Meta
Instagram Reels Ad Specs 2026
Design at 9:16 (1080 x 1920). Below is the full spec, the practical rules for getting it right, and a free validator to check your own files.
Specs last verified July 2026
| Platform | Meta |
|---|---|
| Recommended aspect ratio | 9:16 |
| Accepted ratios | 9:16 |
| Recommended resolution | 1080 x 1920 |
| Minimum resolution | 600 x 1067 |
| File types | MP4, MOV, JPG, PNG |
| Max file size | 4 GB video / 30 MB image |
| Video length | 1 sec – 90 sec |
| Formats | Image, Video |
| Primary text | 72 recommended (shown above the caption fold) |
| Headline | Optional — de-emphasized in Reels |
Video is the native format, but image ads DO run in the Reels placement — Meta publishes a separate image spec for it. (The 'video only' rule applies to organic Reels, not to ads.) Keep captions and key visuals out of the bottom third, where the caption, CTA and audio ticker sit.
How to get Instagram Reels right
Design it right
Instagram Reels is video-only, full-screen 9:16 at 1080 x 1920 - a static image will not run here. Reels sit in an entertainment feed, so the creative that works looks native: shot vertically, fast-paced, and hooking in the first second. A repurposed 1:1 or landscape file either gets heavy letterboxing or simply cannot be used, so a dedicated vertical master is not optional for this placement.
The common mistake
The safe zone matters more in Reels than almost anywhere because the bottom third is crowded: the caption, the profile and CTA, and the audio ticker all overlap the lower part of the frame. Keep captions and any key visual out of the bottom third and away from the right edge where the action buttons sit. Ads run up to 90 seconds, but shorter usually holds better; design for sound-off with on-screen text since many viewers keep audio muted. The same 9:16 master serves Facebook Reels and Stories under the shared safe zone.
Check your creative against Instagram Reels
Drop your files into the free creative validator - it reads each file's dimensions in your browser, tells you which placements it covers, and flags the aspect ratio your set is missing. For a single file, the aspect ratio checker gives a per-placement verdict.
Instagram Reels FAQ
What is the aspect ratio for Instagram Reels ads?
Can I use an image for an Instagram Reels ad?
How long can an Instagram Reels ad be?
Where should I keep text in a Reels ad?
Is the Reels spec the same as Stories?
Other placement specs
One concept, every ratio, one ad
Once each concept has its 4:5 and 9:16 cuts, uplads reads the placement in every filename and merges them into a single multi-placement ad - the right cut in each surface - across a whole bulk launch.