Published Date:
July 5, 2024

Instagram Video Length: Reels, Stories, Ads [2024 Guide]

Co-Founder & CEO, MotionGility

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 90 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 max length stands at 90 seconds. Earlier, only 60 seconds was the threshold which was then upgraded to boost watch rate and accommodate more video content 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.

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: What is the perfect length video for Instagram?

The perfect length can vary between 3 seconds and 60 minutes depending upon the video format and content type. We recommend the 9:16 aspect ratio for size.

Q4: Which is the longest reel on Instagram?

The longest and maximum Instagram Reel size can be 90 seconds or less.

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