Instagram Reels Size, Resolution and Aspect Ratio

For a full-screen vertical Instagram Reel, use a 9:16 aspect ratio. Resolution counts the pixels in an image; aspect ratio compares its width with its height. At 9:16, the video is taller than it is wide, matching a phone’s vertical screen.

If the video’s shape does not match the screen, Instagram may crop it or show empty space around it. Keep text and key visuals away from Instagram’s on-screen controls. For narrated explainer Reels, explainroo is a tool that can create a tall video and keep text away from those controls.

The recommended Reels dimensions

Set the video canvas to a 9:16 aspect ratio for full-screen viewing. Several Instagram Reels size guides recommend this aspect ratio; other guides also list a supported range from 1.91:1 to 9:16, with 9:16 suited to full-screen viewing.

A video with another aspect ratio may fall within the range those guides cite, but it will not fill a vertical screen the same way. For example, a square video has a 1:1 ratio, so a full-screen display needs to crop it or leave space above and below. For a vertical Reel that fills the screen, start with a 9:16 canvas.

Export settings for a clear upload

For a standard export, use MP4 as the file format and H.264 for video compression. Set the audio to AAC and the frame rate to 30 frames per second (fps). A frame rate is the number of still images shown each second. These settings are common recommendations in Reels export guidance, while H.264 is also cited for broad compatibility in Instagram video format references.

A bitrate of 5,000 to 10,000 kilobits per second (kbps) is one published recommendation. Bitrate measures how much data the video uses each second. Recommendations vary. Use that range as a starting point, not as a guaranteed Instagram requirement. Use 30 fps for standard footage; for fast movement, match the frame rate to the original footage.

Keep text clear of Instagram’s controls

Instagram places buttons, captions, and other interface elements over a Reel. If those elements cover your title or key visual, viewers may miss it. One safe-zone reference advises keeping important content out of the top 14%, bottom 35%, and 6% along each side of the frame.

Place the headline, subtitles, and main subject near the center of the image, then preview the Reel on a phone before posting. Use these percentages as layout guidance. Instagram’s interface and previews can vary across surfaces.

Instagram crops a cover image differently in different places. Keep its main subject near the center and check how it looks both in the Reels tab and on your profile. Guides report that the profile grid uses a 3:4 center crop, while published cover-size recommendations are not consistent.

Make a tall explainer Reel with explainroo

explainroo is a free, open-source kit under the MIT license. You can use it with coding agents such as Claude Code, Codex, Pi, OpenCode, and Gemini CLI. Claude Code works best. Use the kit on your computer to make narrated explainer videos and product demos. It saves each finished video as an MP4.

To create an Instagram Reel:

1. Open a coding agent that can run shell commands and paste this prompt, replacing the bracketed topic:

   Make me a short explainer video about [your topic]. Use explainroo for it: clone https://github.com/vincentsch/explainroo, read its AGENTS.md and follow the steps.

2. Ask the agent to make the video in tall format for Instagram Reels. explainroo’s tall format is designed for Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts, with text kept clear of the areas where those apps place buttons.

3. Review the generated script.md to check the spoken words and scenes.js to see how the scenes are drawn. The agent checks the scene stills and a contact sheet. It also reviews the text layout and spoken words, then gives you the MP4.

4. Before uploading, confirm that the exported file is in 9:16 format. Check that it plays at the intended frame rate. Make sure important content stays inside the safe area.

The voice reads English narration, and word timing lets scene changes appear on cue. explainroo does not edit existing camera footage or provide a drag-and-drop editor; you describe the video to the coding agent and ask for revisions. The optional AI illustrations cost money per image, and the coding agent is a separate service with its own pricing.