Guide · checked October 2026
Instagram image sizes for posts and carousels
Every number Instagram applies to photos posted through its API, and the size that works best.
The short answer
Post a 1080 × 1350 JPEG (4:5 portrait). It is the tallest shape Instagram shows in the feed, so it takes the most room on screen, and it works on Facebook, Threads and Bluesky too.
All the limits
| Format | JPEG only (PNG, HEIC and WebP are refused through the API) |
| File size | Up to 8 MB |
| Shape (aspect ratio) | From 4:5 (portrait) to 1.91:1 (landscape) |
| Width | 320 to 1440 pixels; Instagram scales anything outside that range |
| Colour | sRGB |
| Carousel | Up to 10 photos in one post |
| Caption | Up to 2,200 characters and 30 hashtags |
Common sizes
| Shape | Size | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| 4:5 portrait | 1080 × 1350 | Most posts and carousels |
| 1:1 square | 1080 × 1080 | Grids, products |
| 1.91:1 landscape | 1080 × 566 | Wide shots, rarely the best choice |
Carousel tips
- All slides take the shape of the first one, so make them the same size.
- The first slide is the cover in the grid and the feed: put the promise there.
- Bluesky shows only the first four pictures of a post.
Source: the Instagram Platform documentation, checked October 2026. Platforms change their limits from time to time; pickthepost checks every file against the current numbers before it posts.
What is the best Instagram post size?
1080 × 1350 pixels (4:5), as a JPEG under 8 MB.
Can I post a PNG to Instagram through an app?
No. The Instagram API takes JPEG photos only. Export as JPEG first; pickthepost tells you before posting.
How many photos can an Instagram carousel have?
Up to 10.