4:5 in Pixels: The Complete Guide (Examples, Formulas, Instagram Sizes)

This guide is a practical reference to the 4:5 aspect ratio: what it means in pixels, how to calculate sizes quickly, and where it shines. You’ll find ready-to-use dimensions, conversion formulas, platform recommendations, and workflow tips for both design and code. Use it to prevent cropping, distortion, and surprise compression across apps.

4:5 in pixels — quick answer and examples

4:5 is an aspect ratio. It means width:height. When you see 4:5 in pixels, you’re looking for pixel dimensions that keep that proportion. The fast rule:

• Height = Width × 1.25
• Or equivalently, Height = Width × 5/4

Common 4:5 pixel pairs you can use right away:

• 800 × 1000
• 960 × 1200
• 1024 × 1280
• 1080 × 1350
• 1200 × 1500
• 1280 × 1600
• 1600 × 2000
• 2000 × 2500
• 2400 × 3000

Quick formula

H = W × 5/4
W = H × 4/5

If you’re posting to Instagram portrait, 1080 × 1350 is the most common choice and the maximum feed height Instagram fully shows without a tap.

What aspect ratio really means

Aspect ratio describes the shape, not the size. It’s the proportional relationship between width and height.

• 4:5 (portrait): Taller than it is wide. Great for mobile feeds because it fills more vertical screen space without being cut off.
• 1:1 (square): Balanced and versatile. Easy to reuse across platforms but less screen real estate than 4:5 on phones.
• 9:16 (vertical story/reel): Very tall. Perfect for Stories, Reels, TikTok, Shorts. Overflows in feeds unless cropped.

Why choose 4:5?

• Max visibility in mobile feeds (especially Instagram) without truncation.
• Natural fit for portraits, product shots, and carousels.
• Easy to print as 8×10 inches (same ratio).

Conversion formulas and quick math

Think of 4:5 as the fraction 4/5. It’s already reduced (simplest form). To convert between width and height:

• Width to height: H = W × 5/4 = W × 1.25
• Height to width: W = H × 4/5 = H × 0.8

Examples:

W = 1080 → H = 1080 × 1.25 = 1350
H = 2000 → W = 2000 × 0.8 = 1600

Scaling without quality loss:

• To scale the ratio, multiply both sides by the same factor k.
• 4:5 → (4k):(5k). Example: k=300 → 1200×1500.
• Resizing down (to fewer pixels) reduces file size; quality stays crisp if you export well.
• Resizing up from a small original can look soft. Capture or design at or above your target size when possible.

Tip: When in doubt, pick a width that’s divisible by 4 so the math lands on whole pixels.

Use cases where 4:5 shines

• Instagram portrait posts and carousels: 1080 × 1350 is the go-to.
• 8×10 inch photo prints: Exactly the same ratio as 4:5 (8:10 reduces to 4:5).
• Vertical ads: Eye-catching in feeds without awkward cropping.
• Portfolio shots: People, fashion, food, and product photography look strong in 4:5.
• Product imagery: Fits e-commerce thumbnails that allow portrait crops while remaining print-ready as 8×10.

Platform recommendations and safe specs

Below are practical recommendations that work well today. Always check the platform’s current spec pages, as limits and compression behaviors can change.

General notes

• Color profile: sRGB for web platforms.
• File sizes: Keep exports efficient (often under a few MB) to avoid heavy compression and speed up uploads.
• Always verify current docs: platforms occasionally adjust supported sizes and handling.

Quick reference chart (no table)

Widths → heights at 4:5:

• 640 → 800
• 720 → 900
• 800 → 1000
• 1000 → 1250
• 1080 → 1350
• 1200 → 1500
• 1440 → 1800
• 1600 → 2000
• 2000 → 2500
• 2160 → 2700
• 2400 → 3000

How to resize without distortion

• Lock the aspect ratio:
• In Photoshop: Use the crop tool with “Ratio” set to 4:5, or Image Size with the chain/link icon enabled.
• In Figma/Canva: Set dimensions with constraint lock on; use a 4:5 frame for design.
• Crop vs. pad (letterbox/pillarbox):
• Crop if you can lose edges without harming the composition.
• Pad (add canvas space) with background color or blur when you must keep everything visible.
• Keep a safe area for text and logos:
• Leave ~5–7% padding on all sides to avoid UI overlays and trims in different apps.
• Export at target dimensions:
• If posting to Instagram portrait, export exactly 1080 × 1350.
• For print, export at calculated pixel size (see PPI tips below).
• Sharpen after downscaling:
• Apply a mild output sharpening to recover crisp edges after resizing smaller.

Pro tip workflow

1. Start with the highest quality source.
2. Crop to 4:5.
3. Resize to your exact output size.
4. Apply gentle sharpening.
5. Export in sRGB with appropriate compression.

Design and print tips

• Photoshop:
• Export As → JPEG Quality 70–85 for web; Convert to sRGB checked.
• For PNG, use when you need transparency or flat graphics; otherwise prefer JPEG/WebP for photos.
• Figma:
• Use Frames at 1080 × 1350 or 1200 × 1500. Export @1x (PNG/JPEG) or WebP for smaller files.
• Canva:
• Set custom size to 1080 × 1350. Download as JPG quality ~80–90 or PNG for graphics.
• Color profile:
• sRGB for all web/social uploads to avoid dull or shifted colors.
• Print resolution:
• Use 240–300 PPI for high-quality prints.
• 8×10 inch print at 300 PPI = 2400 × 3000 px.
• 8×10 at 240 PPI = 1920 × 2400 px.
• Formula:
• Pixels = Inches × PPI
• Example: 10 inches × 300 PPI = 3000 pixels (height for the 10″ side in a 4:5 print is 3000 px; width is 8 × 300 = 2400 px).

Developer notes

Make 4:5 responsive without stretching:

CSS container with intrinsic ratio:

.card {
  aspect-ratio: 4 / 5;
  width: min(100%, 540px); /* cap width if desired */
  border-radius: 12px;
  overflow: hidden;
  background: #f6f6f6;
}

.card > img {
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  object-fit: cover;   /* fill without distortion; crops excess */
  object-position: center;
}

Preserve image proportions in fixed areas:

.thumb {
  width: 240px;
  height: 300px;      /* 4:5 */
  overflow: hidden;
}
.thumb img {
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  object-fit: contain; /* show all of the image, may letterbox */
  background: #fff;
}

High-DPI crispness with srcset

Or using sizes for responsive widths:

Quick conversion helpers:

// 4:5 conversions
const heightFromWidth = w => Math.round(w * 5 / 4);
const widthFromHeight = h => Math.round(h * 4 / 5);

// Examples:
heightFromWidth(1080); // 1350
widthFromHeight(2000); // 1600

Accessibility and layout tips

• Always include width/height attributes or an aspect-ratio to prevent layout shift.
• Use object-fit: cover for edge-to-edge visuals; object-fit: contain for galleries where the full image must be visible.
• Prefer WebP/AVIF (with fallbacks) for smaller payloads where supported.

FAQ quick hits

• Is 4:5 the same as 8×10? Yes. 8:10 reduces to 4:5, so they’re identical shapes.
• What’s the best Instagram portrait size? 1080 × 1350.
• Can I use 1200 × 1500 instead? Yes. Instagram will downscale as needed; keep sRGB and moderate compression.
• Will 4:5 crop in the feed? No, 4:5 is fully shown in the Instagram feed without a tap.
• Print-ready at 300 PPI for 8×10? Export 2400 × 3000 pixels.

Summary

4:5 in pixels means width:height where height is 1.25× the width. For social posts, 1080 × 1350 is the sweet spot; for print, 8×10 inches maps directly to 2400 × 3000 at 300 PPI. Lock the aspect ratio, choose crop or padding wisely, export in sRGB, and use responsive 4:5 containers with CSS aspect-ratio and object-fit.