how long can an instagram video be guide

TL;DR

Below are commonly observed length ranges (Instagram may change limits by region, feature flag, or account status):

• Reels: typically up to 90 seconds; some accounts may see longer pilots
• Stories: up to 60 seconds per story card
• Live: up to several hours (e.g., 4 hours), but check your in‑app prompt
• Feed/carousel video: treated as Reels in most cases; practical limit often ~90 seconds
• Ads: depend on placement; follow in‑product guidance

Always follow the exact in‑app message when uploading — it’s the source of truth.

Reels length & specs

• Target: 15–60s for best completion; hard cap often ~90s
• Aspect ratio: 9:16 preferred
• Resolution: 1080×1920 or higher
• File: MP4 (H.264/AAC)

Tips

• Hook in the first 2–3s; keep jump cuts tight
• Add on‑screen captions; many viewers watch muted

Stories length

• Up to ~60s per card; chain multiple cards for longer sequences
• Keep text large; leave safe margins

Live video

• Typical cap: hours (e.g., 4h); varies by region/account
• Announce agenda early; recap every ~5–10 minutes

Ads placements

• Reels Ads often mirror organic Reels specs
• Focus on early branding and clear CTA

How to check your current limits

• Open Instagram and start creating a Reel/Story/Live
• Watch the in‑app length indicator; it reflects the latest cap
• If you see a longer limit on another account/device, you may be in a phased rollout

Editing to fit the cap

• Prioritize the key message; remove redundancy
• Speed‑ramp B‑roll; compress pauses
• Split into a multi‑part series if needed

FAQ

• Why is my account capped differently?
• Instagram tests features by region/account — limits can differ.
• Do longer videos perform worse?
• Not necessarily; completion rate and watch time density matter more.

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