Introduction
Instagram, once only a platform for pleasing, square photographs, has now developed into a social media network with a wide range of interesting, engaging features that may help you bring in a captive audience. The video seems everywhere on Instagram, from the new and creative Reel features to the 24-hour Instagram Stories.
In fact, posting and creating the ideal video for Instagram has its obstacles, especially given that it is a mobile-first social network.
This blog will help you determine the ideal Instagram video format, file size, orientation, and length. We'll also talk about posting or recording your Instagram videos so you can choose the most appealing proportions for your recordings.
1. Instagram Stories
Short 15-second films called Instagram Stories are only available for 24 hours. In contrast to the more polished in-feed or IGTV marketing videos, temporal content has become a popular way to display unpolished, informal, and quirky material. Instagram Stories appear less polished and more authentic.
Instagram Story videos may only be up to 15 seconds long. However, a slideshow narrative lets you make a collection of Stories. In Stories, photos are shown for 7 seconds.
Brands are free to publish as many Stories as they like. Stories movies appear in vertical format, filling up the whole smartphone screen, just like TikTok videos do. Emojis, text, and stickers may all be used to improve your Stories.
Stories are a fantastic approach to grab people’s attention and increase brand exposure due to their transient nature. This format takes advantage of FOMO since viewers want to see the video before it vanishes.
Instagram Story Format
1. MP4 video format
2. Length should be from one to fifteen seconds (or up to one minute)
3. The optimal orientation for movies and photographs is a portrait, but you may also share square and landscape images in Stories.
4. The aspect ratio ranges from 1:19.1 to 9:16. For Stories, Instagram advises aiming for an aspect ratio between 4:5 and 9:16.
5. For Instagram Stories, 1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels height are ideal since they fit a smartphone held vertically.
6. For Instagram Stories, you should generally keep your file size to a limit of 50MB, similar to Feed videos.
7. Thirty frames per second are the minimum (frames per second).
8. A minimum resolution of 720 pixels should be used for all Instagram videos.
2. Instagram Videos
This style, which mixes IGTV and in-feed videos, debuted in 2021. This kind of video may be up to an hour long and posted via the Plus sign in the top right-hand corner of the app, just like IGTV videos. Trimming, location tagging, and filters are some of the new features that have been included. These films may be found in Instagram's brand-new "Video" tab.
You must ensure that the starting part of the video must be engaging to get viewers to watch the entire thing as it appears when someone scrolls through your feed.
To offer viewers a preview of longer videos, you may also make 60-second trailers for them.
Instagram Video Format
1. The best video formats are MP4 or MOV with an ACC audio codec and a bitrate of 3,500 kbps.
2. Instagram Stories videos must be at least three seconds long but not longer than 60 seconds.
3. Square, portrait, or landscape orientation is required.
4. Instagram advises using a 1:1 aspect ratio for Feed videos for the best results. At least 1:19.1 and no more than 4:5.
5. The ideal size for a Feed video is 1080 pixels wide by 1350 pixels height.
6. The file sizes for Instagram feed videos are unrestricted. However, you should limit your file sizes to 50MB or less for the best results.
7. Instagram videos must have a frame rate of at least 30 FPS (frames per second).
3. Instagram Live
You may stream live videos to your followers using Instagram Live. Followers can watch the option of watching live when you broadcast or later as a Story.
Live broadcasting requires bravery because there are so many potential problems! Live video is a compelling format that allows you to be more "genuine" and "at the moment," so it's worth giving it a shot. You can expose consumers to various aspects of your company that they wouldn't often see.
This kind of film is perfect for presenting a "day in the life" of your company or workforce and brand events, demos, or tours. You may make live videos more engaging by asking viewers to leave feedback or ask questions.
Even if you don't want your live video overly scripted, careful planning is still required. Make sure your internet connection is good, and try making your broadcast as reliable, high-resolution, and straightforward as possible. Additionally, before going live, ensure your narrative is crystal clear. To interest, a potential client or consumer, your live video should include a storytelling component.
Instagram Live Video Format
1. MP4 video format
2. Up to 60 minutes in length.
3. Portrait orientation
4. Instagram Live videos are captured in portrait mode. Therefore the size and aspect ratio should be consistent with this. For Instagram Live video, a 9:16 aspect ratio is preferred.
5. Similar to Instagram Stories, Live Videos look their best when they are 1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels height. There will be no support for additional dimensions.
6. The file size isn't significant because Instagram Live videos are broadcast and recorded straight from smartphones and other mobile devices.
7. Like any other Instagram content, Instagram Live videos should be brief and it must have a minimum frame rate of 30 FPS (frames per second).
4. Instagram Reels
Reels are Instagram's interpretation of the TikTok-famous vertical video format. Instagram has produced full-screen, portrait-oriented videos, unlike TikTok.
Multi-clip videos called reels typically last 15 to 30 seconds. Due to the availability of AR filters, timed text, and green screen mode are perfect for showing extremely creative material that uses effects and music.
Users may find Reels under the Explore page of their Instagram feed or the "Reels" tab on their profile. Younger users, including Generation Z and Millennials members, are huge reels fans. Marketers must remember that people may need to follow you on Instagram to find your Reels.
Reusing your TikTok clip for Reels may be alluring. Also, remember that your Instagram followers are probably older than your TikTok fans.
You may integrate hashtags and product keywords while showcasing fascinating facets of the brand's personality in your reels. Moreover, reel material is frequently viewed by users as being more "genuine" than professional video content.
Instagram Reel Format
1. MOV or MP4 for video
2. Instagram Reels may last for up to 15 seconds. However, you may post many clips and combine them to create more extensive material, like in Stories. This is excellent for things like instructional films, for instance.
3. Reels are always seen in portrait mode; as a result, Instagram Reels will always use the same size and aspect ratio.
4. An aspect ratio of 9:16 is required.
5. 1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels high. There will be no support for additional dimensions.
6. Instagram Reel videos have a maximum file size of 4GB.
7. Instagram Reels videos must be of minimum frame rate of 30 FPS (frames per second). When editing your Reels movie, you may experiment with the speed options.
Tools to resize videos on Instagram:
Video editing apps can resize your video if it doesn't currently comply with Instagram's video size limitations. Some of our favorites are listed here.
Adobe Express:
You can easily edit and upload your pictures and videos to Instagram with Adobe Express. You must upload your video, select one of the standard Instagram sizes, and resize it.
Kapwing:
You may use Kapwing to resize your video for free if you discover that the size of your Instagram video is still too large. Upload your clip and edit the proportions to comply with Instagram's specifications.
Flixier:
With only a few clicks, you can easily resize your videos for Instagram using the online video editing tool Flixier. You must upload your video, select one of the standard Instagram sizes, and resize it.
Conclusion:
In this easy guide, we have listed video formats for all four types of Instagram videos step by step, along with the apps through which you can resize your videos and bring them in the prescribed format to post them on Instagram.