Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms for sharing photos and videos. With over 1 billion monthly active users, Instagram has become a key part of many people’s social media strategy. One of the key decisions when creating content for Instagram is choosing the aspect ratio for posts. The two most common aspect ratios used on Instagram are 16:9 and 4:3. But which one should you use?
What is Aspect Ratio?
Aspect ratio refers to the proportional relationship between an image’s width and height. It is expressed mathematically as width:height. For example, an image with a width of 16 units and height of 9 units has an aspect ratio of 16:9.
The aspect ratio defines the frame and composition of an image or video. Different aspect ratios give images different shapes. Some common aspect ratios include:
– 16:9 – The standard widescreen aspect ratio used for HD TVs and computer monitors. Rectangular shape.
– 4:3 – The standard aspect ratio used for analog TVs and computer monitors before HD. Nearly square shape.
– 1:1 – A perfect square shape used widely on social media profile pictures and logos.
– 9:16 – A tall and narrow portrait shape common for smartphone photography.
Instagram Photo Feed Aspect Ratio
Instagram’s photo feed is geared towards the 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. When you upload a photo to Instagram, it will automatically crop images to fit this 16:9 rectangular shape.
This is because Instagram adapted the 16:9 aspect ratio to fit full screen on most smartphones and computer screens. 16:9 became the mainstream widescreen standard with the advent of HD and digital screens.
If you upload a square 1:1 photo, Instagram will center crop it into 16:9 by cutting off the top and bottom edges. For vertical 4:5 or 9:16 photos, the left and right edges will be cropped.
Therefore, to avoid cropping, it’s best to edit and export your photos at the native 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio before uploading to Instagram.
Instagram Story Aspect Ratio
However, for Instagram Stories, the aspect ratio is different. Instagram Stories uses a full screen 9:16 vertical aspect ratio.
This tall, portrait-oriented 9:16 ratio is optimized for smartphone screens when holding your device vertically to view Stories. This allows the entire screen to be filled with your Story content.
So when creating Stories, you should design and export them at a 9:16 vertical aspect ratio to completely fill the screen. Square 1:1 and widescreen 16:9 images won’t take up the full screen in Stories.
Best Practices for Each Aspect Ratio
Here are some best practices for using the 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios on Instagram:
16:9 Widescreen
- Best for Instagram main photo feed posts
- Horizontal, landscape oriented images
- Full bleed images that fill the entire 16:9 frame
- Large sweeping landscape photos
- Group photos with horizontal composition
- Products photographed on white background
- Food and tablescape images
9:16 Vertical
- Best for Instagram Stories
- Vertical, portrait oriented images
- Portrait style selfies and user-generated photos
- Full body portraits
- Architecture and nature photos with tall subjects
- Product photos with clean vertical background
Optimizing Images for Each Aspect Ratio
To optimize your images for Instagram, follow these tips:
For 16:9 Feed Photos
- Set camera to capture images in 16:9 aspect ratio setting
- Compose horizontal landscape images leaving space for text
- Export images at 1080×1080 pixels for retina screens
- Use photo editing tools to resize any image to 16:9
- Add padding to square images to extend canvas to 16:9
For 9:16 Stories
- Flip phone vertically and shoot Stories in 9:16 portrait
- Compress images to under 600×1200 pixels for faster upload
- Design graphics and templates in 9:16 ratio in Canva
- Add vertical strokes, padding to square images
Following these best practices will help you create optimized, on-brand content tailored for each part of Instagram.
4:3 Aspect Ratio
The 4:3 aspect ratio was the standard for older television sets and computer monitors. Images are nearly square with a width to height ratio of 4:3.
However, 4:3 is no longer commonly used on Instagram. Uploading 4:3 images will result in cropping by Instagram into the 16:9 or 9:16 ratios.
4:3 images end up very small on an Instagram feed, with massive black bars filling the rest of the screen. For Stories, 4:3 images will be zoomed in and centered with black bars too.
Therefore, it’s better to completely avoid the 4:3 aspect ratio for all Instagram content. Stick to capturing and designing assets in the ideal 16:9 or 9:16 ratios instead.
How Instagram Handles Other Aspect Ratios
Here’s a breakdown of how Instagram handles uploads of different aspect ratios:
Square 1:1 Images
– Feed: Cropped to 16:9 center portion
– Stories: Small image centered with black bars
Vertical 4:5 or 9:16 Images
– Feed: Left and right sides cropped to 16:9
– Stories: Image fills screen properly
Horizontal 16:9 Images
– Feed: Fills feed nicely
– Stories: Image centered with black bars
4:3 Images
– Feed: Massive black bars added to fit 16:9
– Stories: Zoomed in image with black bars
As you can see, besides the ideal 16:9 and 9:16 ratios, other aspect ratios will be distorted in some way by Instagram’s auto-cropping and resizing algorithms.
Should You Use Multiple Aspect Ratios?
Sticking to just two aspect ratios – 16:9 feed photos and 9:16 Stories – will provide the best, cleanest results on Instagram.
However, some brands choose to purposefully upload images in mixed aspect ratios for creative effect. For example, square 1:1 images help content stand out in the feed and imply a vintage, retro aesthetic.
The key is to do this intentionally and consistently for a cohesive look. Test out what works for your brand visual identity. But in general, optimizing for 16:9 and 9:16 will give you the most seamless and professional Instagram presence.
Here is a summary of the key points:
Aspect Ratio | Instagram Feed | Instagram Stories |
---|---|---|
16:9 Widescreen | Ideal – no cropping | Bars on sides |
9:16 Vertical | Cropped to center | Ideal – full screen |
4:3 Standard | Not recommended | Not recommended |
1:1 Square | Cropped to center | Small w/ bars |
Conclusion
In summary, the 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio is ideal for Instagram’s photo feed, while the 9:16 portrait ratio is best for full screen Instagram Stories.
Avoid using the outdated 4:3 standard ratio, as this will result in cropping or image distortion on Instagram. Capture, design, and export all your imagery in either 16:9 or 9:16 to tailor content specifically for each Instagram placement.
Following the best practices for optimizing images for aspect ratio will improve your Instagram content and brand aesthetic. With Instagram’s auto-cropping and resizing, using the right ratios gives you full control over how your images are displayed.