How Long Can IG Videos Be in 2025? Reels, Stories, Feed, and Live Limits Explained

Instagram’s video limits change frequently, and 2025 is no exception. This guide organizes the current maximum lengths by format, plus creative best practices and technical specs, so you can post with confidence and avoid upload issues. Use it as a quick reference and a final checklist before you hit publish.

How Long Can IG Videos Be in 2025? Reels, Stories, Feed, and Live Limits Explained

If you’re wondering “how long can IG videos be?” in 2025, the short answer is: it depends on the format. Instagram continues to prioritize short-form discovery while leaving room for long-form depth. Below is the latest snapshot, followed by practical guidance to help you pick the right length for your goals.

Quick answer by format (as of 2025)

Note: Instagram runs ongoing feature tests and staggered rollouts. Your account may show different options than a colleague’s in the same week.

Reels length deep dive

• Current common limit: Reels are widely capped at 90 seconds. Some creators periodically get longer options during tests (e.g., multi-minute Reels), but those aren’t guaranteed or permanent.
• Account-level rollouts: New features often appear for a subset of accounts first. If you see longer options, use them, but plan content that still works at 90 seconds.
• Ideal creative length for engagement: Many Reels that travel far land between 7–20 seconds, with a tight hook and a clean payoff. Under 30 seconds tends to improve completion rates, which helps distribution.
• When to keep it under 30 seconds:
• Teasers, tips, and “1-thing-you-need-to-know” content
• Visual transformations and before/afters
• Quick jokes, challenges, reactions
• Tips for hooks, captions, and looping:
• Hook the viewer in the first 1–2 seconds with motion, text-on-screen, or an unresolved question.
• Use captions for context and keywords users might search.
• Design a soft loop: end with a visual or line that mirrors the start so the replay feels seamless.

Stories video length

• 60-second tiles explained: Each story tile can run up to 60 seconds. If you upload a 2-minute clip, Instagram auto-splits it into four tiles.
• Daily “soft” limit: While the technical ceiling is about 100 tiles per day, few viewers will consume that many from one account. Try 5–20 tiles on typical days, 20–40 for events.
• Best practices for pacing and interactivity:
• Mix video with photos, polls, quizzes, question boxes, and sliders to reset attention.
• Add chapter-like captions every few tiles to orient late joiners.
• Use link stickers early and again near the end for those who skip.
• Keep text large, high-contrast, and thumb-friendly.

Feed/Instagram Video vs Reels

• Under ~15 minutes: Instagram often routes shorter uploads into the Reels system to maximize discovery (especially vertical content). Expect reel-like treatment and distribution.
• Long-form up to ~60 minutes: Post here when you need depth—interviews, webinars, narrated tutorials, and documentaries.
• Orientation and aspect ratio:
• Reels and Stories favor vertical 9:16 (1080×1920).
• Long-form can work in vertical 9:16 for mobile-first viewing or 16:9 landscape for cinematic content. Square (1:1) or 4:5 can still be viable for feed.
• How videos appear in the grid and feed:
• Reels live in the Reels tab and can also appear in your main grid if you choose.
• Long-form feed videos appear in your grid and feed with a cover image; viewers may see a short preview before tapping to continue watching.

Instagram Live duration

• Max length: Up to 4 hours per broadcast.
• When to go Live vs pre-recorded:
• Choose Live when interaction is the point: Q&A, launches, open studios, AMAs, co-hosted interviews.
• Pre-record if you need tight editing, captions, and pacing (e.g., step-by-step tutorials or product demos).
• Save and repurpose:
• After ending, save the recording. Trim the best 15–90 seconds into Reels, post a recap in Stories, and publish chapters as long-form clips.
• Structure to reduce drop-off:
• Segment your session (e.g., 5-min intro, 15-min topic A, 15-min topic B, 10-min Q&A).
• Tease timestamps and pin a comment with the run-of-show.
• Reset every 10–15 minutes: summarize, re-introduce guests, re-state the takeaway.

Specs that influence maximums

File prep tips to avoid upload failures:

• Format: MP4 (H.264 video + AAC audio)
• Frame rate: 24–30 fps (avoid variable frame rates from screen recordings if possible)
• Bitrate: 5–10 Mbps for 1080p vertical; don’t overcompress text overlays
• Length buffer: Leave 1–2 seconds under the limit to avoid auto-trimming
• Cover image: Upload a custom cover sized for both vertical and grid crops

Why shorter cuts often win on mobile:

• Faster hook, higher completion rate, more replays, and better watch-through signals—especially in Reels.

Picking the right length for your goal

• Quick reach and discovery: Short Reels (7–20 seconds). Examples:
• Beauty: 1-product hack with before/after
• Fitness: 1-move form tip or 10-second AMRAP teaser
• Food: 15-second plating reveal with ingredients on screen
• Daily touchpoints and behind-the-scenes: Stories (5–20 tiles/day).
• Retail: New arrivals try-on + link sticker
• Creator: Day-in-the-life with polls and Q&A box
• B2B: Event highlights + “Ask me anything” sticker
• Deep dives and tutorials: Long feed video (5–30 minutes, up to ~60 max).
• Education: Chaptered explainer with on-screen lower-thirds
• Photography: Editing walkthrough with voiceover and screen capture
• SaaS: Feature tour with timestamps in the caption
• Community Q&A and launches: Live (30–90 minutes, up to 4 hours).
• Music: Listening party + fan questions
• Gaming: Update notes + live gameplay demo
• Nonprofit: Town hall with volunteers and donors

Staying current and troubleshooting

How to check your personal limits in-app:

• Open the Instagram camera, switch to Reels, and look for the length selector (e.g., 15s/30s/90s).
• In Stories, upload a longer clip and see how many tiles are created.
• For feed video, upload from the app and from desktop—sometimes length options differ.

Why some creators get longer Reels:

• Instagram runs controlled experiments and staggered rollouts. Eligibility can depend on region, app version, and account history.

What to do if uploads get cut or auto-converted:

• Reels too long? Trim to 90 seconds or split into a series.
• Vertical video getting pushed into Reels? That’s expected under certain length thresholds; embrace it for discovery and adjust your cover and caption accordingly.
• Audio desync or quality loss? Re-export at a constant frame rate and a moderate bitrate; avoid heavy filters stacked across apps.

Quick checklist before posting:

[ ] Vertical (9:16) for Reels/Stories; correct aspect for feed/Live
[ ] Length under the cap (Reels ≤ 90s; Stories tiles; Feed ≤ ~60m; Live ≤ 4h)
[ ] MP4 H.264 + AAC, 24–30 fps, stable bitrate (5–10 Mbps at 1080p)
[ ] Hook in 1–2 seconds; readable captions and safe text zones
[ ] Cover image crops well in grid and vertical
[ ] Keywords in caption/hashtags; call to action
[ ] Test on Wi‑Fi; keep 1–2 seconds buffer under the limit

Final word: how long can IG videos be is only half the equation. The better question is how short your story can feel. Trim relentlessly, front-load value, and match format to intent. As Instagram evolves, check your in-app limits regularly and build content that works at today’s cap—but still shines when it’s shorter.

Summary

Reels are commonly capped at 90 seconds (with shorter cuts performing best), Stories run 60 seconds per tile, feed videos can reach roughly 60 minutes, and Lives can go up to 4 hours. Favor vertical 9:16 for Reels and Stories, prep files to spec, and leave a small time buffer to prevent auto-trims. Because Instagram tests features continuously, verify your personal limits in-app before planning critical posts.