The current Reel specs, and a tool that makes any video fit them: 9:16 with a blurred background, a colour or a crop, with a guide that keeps captions clear of Instagram’s buttons. Free, and nothing is uploaded.
Instagram Reels specs at a glance
1080 × 1920 pxSize for a full-screen Reel
9:16Aspect ratio. Instagram accepts anything from 1.91:1 to 9:16
Up to 20 minReels over 3 minutes aren’t recommended to new audiences
4:5Feed posts that fill more of the screen: 1080 × 1350
1:1Square posts: 1080 × 1080
16:9Landscape, for YouTube and screens: 1920 × 1080
Choose the shape below. The safe-zone guide is off, because it depends on where you post.
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How to make your Reel
Drop in your video. Landscape, square and vertical all work.
Choose how to fill the frame: a blurred background, a colour, or crop to fill (what’s the difference?).
Trim it if you like, press Make video, and save a 1080 × 1920 MP4 with the sound kept.
Which fill works best for Instagram?
The blurred background is the safe choice: a crop can push faces and text down under the caption and buttons at the bottom. Use Crop to fill for close-ups where the subject is in the middle, and check the safe-zone guide before you save.
The safe zone: where captions get hidden
Instagram covers the bottom and the edges of a Reel with your name, the caption, and the like, comment and share buttons. Meta’s guidance for Reels ads is to keep about 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% at each side free of text and logos (Meta Ads Guide). The tool shows that area on the preview, so you can see if anything important sits under the buttons. The guide isn’t added to your video.
How long can a Reel be?
Instagram lets you post Reels of up to 20 minutes, but says Reels over 3 minutes won’t be recommended to new audiences. If you want your Reel to reach people who don’t follow you, keep it under 3 minutes. The tool warns you when what you keep is longer than that.
Keep the quality after you post
Instagram re-compresses everything you upload. To keep it as sharp as possible, upload a full 1080 × 1920 video like the one this tool makes, and turn on Upload at highest quality in Instagram’s settings (the menu moves between app versions; search settings for “highest quality”). Uploading over Wi‑Fi helps too.
Common problems on Instagram
The cover looks cut off on my profile. Since early 2025 the profile grid shows posts as taller 3:4 rectangles rather than squares (reported by Engadget), so the top and bottom of a 9:16 cover are hidden there. Keep faces and titles in the middle of the frame.
My Reel was muted. Instagram mutes audio when music isn’t licensed for your account or region, or a rights holder blocks it; the Reel still plays without sound. Replace the track in the app (Instagram Help).
It isn’t reaching new people. Reels over 3 minutes aren’t recommended to people who don’t follow you. Trim it to 3 minutes or less here before you post.
Questions
What size is an Instagram Reel?
1080 × 1920 pixels, a 9:16 vertical video, fills the screen. Instagram accepts aspect ratios from 1.91:1 to 9:16, with a minimum resolution of 720 pixels and at least 30 frames per second.
Can I post a landscape video as a Reel?
Yes, Instagram accepts it, but it shows small with empty space above and below. Turning it into 9:16 with a blurred background or a crop fills the screen.
How long can a Reel be?
Up to 20 minutes. Reels over 3 minutes won’t be recommended to new audiences.
What size should the cover photo be?
420 × 654 pixels (1:1.55), according to Instagram.
Is there a file size limit?
Instagram doesn’t publish one for the app. A 1080 × 1920 MP4 from this tool is usually well within what phones upload comfortably.
Does it keep the sound?
Yes. The original sound is kept.
Can I make versions for other apps too?
Yes. Tick them under “Also make it for” and they’re made in one go. Apps that need the same video share one file.
Is it free? Is there a watermark?
Free, with no watermark and no sign-up.
Is my video uploaded?
No. The video is made in your browser, on your device. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Which browsers does it work in?
Chrome and Edge on computers and Android work best. Recent Safari on iPhone and Mac works too.