How Long Can Videos Be on Instagram? Reels, Stories, Feed, and Live Limits (2025 Guide)

This concise guide outlines Instagram’s current video length limits across Reels, Stories, feed videos, and Live for 2025. Because Instagram frequently runs tests and staggered rollouts, treat these figures as practical norms and verify what your specific account allows in-app. Use the quick caps section and table for a snapshot, then dive into best practices, specs, and troubleshooting tips below.

How Long Can Videos Be on Instagram? Reels, Stories, Feed, and Live Limits (2025 Guide)

Instagram’s video limits keep evolving with tests and regional rollouts. Here’s the up-to-date, practical guide for 2025: what you can post, how long it can be, and how to make the most of each format.

The fast answer: current video length caps at a glance

Subject to ongoing tests and rollouts:

• Reels: up to 90 seconds for most accounts. Some limited tests extend this (3 minutes and even 10 minutes have been spotted), but don’t count on it unless you see it in your app.
• Stories: up to 60 seconds per Story card, with no auto-splitting. Chain multiple cards for longer sequences.
• In-feed long-form video (post-IGTV): often up to 60 minutes on eligible accounts, especially via desktop upload. Many accounts see 15 minutes via mobile.
• Instagram Live: up to 4 hours per session. You can co-host, moderate Q&A, and save/repurpose the recording.

Reels deep dive: how to work within the 90-second ceiling

• Typical cap: 90 seconds. You can record in-app or upload edited clips. If you have extended tests, the in-app timer will show a higher cap.
• Mixed clips: Reels can be built from multiple clips. Use the in-app trimmer to tighten beats and transitions; remove dead air between cuts.
• Exceeding the cap: If you upload a file longer than your account’s cap, the app will either reject it or prompt you to trim. It won’t auto-split into multiple Reels.
• Creative best practices:
• Hook in the first 2–3 seconds. Use motion, a bold claim, or a question to stop the scroll.
• Sweet spot for completion: 7–15 seconds often performs best for broad reach.
• Keep captions concise. Front-load the key context; defer details to comments if needed.
• Add on-screen text for silent viewers. Most watch without sound at first.
• Pattern breaks every 3–5 seconds (angle change, graphic, beat drop) sustain retention.
• Use native features (captions, stickers, trending sounds) when appropriate.

Stories video length explained

• Length per card: Up to 60 seconds plays as one seamless card without auto-splitting.
• Chaining cards: You can technically post up to 100 Story cards in 24 hours, but audience fatigue is real. Aim for 3–10 cards per narrative thread.
• Sequencing tips:
• Use simple progress patterns (e.g., Part 1/5, Part 2/5) or visual “progress bars.”
• Open with a clear “what’s in it for me?” frame; end with a direct CTA (swipe link, DM, poll).
• Keep each card self-contained; assume a viewer may skip ahead.
• When Stories beat Reels:
• Behind-the-scenes moments and quick updates.
• Limited-time promos or drops that need urgency and sticker interactions.
• Community touchpoints (polls, questions, quizzes) the algorithm rewards via engagement.

Feed videos (non‑Reel long‑form) after IGTV’s sunset

• Availability: Instagram folded IGTV into a single “Video” type in the feed. Many accounts can upload longer videos via desktop (often up to 60 minutes); mobile uploads commonly cap around 15 minutes.
• Aspect ratios that work:
• 9:16 (vertical): full-screen on tap; good for mobile-first content.
• 4:5 (portrait): strong feed real estate without cropping.
• 1:1 (square): legacy-safe, still effective.
• 16:9 (landscape): best for presentations/interviews; consider subtitles and bold thumbnails.
• Trade-offs vs Reels:
• Discovery: Reels get stronger algorithmic distribution. Long feed video relies more on followers, shares, and saves.
• Engagement: Longer formats build depth, trust, and session time, but need tighter pacing and clear chaptering.
• Workflow: Desktop upload gives you more control over encoding, thumbnails, and longer lengths.

Instagram Live limits and strategy

• Limit: Up to 4 hours per Live session.
• Features: Co-host via Live Rooms, moderate comments, pin prompts, enable Q&A, and add badges (if available in your region).
• Repurposing: Save the Live to your archive, clip highlights into Reels, and add Story snippets to a Highlight for ongoing discovery.
• Simple run-of-show template:

Live Run-of-Show (60–90 min)
00:00–03:00 Cold open + hook, agenda, CTA to drop questions
03:00–10:00 Segment 1: Core topic #1 (demo or insight)
10:00–12:00 Q&A burst #1 (2–3 questions)
12:00–22:00 Segment 2: Case study or guest chat
22:00–24:00 CTA checkpoint (follow, link sticker in Stories later)
24:00–35:00 Segment 3: Tutorial or teardown
35:00–40:00 Q&A burst #2 + tease replay/Highlights
40:00–45:00 Wrap: recap, next steps, outro

How length impacts reach: retention > duration

• Completion rate and early watch time matter more than sheer duration. The algorithm heavily weighs first-3-second holds and percentage watched.
• Pacing tactics:
• Short videos: pattern breaks every 3–5 seconds; use jump cuts, overlays, and dynamic captions.
• Long videos: visual chaptering (on-screen titles), recap beats every few minutes, and strong mid-roll hooks.
• CTAs:
• Early soft CTA: “Watch to the end for X.”
• Mid-roll CTA: “Comment ‘guide’ and I’ll DM the checklist.”
• End CTA: “Save for later” or “Share with a teammate.”
• When to cut vs expand:
• Cut if your retention graph dips early and never recovers.
• Expand when comments ask for more detail and your average watch time stays high past 50% of runtime.

Technical constraints that effectively cap length

• File size: Commonly up to 4 GB per video. Extremely high bitrates can push you over the limit well before time caps.
• Recommended specs:
• Resolution/aspect: Vertical 1080×1920 (9:16) for Reels/Stories; 4:5 or 1:1 for feed if preferred; 1920×1080 (16:9) for landscape.
• Codec/container: H.264 video + AAC audio in MP4. Constant frame rate recommended.
• Frame rate: Up to 60 fps supported; 24–30 fps is a safe default.
• Bitrate targets (guideline): 5–8 Mbps for 1080p30; 8–12 Mbps for 1080p60. Audio 128–256 kbps AAC.
• Avoid failed or truncated uploads:
• Keep CFR (constant frame rate) to prevent A/V desync.
• Don’t exceed the per-format duration cap; the app will reject or force trimming.
• Use clean encodes (no variable frame rate surprises from screen recorders).
• Maintain stable upload and sufficient device storage.

FFmpeg example to prep a vertical Reel/Story export:

ffmpeg -i input.mov -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2,format=yuv420p" \
-r 30 -c:v libx264 -profile:v high -level 4.2 -pix_fmt yuv420p -preset medium -b:v 6M -maxrate 8M -bufsize 12M \
-c:a aac -b:a 192k -ar 48000 -ac 2 output_reel.mp4

Check your account’s current limits and troubleshoot

• Use the in-app timer: When recording Reels or Stories, the visible timer shows your account’s current cap (e.g., 90s for Reels).
• Test mobile vs desktop: If long-form uploads fail on mobile, try desktop; many accounts get longer allowances there.
• Keep Instagram updated: Limits and features ship via app updates.
• Variations to expect: Limits may differ by region, account type, and whether you’re in a test cohort.
• If you get duration errors:
• Trim in-app to the shown cap.
• Re-encode at a lower bitrate or 30 fps.
• Shorten to under 4 GB file size.
• Clear cache, ensure strong Wi‑Fi, and leave 10% free device storage.
• Try a different container (MP4), or use the FFmpeg preset above.

Choosing the right length by goal

• Awareness: Snackable 6–15 second Reels with a strong hook, bold visual, and a single idea. Optimize for completion and shares.
• Consideration: 30–60 second product demos, quick tutorials, or before/after stories. Add captions and a mid-roll CTA to comment or save.
• Conversion: Long-form feed video (5–15 minutes) or a Live with Q&A. Include social proof, clear steps, and a strong end CTA to link in bio, DM, or product tag.

Sample weekly content mix:

• 3 Reels (10–20 seconds each): trend tie-in, tip, and a quick before/after.
• 1 Long feed video (5–10 minutes): tutorial or teardown with chapters.
• Stories on 3–5 days: behind-the-scenes, polls, countdown to launch.
• 1 Live per month (45–60 minutes): guest Q&A; clip highlights into 3 Reels.

Final notes

Instagram’s video ecosystem changes fast. Treat the caps above as a practical baseline, then verify what your specific account allows in the app this week. Err on the side of shorter, tighter edits for reach, and deploy longer formats when your audience is primed for depth. When in doubt, test two cuts: a punchy 10–15 second Reel for discovery and a longer feed video for viewers who want the full story.

Summary

• Most accounts see 90-second Reels, 60-second Story cards, up to 60-minute feed videos (often via desktop), and 4-hour Lives.
• Optimize for retention, not just duration: hook early, pace tightly, and use native features to boost engagement.
• If uploads fail, check duration caps, file size, and encoding; desktop uploads often allow longer limits for feed videos.