Instagram is the upgraded hangout spot for people from all walks of life, especially the Gen-Z and millennials squad because of course:)
And so since you’ve come searching for the perfect instagram video length, knowing about the multiple instagram video formats and the lengths Meta offers to publishers becomes important.
In this article, I have comprehensively broken down the different video lengths for Instagram stories, posts, reels, carousels, etc.
Instagram Video Length Limit
Before you deep dive into different video formats and what video content works best in each one, lengths and their limits, here’s a quick summary:
- IG In-feed videos: up to 60 minutes
- IG Reels: up to 3 minutes [180 seconds]
- IG Stories: up to 60 seconds
- IG Live: up to 4 hours [240 minutes]
- IG Video Ads: up to 60 seconds
Instagram Post Video Length
Instagram in-feed videos can range between 3 seconds to 60 minutes.
If your video exceeds the 60-minute mark, you may either want to trim it using the editing tools provided or break it into equal parts and post it in a carousel [slides] format.
For Instagram video posts that are longer than 60 seconds, a quick preview is played for viewers to decide whether to continue watching the video or scroll past.
If yes, they can smoothly watch that particular video on the publisher’s feed.
Talking about the dimensions, in-feed videos are in a 9:16 ratio and 1080*1920 pixels.
Best Recommended Usage: For sharing product videos, corporate videos, campaign videos, etc.
Are 60-second videos worthy of grabbing attention & generating engagement?
Check out: 60 second videos – Ideal Length, Tips, How-to, etc.
Instagram Reels Video Length
An Instagram Reel’s max length stands at 180 seconds. Earlier, 90 seconds was the threshold which was then upgraded to boost watch rate and accommodate more long-form video content appetite subsequently.
Reels offer users a broader scope through the Explore page to reach global audiences.
Best Recommended Usage: Branded Content, User Educational Videos, Customer Testimonials, Moment Marketing Videos, etc.
SocialInsider’s data reveals that IG Reels receive an average reach of 30.81%, which is almost double the rate of other Instagram content formats.
That’s huge as it speaks volumes about how brands as well as content creators have adapted to the “short-form” content wave to reach a global audience.
Remember: Considering the current Instagram Reels duration or precisely if we call it short vertical videos, they have vastly taken over the internet.
Due to their crisp and snappy nature, they’ve been proving worth both time and money for global marketers.
Instagram Story Video Length
The maximum video length on Instagram Story is 60 seconds. If you’re uploading a story longer than the 60-second mark, the platform will automatically trim it to fit your video in the prescribed length format.
Best Recommended Usage: BTS [Behind-the-Scenes] Videos, Product Launch Updates, User-Interaction Videos, FAQs, etc.
Although IG stories disappear after 24 hours, you can permanently feature them by adding your desired story pieces into highlights to showcase them to your visitors.
Considering brands, Insta stories are an excellent way to establish authenticity, allowing them to share branded content and exclusive materials such as sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes, etc.
Again just like the in-feed videos, the instagram story length stands at a 9:16 ratio and 1080*1920 pixels.
More than that, Instagram offers a suite of story features such as music options, location tags, stickers, GIFs, polls, questions, links, mentions, sliders, countdowns, and Augmented Reality filters.
Instagram Live Video Length
Earlier limited to only 60 minutes, the IG live video length is now available up to 4 hours! That means individuals or brands can continue live streaming on Instagram for 240 minutes now.
Often, you must have noticed media outlets, celebrity influencers, athletes, content creators, etc., taking up IG Live sessions for their fans.
Instagram Live sessions allow users to broadcast content and connect deeply with their followers, while also giving followers a chance to know their favorite celebrities better.
As per SocialPilot, a staggering 100 million people watch Instagram Live every day.
Also, publishers can showcase their Live sessions on their feed for up to 30 days for followers to view in case they missed the live streaming.
Instagram Video Ads Length
Instagram video ad sizes differ from each other in Reels, Stories, In-Feed videos, etc., since the platform offers a variety of ad placements.
Best Recommended Usage: Animated Ads, Product Demo Videos, Brand Reveal Videos, etc.
Here’s a quick breakdown of video ad length on Instagram:
- For Reels Ad: Up to 15-minute videos in a 9:16 aspect ratio
- For In-Feed Video Ads: Up to 60-minute video ads in a 4:5 or 9:16 aspect ratio
- For Story Ads: Up to 30 seconds. Lengths more than 30 will be automatically split up by Instagram into 3 separate slides. Aspect ratio at 9:16
- For Ads on the Explore Page: Up to 60 minutes of video ads in a 4:5 or 9:16 aspect ratio
- For Instagram Profile Feed Ads: Launched recently and allows up to 60 minutes in a 4:5 aspect ratio or 9:16
Now generally, there exist 2 narratives: One that brands generally do is publish Instagram in-feed video ads where they use promotional videos that are between 30-75 seconds long.
On the other hand, many prefer even shorter IG video ads ranging between 5-15 seconds. These commercials are extremely short and snappy and aim to generate quick engagement.
New Instagram Updates 2025
With Instagram shifting its focus in 2025 to fostering Creativity and Connections, the social media giant has come up with 2-3 exciting updates—both for users and creators.
Here are the new updates & amendments that Instagram has announced:
Publish Reels Up to 3 Minutes Long
In his fresh series of video announcements, the Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri said-
“Starting today, you can upload Reels to Instagram up to 3 minutes long.”
Emphasizing users’ feedback received in the past year, Adam believes this length extension will now allow users & creators to tell stories they were unable to share within the earlier 90-second limit.
Also, this is in line with Instagram now prioritizing long-form videos and overall content in comparison to short-form videos.
Revamped Rectangular Profile Grid Presentation
Letting go of the iconic OG square grid, Instagram has now adopted the vertical grid format for user profiles.
With a now more polished rectangular shape, Adam stressed the inflow of content being published across the world by users in the vertical orientation.
On X, he acknowledged that the app’s major redesign might have caught some users off guard and may have disrupted the appearance of their posts.
Well, to address this, Instagram has introduced a feature that lets you refine your post’s visual presentation and overall aesthetic appeal:
- Open your desired post and tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
- Choose “Adjust Preview.”
- You can now modify the cover image and customize the thumbnail to suit your preference.
Story Highlights Moving to Grid
Next, Adam said Instagram is planning to integrate story highlights directly into the grid and showcase them as a separate tab.
For maximum users & creators, this update sounds great as highlights offer dedicated room to feature their top stories.
However, they might end up cluttering the entire grid and push it down subsequently.
For creators, Instagram is also developing a tool to allow them to rearrange their grid and customize it as per their wishes.
Edits - New Video Creation App by Instagram
Instagram is all set to launch “Edits” – an entirely new app directed at easing short-form creation for creators.
Mainly, this would include a suite of creative tools with features like creator insights to enhance their content, advanced editing, overlays, interactive effects, and transitions.
Another feature that might take a direct dig at video editing apps embedding watermarks in videos, “Edits” will allow creators to export their videos without a watermark.
Adam said the app will possibly roll out in the coming weeks.
The Bottom Line
That’s pretty much it! If you strategically plan to leverage the diversity in Instagram video length and drive engagement, IG videos have a ton to offer.
The only thing you need to keep a sharp eye on I believe is – choosing the right Instagram video format to share your video content.
So the next time you sit down to create a video, refer to the various format sizes mentioned above and what’s their best usage, and you will surely end up attracting decent traction.
As one of the leading video production companies globally of 2024 by The Manifest, our team of experienced marketers and social media specialists can help you create your perfect Instagram video.
Share your requirements by clicking here or schedule a free 15-minute Discovery Call with our expert and let’s begin creating your video!
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
Q1: Can I post a 3-minute video on Instagram?
Yes, you can share in-feed videos up to 60 minutes long easily. Remember – Instagram will create a preview of your video for viewers if it’s more than 60 seconds long.
Q2: How long can Instagram stories be?
The maximum length for IG stories is 60 seconds.
Q3: How long can Instagram Reels be?
You can now post a Reel up to 3 minutes long on Instagram. The latest January 2025 update allows users to publish long videos and reach more audiences.
Q4: What is the new Instagram update about reels?
Taking previous user feedback into account of the 90-sec limit being less, Instagram has now extended the Reels duration to 3 minutes.
Q5: What is the new app from Instagram?
Instagram has announced a new app for creators named “Edits”. Through this app, they aim to provide an array of editing tools to help creators enhance their content. From the creative tools perspective, it seems more promising than a video editing app.
*Final global roll-out launch date yet to be announced.
Q6: Which is the longest reel on Instagram?
The longest and maximum Instagram Reel can be 180 seconds/3 minutes or less.
