Free Instagram Story Ad Mockup Generator
Build a realistic Instagram Story ad preview with your own creative, copy and call-to-action, then export it as a PNG. Free, no signup, and your image or video never leaves your browser.
Drop an image or video, or click to choose
Processed 100% in your browser - nothing is uploaded to any server.
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Previews are approximations. Not affiliated with Meta or TikTok.
Why it matters
Why a Instagram Story mockup matters
A Story ad is full-screen and vertical, which changes how it has to be judged. The creative fills the whole 9:16 frame, a progress bar and the brand sit at the top, and the call-to-action lives at the very bottom. Elements too close to either edge get covered by the interface - so what looks balanced in a design file can end up with the headline hidden behind a profile row.
For client approval, a Story mockup makes vertical framing concrete. It shows whether the key message survives inside the safe area, whether the creative reads in the two seconds a Story gets, and whether the call-to-action is reachable by a thumb - a far more productive conversation than describing a vertical ad in words.
This generator draws neutral Story chrome - a generic progress bar, plain avatar and simple CTA prompt - so nothing trademarked ships in your preview. Add a vertical image or video, set the brand and a real call-to-action, and it renders full-screen live. Export a PNG when it is ready; your media is handled locally the entire time.
⚡The one rule for 9:16
Keep your logo and key message inside the safe area. On a 1080 x 1920 frame, the Instagram Story interface covers about 269 px at the top, 672 px at the bottom, 65 px on the left and 65 px on the right, which leaves 950 × 979 px for anything that has to be read (Meta Ads Guide, Instagram Stories (14% top, 35% bottom, 6% sides), checked October 2026). The safe zone checker draws those margins over your own clip.
Facebook & Instagram Stories ad specs at a glance
What the mockup has to match before it becomes a real ad.
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 recommended (accepts 9:16, 4:5, 1:1) |
|---|---|
| Recommended size | 1080 x 1920 px |
| Minimum size | 600 x 1067 px |
| Files | JPG, PNG, MP4, MOV · 30 MB image · 4 GB video |
| Video length | 1 sec - 120 sec |
| Primary text | 125 recommended |
| Headline | Optional - often hidden by the UI |
Keep text and logos inside the center safe zone: Meta's Ads Guide asks you to leave about 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% on each side free. Reels uses the same safe zone, so one 9:16 master covers both. The full Facebook & Instagram Stories spec lists every accepted ratio and file limit.
Common Instagram Story ad mistakes a mockup catches
- Text in the top or bottom band. Meta's Ads Guide asks you to keep 14% at the top and 35% at the bottom free, where the profile row, reply bar and CTA sit.
- Running the 4:5 Feed file. It plays inside a letterboxed box with blurred bars and reads as recycled Feed creative; Stories want a full 9:16 cut at 1080 x 1920.
- Saving the hook for later. Story videos can run up to 120 seconds, but Stories are swiped fast and the first couple of seconds decide whether anyone sees the rest.
Get the details right before launch
Once the Instagram Story mockup is approved, confirm the creative is production-ready - then launch it for real.
- 1
Check the specs
Confirm the right dimensions and length with the Instagram Story ad specs.
- 2
Clear the safe zone
Run the safe-zone checker so no text is covered by the interface.
- 3
Verify the aspect ratio
Check the aspect ratio fits the placement before export.
- 4
Launch across Meta & TikTok
Upload the approved creative once and push it live in a single flow with uplads.
Mock up other placements
Frequently asked questions
What is an Instagram Story ad mockup?
How do I keep text inside the Story safe zone?
Can I preview a video Story ad?
What do I do once the Story ad is approved?
Approved? Launch it for real
Bulk-launch across Meta & TikTok with uplads - upload the approved creative once and push 100+ ads live in a single flow, instead of rebuilding the ad placement by placement.