upload ratio | Recommended pixels |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait (default) | 4:5 | 1080 × 1350 |
| Square | 1:1 | 1080 × 1080 |
| Landscape | 1.91:1 | 1080 × 566 |
Instagram serves feed images at up to 1080 px wide. Upload smaller and it upscales (soft results); upload larger and it downscales (fine, and a good buffer against compression).
The profile grid is no longer square
The change that broke everyone's grids: profile thumbnails now display in a taller 3:4 crop rather than the classic square. Two practical consequences:
- Square tiles get their sides trimmed in the profile view. Keep critical content in the center ~80 % of each tile.
- Grid mosaics still work, but design for the crop: strong central subjects, continuous textures, and typography set well inside the safe zone survive; edge-to-edge detail doesn't.
Sizes for split grids
For a grid made from one photo with the image splitter:
- 3×3 grid: source at 3240 × 3240 px → nine 1080 × 1080 tiles
- 2×3 grid (6 posts): source at 3240 × 2160 px → six 1080 × 1080 tiles
- 1×3 banner row: source at 3240 × 1080 px → three 1080 × 1080 tiles
The math is simple: multiply 1080 by your column count and row count. Anything larger also works — the splitter keeps whatever resolution you feed it, and Instagram downscales gracefully.
Carousels
Carousels accept up to 20 slides and use the same ratios as single posts. The first slide's ratio locks the ratio for the whole carousel, so decide 4:5 or 1:1 before you split. A "seamless carousel" — one wide panorama sliced into slides — should be sized at 1080 px height × (1080 × slides) width for square slides. We cover the technique in how to make a seamless carousel.
Reels covers
Reels covers display at 9:16 (1080 × 1920) in the Reels tab but are cropped to 3:4 in your profile grid. If a Reel is part of your grid aesthetic, put the title in the central band that survives both crops.
The short version
Design at 1080 px per tile, keep important detail away from tile edges, and remember the profile grid crops tall. When you're ready, split your image free in the browser — your photo never leaves your device.