How Long Can an Instagram Video Be in 2025? Reels, Stories, Feed, and Live Limits + Tips

This guide gives you a clean, up-to-date overview of Instagram video length limits for early 2025 and how they vary by format, device, and account rollout. It also provides practical specs, checks, and troubleshooting so your uploads succeed the first time. Use it to pick the right format, avoid avoidable errors, and plan edits that fit each surface.

2025 Instagram video length limits at a glance

If you’re wondering “how long can a instagram video be,” the fastest answer is: it depends on format and on your account’s current rollout. Here’s the quick snapshot for early 2025, plus why your cap might look different.

Why your cap might differ

• Region: Meta rolls features out gradually by market.
• Account type: Business/Creator accounts often get features earlier.
• App version: Update to the latest Instagram app.
• Ongoing tests: Instagram frequently A/B tests durations (e.g., 3–10 min Reels) with subsets of users.

Reels: caps, checks, and engagement-friendly durations

Current caps (2025)

• Most accounts: 90-second limit.
• Some accounts: Expanded limits (3–10 minutes) via phased testing. Not guaranteed or permanent.
• Recording vs uploading: The in-app camera enforces your current cap. Uploading a longer file will either be blocked or offered as a regular feed video if supported; otherwise you’ll see an error.

How to check your current Reels limit

1. Open the Instagram app and tap the + to create a Reel.
2. Look for the duration selector (e.g., 15, 30, 60, 90 sec, or longer if available).
3. Try adding a clip longer than 90 seconds—if your account supports longer Reels, you’ll see extended options; if not, Instagram will prompt to trim or switch formats.

Engagement-friendly durations

• Hook fast: Aim to articulate the value within 3 seconds.
• 15–30 seconds: Great for promos, fast tips, UGC, and memes.
• 45–90 seconds: Good for narratives, product demos, and mini tutorials.
• 2–3+ minutes (where available): Works if you sustain retention with chapters, pattern breaks, and subtitles. Longer Reels aren’t “penalized,” but they require stronger storytelling to maintain watch time.

Stories: 60-second cards, splitting, and sequencing

Stories accept up to 60 seconds per card. If you upload a 2-minute clip, Instagram will auto-split it into four consecutive 60-second Story cards.

Key limits and tips

• Daily cap: Up to ~100 Story cards across 24 hours.
• Sequencing: Title card, body, and CTA card improve retention and clarity.
• Avoid “micro cliffhangers” between splits—trim transitions so each card feels intentional.
• Use stickers sparingly; they can obscure captions on smaller screens.
• Consider “Add to Reels” for evergreen content; Stories shine for ephemeral, behind-the-scenes updates.

Feed and long-form video: Reel vs standard video, desktop vs mobile

In practice

• Under ~15 minutes: Mobile uploads typically become Reels (portrait 9:16 strongly favored).
• Desktop uploads: You can post up to 60 minutes as a standard video via instagram.com. This is the most consistent way to publish long-form content.

Why this matters

• Discoverability: Reels enjoy dedicated shelves and recommendation surfaces; long videos rely more on your followers, Explore, and shares.
• Aspect ratio: 9:16 performs best for Reels; 4:5 is the tallest for standard feed.
• Covers: Choose a custom cover that works in both the 1:1 grid crop and full-portrait view to avoid awkward crops.

Pro tips

• For a 20–60 minute interview, upload from desktop and create short highlight Reels linking back in comments and Stories.
• For tutorials between 3–12 minutes, test both: a tight 90-second Reel version and a full desktop upload.

Instagram Live: 4-hour sessions, scheduling, and repurposing

Instagram Live sessions can run up to 4 hours per broadcast.

Key pointers

• Scheduling: Use the Live scheduler to notify followers and add countdown stickers to Stories.
• Archiving: Lives can typically be archived for a limited period (historically up to 30 days), letting you download and repurpose.
• Repurposing: Export the Live, trim standout moments into 30–90 second Reels, and package key segments as feed videos with clear titles and covers.

Video specs that affect length and delivery

Oversized or misformatted files often fail, compress heavily, or lose audio sync. Use these practical guidelines.

Recommended formats

• Container: MP4 (.mp4) or MOV
• Video codec: H.264 (AVC), High profile, progressive scan
• Audio codec: AAC-LC, 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, 128–320 kbps
• Frame rate: 23.976–60 fps (export at a constant frame rate)
• Resolution and aspect:
• Reels/Stories: 1080×1920, 9:16
• Feed portrait: 1080×1350, 4:5
• Square: 1080×1080, 1:1

File sizes and bitrates

• Aim for under 4 GB per video to avoid upload failures and timeouts.
• Target bitrates:
• 1080p vertical (30 fps): 6–8 Mbps video
• 1080p vertical (60 fps): 8–12 Mbps video
• Keep key visuals and text away from the top/bottom 250 px to avoid UI overlays.

Why oversized files fail

• Mobile connections stall on very high bitrates.
• Instagram recompresses aggressively; over-exporting (e.g., 30–50 Mbps) rarely improves quality and may trigger artifacts.

Export template (FFmpeg example) for a vertical Reel

ffmpeg -i input.mov -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2" \
 -r 30 -c:v libx264 -profile:v high -pix_fmt yuv420p -preset slow -crf 18 -b:v 8M -maxrate 8M -bufsize 16M \
 -c:a aac -b:a 192k -ar 48000 output_reel.mp4

Choosing the right format and length for your goal

• Quick promos or launches: 10–30 second Reels; add a Story series for urgency and a Link sticker.
• Tutorials/how-tos: 45–90 second Reels with on-screen steps; offer a deeper cut (3–12 minutes) as a feed/desktop upload or external link.
• Interviews/podcasts: Clip 30–60 second “hooks” as Reels; publish the full 20–60 minutes via desktop; chapterize in the caption.
• Event recaps: 30–60 second highlight Reel; carousel post for photos; longer recap (5–15 minutes) on desktop.

Watch-time benchmarks to aim for

• 3-second hold: >80% of impressions is strong.
• 25% completion: >50% is good for short Reels (<60 sec); >35% is solid for 60–90 sec.
• Rewatches: Any measurable rewatches on short Reels are a strong positive signal.

When to split into a series

• If a single cut runs over your cap (e.g., 90 sec Reels limit), divide into a titled sequence (Part 1/2/3) and create a playlist feel with consistent covers.

How to verify your exact limit and troubleshoot

Check in-app

• Reels: Open the composer; the duration selector shows your cap. If “90” is the maximum, you don’t yet have longer Reels.
• Stories: Add a video; watch for auto-splitting beyond 60 seconds.
• Feed/desktop: Visit instagram.com, click Create, and upload a longer file to see the 60-minute allowance.

If you hit errors

• Update the app to the latest version.
• Toggle Wi‑Fi/cellular; long uploads fail more on weak connections.
• Try a shorter test clip to isolate duration vs file corruption.
• Switch to desktop for long-form (up to 60 minutes).
• Convert to H.264/AAC MP4; avoid variable frame rate from screen recordings.
• Keep file size under 4 GB and bitrate reasonable (see specs).

Common error messages

• “Video is too long for Reels” → Trim or post as a feed video (desktop for 15–60 minutes).
• “Couldn’t upload video” → Often codec/bitrate/connection related; re-export and retry.
• “This video is not supported” → Transcode to H.264/AAC, constant frame rate.

Variations you can’t control

• Region-locked tests (e.g., 3–10 minute Reels).
• Account type access (Business/Creator vs Personal).
• Server-side experiments that appear/disappear.

Optimization tips that lift completion and reach

• Nail the hook in 3 seconds: Start mid-action, ask a sharp question, or display the payoff.
• Pacing by length:
• 15–30 seconds: 3–5 cuts, quick motion, minimal intro.
• 45–90 seconds: Chapter beats every 10–20 seconds, pattern interrupts.
• 2–10 minutes: Clear structure, on-screen chapter titles, B‑roll to reset attention.
• Sound-off optimization: Burned-in captions, bold text, and visual pointers. Many viewers watch muted.
• Thumbnails/covers: Design for both 9:16 and 1:1 crops; avoid key text near edges that get cropped on the grid.
• CTAs: End cards that prompt save/share outperform “link in bio” only; pin a comment with resources.

FAQs

• Can you post a 2-minute video on Instagram?
• Yes, but format matters. As a Reel, most accounts still cap at 90 seconds. You can post 2 minutes as a standard video (often better via desktop) or see if your account has the extended Reels limit.
• What happens to 5-minute clips?
• Mobile usually won’t allow 5-minute Reels for most users. Post as a feed/long-form video—desktop supports up to 60 minutes. Consider also slicing highlights into multiple Reels.
• Are longer Reels penalized by the algorithm?
• Not inherently. Performance hinges on retention, watch time, replays, and shares. Longer videos need stronger pacing and clearer structure to compete.
• Can you schedule long videos?
• Yes. Use Meta Business Suite on desktop or mobile to schedule feed videos (including long-form) and Reels. Pro accounts can also schedule in-app for certain formats.
• Do ads have different limits than organic posts?
• Often, yes. Ad specs (length, aspect, file size) can differ and may be stricter. Check the latest Meta Ads Manager specifications for Reels ads, Story ads, and in-feed video ads.
• How long can Instagram Live be?
• Up to 4 hours per session. You can schedule Lives, then save and repurpose the best moments into Reels or feed videos.
• Why do my uploads get blurry?
• Over-compression by Instagram. Export at recommended bitrates, use strong lighting, avoid heavy filters, and upload on Wi‑Fi. Enable “High-quality uploads” in app settings where available.

Final take: pick the format that fits the story

• Reels drive discovery—optimize for 15–90 seconds unless your account supports longer durations and you can sustain retention.
• Stories excel at immediacy—stack 60-second cards with clean sequencing and captions.
• Feed/desktop is your long-form home—up to 60 minutes, with a strong cover and clear chapters.
• Lives build community—plan segments you can later repurpose.

When in doubt, create the concise Reel version first, then expand into long-form for those who want more depth. This barbell strategy maximizes both reach and watch time across Instagram’s surfaces.

Summary

Instagram video limits vary by surface: most Reels are capped at 90 seconds, Stories run 60 seconds per card, mobile feed handles shorter cuts, desktop supports long-form up to 60 minutes, and Lives can last 4 hours. Check your in-app composer to confirm your current cap, follow the export specs to avoid upload issues, and tailor length to your goal and audience retention. Pair a tight, hooky Reel with deeper desktop uploads to cover both discovery and depth.