Instagram ads are an advertiser’s dream. It’s a massive visual platform with a highly engaged audience that’s actually excited to discover and engage with brands they love.
Instagram ads can yield exceptional results, which I’ve seen firsthand when writing PPC copy for my clients. While the text is important, images and Reels create more impact, especially since they appear above the text on Instagram posts, making them the first elements to capture attention.
To help you harness the incredible power of Instagram ads, we’re going to cover the best Instagram ad size for every post format along with the best practices to follow.
Instagram Ad Sizes for Every Post Format
Choosing the right Instagram ad size before you upload images to Meta Ads Manager is a good call.
It gives you full control over how your images and Reels are displayed. The last thing you want is an awkward crop that cuts off your CTA (call-to-action) or a crucial part of your ad image.
An incorrectly sized Instagram ad can have a negative impact on your campaign and make it look like you’ve made a lazy marketing mistake — you don’t want either of those things to happen.
The perfect Instagram ad size varies as each post format has its own unique requirements. Let’s take a look.
Instagram Ad Requirements
Instagram ads require different image sizes, but there are a few things that they all have in common. These requirements include:
- Ad image files should be JPG or PNG.
- The max ad image file size is 30MB.
- Text should be 125 characters for image ads, and 72 characters for Reels.
- The max number of hashtags is 30.
- MP4 files are preferred for the best Instagram video format.
- The max video file size is 4GB.
Instagram Feed Ads
- The recommended minimum resolution is 1080 x 1080 pixels, with a 1:1 aspect ratio. There is no max resolution.
- Image ratios of 9:16 and 16:9 are accepted, but they may be masked to 1:1.
Instagram Carousel Ads
Carousel ads –sometimes called “multi-image” or “multi-product” ads– allow brands to create up to 10 different slides containing images or videos that users can swipe through. They’re known for higher than average click-through rates and conversion rates.
- The recommended minimum resolution is 1080 x 1080 pixels, with a 1:1 aspect ratio. There is no max resolution.
- The number of carousel cards can range from 2-10.
- Carousel video lengths can range from 1 second to 2 minutes
If you want to make Instagram carousel ads that drive conversions, check out our free Instagram ad templates.
Instagram Story Ads
Instagram Stories are a fullscreen mobile experience, taking up a user’s entire screen and hopefully their entire attention span.
- The recommended resolution is 1080 x 1920 pixels, with a 9:16 aspect ratio. There is no max resolution.
- Instagram Story image ads will play for 5-16 seconds, or until the viewer swipes away.
- Instagram Story video ads longer than 15 seconds may be split into separate Story cards.
- Consider leaving space at the top (250 pixels) and bottom (340 pixels) for profile icons and call-to-action buttons.
It’s important to use the right Instagram Story size. To make things easy, our free Instagram Story templates are already pre-sized to the correct dimensions.
Instagram Reels Ads
Since their release, Reels have been a massive success for Instagram. Considering that over 200 billion Reels are viewed per day, they can absolutely be a valuable addition to your marketing strategy.
- The recommended resolution is 1080 x 1920 pixels, with a 9:16 aspect ratio. There is no max resolution.
- Reels video lengths can range from 1 second to 15 minutes.
- Consider leaving space at 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom, and 6% on the sides of your Reels ads for profile icons and call-to-action buttons.
Instagram Ad Best Practices
Success on Instagram ads depends on more than just having perfectly sized images. There are other best practices you should implement when creating your campaigns to ensure that your ads are relevant to your target audience, and thus well-positioned for a great ROI on your ad spend.
Let’s look at the Instagram ad best practices you don’t want to forget.
- Choose your targeting well. Instagram utilizes Meta’s detailed targeting system. The options are limitless. For example, you can target customers who have already purchased from you with an up-sell, or target users that view content related to your specific niche.
- Think about where each audience member is in the digital sales funnel. Are you running a brand awareness campaign to capture new customers, or a retargeting campaign to drive more sales? This will help you create ads that are most relevant to your audience.
- Start with the right image size. This will save you a ton of time in the ad creation process. Snappa has customizable ad templates that are already pre-sized to the correct dimensions, along with stunning design layouts that drive results.
- Use your copy to convey value. It’s important that your copy captures user attention. Talk about how your product can solve pain points, or what features make it unique. This will go a long way in driving conversions.
- Tell stories. As a copywriter, stories are my secret superpower. When you’re able to tell even a short story that users can relate to, it can really hammer in that emotional appeal and encourage users to take action. Customer testimonials can also work really well for this. You can add enthusiastic reviews into your ads with a text and photo overlay. Here’s an example below:
Conclusion
Instagram ads can drive outstanding results. They’re capable of attracting a large number of qualified leads and sales at a relatively low cost. Getting those results will depend heavily on creating strong, customer-oriented campaigns, and using the right Instagram ad sizes.
There are plenty of ad formats to choose from, which means you’ll want to create a variety of different visuals to maximize results.
While it’s a good idea to run tests and experiment with different ad formats, always make sure that your ads are perfectly sized. It’s a simple process to ensure that your ads look perfect and have a profitable impact on your campaigns.
Are you ready to create powerful Instagram ads that will engage your audience? Get started with Snappa for free!
