Instagram Story Dimensions 2026 (1080x1920)

The standard instagram story dimensions are 1080 by 1920 pixels, a 9:16 vertical canvas that fills a phone screen edge to edge. Getting the canvas size right is only half the job, though; the more common mistake is placing text or a logo where Instagram's own interface covers it.

Instagram story size, verified

Spec	Size
Canvas	1080 x 1920 px
Aspect ratio	9:16
Top safe zone	roughly 250 px
Bottom safe zone	roughly 250 px

Checked as of July 2026 against Instagram's current Story display behavior. Treat the safe-zone pixel figures as a reliable working guideline rather than an exact number Instagram publishes and guarantees, since Meta's own ad tools show this can shift slightly by placement and device.

Instagram story safe zone 2026: what actually covers your content

The top of a Story is covered by your profile picture, username, and the timestamp. The bottom is covered by the reply field, the send button, and, if you've added one, a sticker like a link or poll. Anything important placed in either of those roughly 250-pixel bands at the top or bottom risks being partially or fully hidden behind Instagram's own interface elements, even though the pixels are technically still part of your image.

Building a Story that survives the overlay

1. Design at the full 1080 x 1920 canvas.
2. Keep essential text, logos, and calls to action inside the center band, roughly 1080 x 1420 pixels, away from the top and bottom edges.
3. If you're placing a link sticker or poll, leave room for it near the bottom rather than assuming it'll float over existing text cleanly.
4. Preview the Story as a follower would see it, not just in your design tool, before publishing, since design software won't show you Instagram's overlay by default.

Stories vs. Reels dimensions

Reels use the same 1080 x 1920, 9:16 canvas as Stories, so content built for one generally carries over to the other without reformatting. The interface elements covering the frame differ slightly between the two (Reels have their own caption and engagement icon placement along the right edge and bottom), so it's still worth a quick preview in each format rather than assuming an identical safe zone.

Link stickers and polls need their own room

If you're adding an interactive element, a link sticker, a poll, a question box, plan space for it rather than assuming it'll sit cleanly over existing text. These elements are draggable, but they still need a clear area to land in, usually in the lower-middle portion of the frame, without competing with a headline or logo you've already placed there. Building the sticker placement into your design before you export saves a round of edits after you see it overlapping something important in the app.

Designing once for every vertical placement

Because Stories, Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts all share the same 1080x1920 vertical frame, one correctly-built asset can generally serve all of them with only minor safe-zone adjustments. Resize and check crops with the social media image resizer. Posted Once's Instagram scheduler schedules Stories-ready content alongside Reels and nine other platforms from one place. Start free →