Instagram Changes Image Dimensions for 2025

What Changed

Instagram has rolled out significant changes to its image dimension requirements in early 2025, marking the platform's most substantial update since the introduction of Reels. These changes are designed to improve image quality across devices and optimize for the latest high-resolution smartphone displays.

The updates affect feed posts, Stories, Reels thumbnails, and profile images. While Instagram's algorithm will still accept and display older dimensions, using the new recommended specs ensures your content appears at maximum quality and takes full advantage of the platform's enhanced image processing pipeline.

Most notably, Instagram has increased the maximum resolution for feed posts and introduced new aspect ratio support for portrait posts, giving creators more flexibility in how they present their content.

New Recommended Dimensions

Feed Posts

Square Posts (1:1): Now support up to 1440×1440 pixels (previously 1080×1080). This 33% increase in resolution means sharper images on high-DPI displays and better quality when users zoom in on your posts.

Landscape Posts (1.91:1): Updated to 1440×752 pixels (previously 1080×566). The aspect ratio remains the same, but the higher resolution provides noticeably better clarity.

Portrait Posts (4:5): Now 1440×1800 pixels (previously 1080×1350). This is particularly important for portrait photography and product shots that benefit from the vertical format.

Stories and Reels

Stories (9:16): Increased to 1440×2560 pixels (previously 1080×1920). This matches many flagship smartphone resolutions, ensuring Stories appear native-quality on modern devices.

Reels (9:16): Same as Stories — 1440×2560 pixels. Video thumbnails should also match this dimension for consistency.

Profile and Cover Images

Profile Picture: Now 360×360 pixels (previously 320×320). While this seems minor, the increase ensures profile pictures remain crisp when viewed at larger sizes in the app.

Highlights Cover: Remains at 1080×1920 pixels, but Instagram now applies less aggressive compression when you use exactly this size.

Comparison: Old vs New Specifications

Content Type	Old Dimensions	New Dimensions	Change
Square Feed Post	1080×1080	1440×1440	+33% resolution
Portrait Feed Post	1080×1350	1440×1800	+33% resolution
Landscape Feed Post	1080×566	1440×752	+33% resolution
Stories/Reels	1080×1920	1440×2560	+33% resolution
Profile Picture	320×320	360×360	+13% resolution
Highlights Cover	1080×1920	1080×1920	No change (better compression)

Why Instagram Made These Changes

Instagram's update reflects several important trends in mobile technology and user behavior:

Higher-Resolution Smartphone Displays

Modern smartphones, including the iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S25 series, feature displays with pixel densities exceeding 450 PPI. The old 1080-pixel standard, established when most phones had 1080p screens, now appears noticeably soft on these high-resolution displays.

Improved Compression Technology

Instagram has upgraded its backend image processing to use more efficient compression algorithms. This allows the platform to serve higher-resolution images without significantly increasing bandwidth requirements or load times.

Competitive Pressure

Platforms like TikTok and Threads (Instagram's sibling app) already support higher resolutions. Instagram needed to match these standards to remain competitive, especially for creators who prioritize image quality.

Creator Feedback

Professional photographers and visual artists have long complained about Instagram's aggressive compression and relatively low maximum resolution. These updates address many of those concerns and make Instagram more viable for high-quality visual content.

How to Adapt Your Content

For New Content

Start creating content at the new dimensions immediately. If you're shooting photos, export at 1440 pixels on the shortest side (1440×1440 for square, 1440×1800 for portrait, etc.). For Stories and Reels, export at 1440×2560.

Most photo editing software and design tools support these dimensions. In Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or Canva, simply create custom export presets with the new sizes to streamline your workflow.

For Existing Content

You don't need to delete and re-upload old posts. Instagram's algorithm will continue to display them normally. However, if you have particularly important posts (pinned content, evergreen posts, or portfolio pieces), consider re-exporting at higher resolution and replacing them.

File Size Considerations

Higher resolutions mean larger file sizes. Instagram's maximum file size remains 8MB per image, which is typically sufficient even for 1440×1440 JPEGs at 80-90% quality. Use modern formats like WebP or export with optimized compression to stay under the limit while maintaining quality.

Batch Processing

If you have a large library of content to resize, use batch processing tools. Lightroom Classic, Photoshop Actions, or command-line tools like ImageMagick can resize hundreds of images in minutes. Always keep your original high-resolution files as masters.

Optimization Tips

Shoot in the Highest Quality: Always capture or create content at the highest resolution possible, then downsize to Instagram's requirements. This gives you flexibility for future platform changes.
Use Exact Dimensions: While Instagram will resize images that don't match exactly, you'll get the best quality by pre-sizing to exact specifications. This gives you control over sharpening and compression.
Mind the Safe Zones: Keep important text and visual elements at least 5% away from edges. Instagram's interface elements and various crops can obscure edge content.
Test on Mobile: Always preview your content on an actual smartphone before posting. What looks sharp on a desktop monitor might appear different on a phone screen.
Optimize for Dark Mode: More than 70% of Instagram users prefer dark mode. Ensure your images have sufficient contrast and don't rely on light backgrounds that might clash with the dark interface.
Use Appropriate Compression: For photos with lots of detail, use 85-95% JPEG quality. For graphics with solid colors or gradients, consider using PNG (if under 8MB) for better quality.
Don't Over-Sharpen: Instagram applies its own sharpening algorithm. If you over-sharpen before uploading, the result can look overly crisp and unnatural. Apply moderate sharpening at most.

What This Means for Engagement

Early data from creators who've adopted the new dimensions shows promising results:

Posts using the higher resolution see slightly longer average view times (users tend to zoom in more on high-quality images)
Professional photographers report improved feedback on detail-rich content like landscape and architecture photography
Stories at 1440×2560 appear noticeably sharper on flagship devices, potentially increasing completion rates

While image resolution alone won't make or break your engagement, it's one more factor in creating professional, high-quality content that stands out in crowded feeds.

Looking Ahead

This update likely isn't the last we'll see. As smartphone displays continue to improve and 8K video becomes more common, social platforms will need to keep pace. Instagram has hinted that further improvements to video quality are coming later in 2025.

For creators, the lesson is clear: always maintain high-resolution master files of your content. Platform requirements will continue to evolve, and having quality source material ensures you can adapt quickly.