Avid Instagram users are probably familiar with the platform’s complicated photo sizing algorithm. You may try to upload the perfect photo and discover that it needs to be cropped, cropped, or resized entirely.
There’s no way to get around Instagram’s default compression algorithm, but you can optimize your images in a way that makes them shine after the fact. This article focuses on ideal dimensions, ways to upload and “trick” Instagram into displaying your images in maximum quality.
What are the size requirements for Instagram photos?
If you want a seamless experience when posting photos to Instagram, you may want to familiarize yourself with Instagram’s photo size requirements. While the question is simple, it can actually get quite complicated.
First, Instagram has different size requirements for photos depending on their orientation. For example, what would work for a portrait will not work for a landscape photograph.
Instagram will not force you to change a photo with a width between 320px to 1080px.
Here are the size requirements for Instagram photos based on orientation:
- Square photo: 1080 px x 1080 px
- Portrait: 1080px x 1350px
- Landscape: 1080px x 608px
How Instagram resizes photos
Instagram resizes most images to 2048px x 2048px (for photos larger than 2K), and smaller ones are typically scaled up to 1080×1080 to fit the minimum standard. This is why it is essential to take photos in 4K (3840 × 2160) to preserve quality and details in compression.
Fortunately, most smartphone camera resolutions are 4K or 3,840 × 2,160. That is why editing for Instagram begins in the very act of taking the photograph: You have to adjust your phone. PREVIOUS to take high quality photos!
The ideal Instagram photo size is 3,840 × 2,160
When you post images in 4K (3840 × 2160), Instagram downgrades them to the highest compression size available (2K – 2048px x 2048px). This also future-proofs your images in case Instagram decides to set the default compression settings to 4K.
Take photos in 4K portrait mode
Instagram is a “vertical” scrolling app where users consume content from the top down, so portrait photos are preferred because they are displayed vertically. This means your image can take up more space and be seen by more people on the timeline.
For this demonstration we took a photo of a shower kit in portrait mode. We’ll show you a publishing trick that will allow you to get more space with a basic 3840×2160 portrait mode 4K image. This is the image we took:
- Take a photo with your native camera app.
- Upload your image to the Instagram gallery. You’ll notice that Instagram zooms in on the image in a square and won’t show full portrait mode:
- Now PINCH with your fingers and Instagram will open the full portrait image with white borders on the side
Note: those borders IT WILL NOT will appear when you post the image, but the entire image will be displayed within the timeline:
As you can see, Instagram uploaded the image in FULL resolution vertically and this image occupies the entire screen.
Meanwhile, landscape images would barely take up half the screen. That’s why portrait photos are superior when it comes to getting attention on social media and you should make sure to shoot in portrait mode to save yourself the hassle of having to edit landscape photos later into portraits.
Upload with full PNG quality
When saving images to upload to Instagram, make sure they are saved in .PNG format. This format increases the file size and is not practical for Instagrammers who have to upload hundreds of images, but it is perfect for people who want the highest quality.
PNG retains 100% of the original quality, while JPG can be downsized and may be of lower quality than expected. If you edit your photos in Photoshop, you should save them as .PNG because this format preserves quality better.
Ending
Making your Instagram photos look their best is pretty easy. Shooting in portrait mode and at the highest resolution originally possible, along with a few editing tricks, makes it possible for anyone to upload high-quality content. Do you have any experiences, tips, or questions about the ideal Instagram photo size? Leave a comment in the section below!
