Instagram Story Dimensions: Design Full Screen Graphics
Instagram Stories (and TikToks, and Reels, and YouTube Shorts) all use the same vertical video standard.
If you upload a horizontal photo, it looks tiny in the middle of a black screen. If you upload a random vertical crop, key parts might be hidden behind the "Reply to Story" bar at the bottom or the Username at the top.
You need to crop to 9:16.
The Specs
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels.
- Aspect Ratio: 9:16.
The "Safe Zone" Warning
Even if you have the right size, Instagram puts buttons over your content.
- Top 15%: Covered by your Profile Photo and Wifi/Battery bars.
- Bottom 15%: Covered by the "Send Message" box and Hearts.
Rule: Keep your text and main subject in the Center 70% of the screen.
How to Prepare Your Image
- Open Image Cropper: Go to Crop Image.
- Select 9:16: Choosing this preset ensures your image will fill the entire phone screen.
- Adjust: Slide your image so the important content is centered (avoiding the danger zones).
- Export: Save and upload. It will look native and professional.