Ijharul Islam
An Instagram Story video can be up to 60 seconds long and at least 3 seconds, with a 100 MB file limit, according to Meta's Instagram Graph API documentation. Meta recommends a 9:16 vertical frame; export 1080×1920 as an MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio. Stories ads follow different rules: 1 second to 60 minutes and up to 4 GB.
More on this topic: Video specs by platform, every guide in one place.
Instagram's own help pages on Stories didn't load when we checked on 26 October 2026, so the organic numbers below are the ones Meta publishes for posting Stories through its API, which match what the app accepts in practice. Ads numbers come from Meta's Ads Guide.
The short answer
Instagram Story video: 3 to 60 seconds, 100 MB at most (Meta's API docs). Export 1080×1920 (9:16), MP4 or MOV, H.264 or HEVC, 23-60 fps, no wider than 1920 pixels, up to 25 Mbps, AAC audio at 48 kHz. Stories ads: 9:16, 1 second to 60 minutes, up to 4 GB; keep text out of the top 14%, bottom 35% and 6% at each side.
Key takeaways
- Length: 60 seconds at most per Story, 3 seconds at least, per Meta's API documentation.
- File size: 100 MB for an organic Story video; Stories ads allow up to 4 GB.
- Shape: 9:16 is recommended. Export 1080×1920.
- Safe zone for ads: keep text and logos out of the top 14%, the bottom 35% and 6% on each side.
- A Stories ad of 16 seconds or more may be split into separate cards.
How long can an Instagram Story video be?
An Instagram Story video can be up to 60 seconds long. Meta's Instagram Graph API reference lists story video at 60 seconds maximum and 3 seconds minimum. Checked on 26 October 2026.
| Spec | Instagram Story video (Meta's API docs) | Instagram Reel (same page) |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3 to 60 seconds | Up to 15 minutes |
| File size | 100 MB at most | 300 MB at most |
| Container | MOV or MP4, moov atom at the front | MOV or MP4 |
| Video codec | H.264 or HEVC, progressive, closed GOP, 4:2:0 | Same |
| Frame rate | 23 to 60 fps | Same |
| Maximum width | 1920 pixels | Same |
| Aspect ratio | 0.1:1 to 10:1; 9:16 recommended | Same |
| Video bitrate | VBR, 25 Mbps at most | Same |
| Audio | AAC, 48 kHz at most, mono or stereo, 128 kbps | Same |
What we couldn't confirm: Instagram's help-centre pages about Stories didn't render for us, so we can't quote what the app does with a longer clip you pick from your camera roll. The 60-second figure is Meta's published limit; if your app offers to split or trim a longer video, follow what it shows.
What size should an Instagram Story video be?
An Instagram Story video should be 1080×1920 pixels (9:16). That fills the screen, stays under the 1920-pixel width limit and keeps the file small enough for 100 MB at 60 seconds.
| Setting | Export this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080×1920 | Full-screen 9:16; within the width limit |
| Codec | H.264 MP4 | Plays everywhere; HEVC also accepted |
| Frame rate | 30 fps (or your source rate, 23-60) | Outside 23-60 fps is rejected |
| Video bitrate | 6-10 Mbps | Sharp at 1080p; 60 s stays near 45-75 MB |
| Audio | AAC, 48 kHz, 128 kbps | Meta's listed audio spec |
The size check: a 60-second Story at 10 Mbps plus 128 kbps audio is about 76 MB, safely under 100 MB. At 25 Mbps, the maximum bitrate, it would be about 189 MB, which is too big. Work out your own with the free video bitrate calculator. If your video is landscape, put it on a 9:16 canvas with the free video resizer rather than letting Instagram crop it.
What are the Instagram Stories ad specs?
Instagram Stories ads take a 9:16 video from 1 second to 60 minutes and up to 4 GB, according to Meta's Ads Guide. Facebook Stories ads use the same size rules with a shorter maximum length:
| Spec | Instagram Stories ad | Facebook Stories ad |
|---|---|---|
| Ratio | 9:16 (1% tolerance) | 9:16 |
| Resolution | 1440×2560 recommended; 250 px minimum width | 1440×2560; 250 px minimum width |
| Length | 1 second to 60 minutes | 1 second to 3 minutes |
| File size | Up to 4 GB | Up to 4 GB |
| File type | MP4, MOV or GIF | MP4, MOV or GIF |
| Encoding | H.264, square pixels, fixed frame rate, progressive, stereo AAC 128 kbps+ | Same |
| Plays in full | Under 16 seconds; 16 s+ may be split into 1-3 cards | 15 seconds or less |
For the other Meta placements (Feed, Reels, right column), see Facebook video ad specs.
Where is the safe zone on an Instagram Story?
The safe zone on an Instagram Story is the middle of the frame: Meta's Ads Guide says to keep roughly 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% of each side free of text and logos. On a 1080×1920 frame that works out to:
| Edge | Meta's margin | On 1080×1920 |
|---|---|---|
| Top | About 14% | About 270 px |
| Bottom | About 35% | About 670 px |
| Left and right | About 6% each | About 65 px each |
| Safe area left | About 950 × 980 px in the middle |
Meta publishes this margin for Stories ads; the organic Story screen has the profile bar at the top and the reply box at the bottom, so the same margins are a sensible default for any Story. Put captions just above the bottom margin, not at the very bottom. The YouTube Shorts safe zone covers the same problem on Shorts, and the free add text to video tool lets you place a title where it won't be covered.
How do you post a video longer than 60 seconds to your Story?
You post a longer video to your Story by trimming it, splitting it into 60-second parts, or posting it as a Reel and sharing the Reel to your Story. Options:
- Trim it. Cut it to the best 60 seconds with the free video trimmer, which is free, runs in your browser and never uploads your file.
- Split it. Post consecutive Stories of 60 seconds or less: a 2:30 video becomes 60 + 60 + 30.
- Post a Reel instead. Reels allow much longer videos (up to 15 minutes through Meta's API) and stay on your profile; share the Reel to your Story to point followers at it.
Stories disappear from your profile after 24 hours unless you add them to a Highlight, so anything you want people to find later belongs in a Reel. Instagram Reels size and length covers Reels' specs.
Should you add captions to Instagram Stories?
Yes. Many people watch Stories with the sound off, so burn captions into the video where they'll stay inside the safe zone. QuickVeed's auto subtitles transcribe the clip, let you fix the text and burn captions in 11 styles at the bottom, middle or top, in any of 32 languages. How to add captions to Instagram Reels covers Instagram's own caption options.
Frequently asked questions
How long can an Instagram Story video be?
Up to 60 seconds, and at least 3 seconds, according to Meta's Instagram Graph API documentation.
What is the file size limit for an Instagram Story video?
100 MB for an organic Story video posted through Meta's API. Stories ads allow up to 4 GB.
What size is an Instagram Story video?
1080×1920 pixels, 9:16. Meta's Ads Guide recommends 1440×2560 for Stories ads.
Can Instagram Stories be landscape?
They're accepted, but they won't fill the screen. Put the video on a 9:16 canvas first.
How long can an Instagram Story ad be?
1 second to 60 minutes; ads of 16 seconds or more may be split into separate Story cards.
What frame rate do Instagram Stories accept?
23 to 60 fps. Convert a 120 fps clip before posting.
Try it with your own video
Caption a Story-length clip in your style and language, inside the safe zone. Upload a vertical video, pick a caption style and position, and download the captioned copy. QuickVeed plans start at $18/month, and new accounts get a 14-day trial with 250 credits, no card needed. Sign up or see pricing.
Sources
Competitor details in this post were checked against these public pages in October 2026. Products and prices change, so confirm with each vendor before you decide.
