Instagram Ad Specs – Your 2021 Guide to Instagram Ad Sizes
However, if you want to get the most out of your Instagram marketing campaign, you must follow Instagram ad specs closely.
On this page, we’ll talk about the different kinds of Instagram ads, as well as Instagram ad specs for each. We’ll cover Instagram carousel ad specs, Instagram story ad specs, and so much more.
If you’d like to speak with a specialist about Instagram marketing and how it can benefit your business, reach out to us at 888-601-5359.
We foster and form long-term partnerships so that your business has long-term results.
Over 90% of WebFX clients continue partnering with us into year 2 of their campaign.
Hear from Our Happy Customers
Kinds of Instagram Ads
Before we can dive headfirst into Instagram advertising specs, let’s first talk about the different kinds of Instagram ads you can use.
Instagram image ads
An Instagram image ad is likely familiar to your feed. These ads show up in the form of, you guessed it — an image, and they usually include some sort of call to action (CTA), like “shop now” or “learn more.”
Use Instagram image ads if: You want to advertise your products without being intrusive, or you’re just getting your feet wet with Instagram ads.
Instagram story image ads
Instagram story image ads appear in a company’s Instagram story. They take the form of a static image and usually have a text overlay and an option to “swipe up” to learn more or purchase the product.
Use Instagram story image ads if: You want to broaden the reach of your original image ad, or if you want to show up in more than one place. (Assuming you also run an in-feed image ad.)
Instagram video ads
Instagram video ads allow you to show off the way a product works, fits, or even a drastic before and after. Video ads grab users’ attention and feature a CTA to encourage clicks.
Use Instagram video ads if: You want to show your audience something about your product that you can only show with video, or if you want to go the extra mile to engage users.
Instagram story video ads
Instagram story video ads are like regular video ads except instead of showing up in users’ feeds, they show up in user stories. They feature a CTA, too!
Use Instagram story video ads if: You want to engage users in their stories.
Instagram carousel ads
Instagram carousel ads allow you to advertise more than one product in a single ad. Users simply use an arrow to skip through products, and each card has a CTA.
Use Instagram carousel ads if: You want to advertise more than one product with a single ad, or if you want to make it easy for users to shop for a group of related items at the same time.
Instagram slideshow ads
Instagram slideshow ads create an engaging experience for users. When they scroll past a slideshow ad, they’ll see a loop of different pictures that you select that play automatically, like a video.
Use Instagram slideshow ads if: You want the look of a video, but don’t want to put in the work to create an actual video.
Instagram ad specs [stats current-year] for every Insta ad format
The new year is here, so it’s only right to stay up to date with Instagram ad specs in 2021.
Check out our Instagram ad size guide below!
Instagram image ad specs
| Square ad resolution: | 600×500 pixels (min), 1936×1936 pixels (max) |
| Landscape ad resolution: | 600×315 pixels (min), 1936×1936 pixels (max) |
| Vertical ad resolution: | 600×750 pixels (min), 1936×1936 pixels (max) |
| Image format: | JPG or PNG |
| Maximum file size: | 30MB |
| Caption limit: | 2200 characters |
Instagram story image ad specs
| Recommended resolution: | 1080×1920 pixels |
| Image format: | JPG or PNG |
| Maximum file size: | 30MB |
| Ad duration: | 5 seconds |
Instagram video ad specs
| Maximum file size: | 4GB |
| Maximum video length: | 120 seconds |
| Video format: | MP4, H.264, GIF |
| Caption limit: | 2200 characters |
| Aspect ratio for square video ads: | 1:1 |
| Aspect ratio for landscape video ads: | 1.9:1 |
| Aspect ratio for vertical video ads: | 4:5 |
Instagram story video ad specs
| Recommended video size: | 1080×1920 pixels |
| Recommended resolution: | 720p |
| Video format: | MP4, MOV |
| Maximum file size: | 4GB |
| Video length: | 15 seconds |
Instagram carousel ad specs
| Recommended resolution: | 1080×1080 pixels |
| Video format: | JPG, PNG |
| Maximum file size: | 30MB per image card |
| Number of cards: | 2-10 image cards per ad |
Instagram slideshow ad specs
| Image size: | 600×600 pixels (minimum) 1080×1080 pixels (maximum) |
| File format: | JPG or PNG (images), WAV, MP3, M4A (video) |
| Image duration: | 50 seconds per image |
| Text limit: | 125 characters |
Why follow Instagram ad specs?
So, what does it matter if you’re off a few pixels, or you submit an ad with too much text?
You might be wondering why Instagram ad specs are so vital that we wrote a whole page on the topic. Allow us to enlighten you.
Here are some potential pitfalls of not following Instagram ad specs:
- Facebook will deny your ads. Remember, Facebook owns Instagram, so you’ll create your Instagram ads on the Facebook platform. If you don’t follow Instagram advertising specs, Facebook could deny your ads — leaving you high and dry. You can of course fix your ad and try again, but if you want to save time, get your Instagram ad specs right the first time!
- Your ads will appear grainy or skewed. If you don’t follow Instagram ad specs, you could find that your photos or videos appear grainy or skewed. Instagram created ad specs for a reason, and it’s in your best interest to follow them if you want beautiful, effective ads.
- They’ll be ineffective. Users likely won’t trust a product that appears grainy. That’s why you should always select images and videos that follow Instagram’s recommended resolution, image size, and aspect ratio.
Work with an agency that follows Instagram ad specs
If you want to advertise your product or service on Instagram with gorgeous ads, WebFX is here for you.
We’re a full-service Instagram marketing agency that is dedicated to driving customer results with cost-efficient, goal-oriented marketing campaigns.
When it comes to our social media experts, they know how to create an ad that will get your customers buzzing and sales pouring in. We’re also a Meta Business Partner.
We provide marketing solutions for the following social platforms:
If you want to work with an ad company that follows Instagram ad specs to make beautiful, effective ads for your business, we’re here for you!
We’d love to provide you with a free quote when you contact us online, or you can give us a call at 888-601-5359!
