Ordinary Stories and Story ads
The shape is the same, 9:16, but only the ad guidance comes with published numbers. If you make both, design at 1440 × 2560 and export a 1080 × 1920 copy for ordinary Stories; both are 9:16, so nothing is cropped.
According to Meta's ad guide, Story image ads can be up to 30 MB and must be a JPG or PNG.
Photos that are not 9:16
A photo in another shape will not fill the Story frame. Depending on how you add it, the app either crops it or shows it with space around it.
Resizing to 9:16 first lets you decide what stays in the frame instead of leaving it to the app.
Tips
- Put headlines and stickers in the middle band, between the top and bottom safe zone lines.
- Leave room at the bottom for the reply bar and any link sticker you plan to add.
- Save a 9:16 template with the safe zone marked, so every Story starts from the same guides.
- For ads, export at 1440 × 2560 as a JPG or PNG and keep it under 30 MB.
Common mistakes
- Placing a call to action at the very bottom, where controls can cover it.
- Using a 16:9 landscape photo and letting the app crop away the sides.
- Uploading a Story ad narrower than 500 pixels, below Meta's minimum.
- Putting small text right against the edges, inside the 6% side margins.
More size guides and tools
Frequently asked questions
What size is an Instagram Story?
Stories are 9:16. Instagram's Help Center does not give a pixel size; 1080 × 1920 is the commonly used size, and Meta recommends 1440 × 2560 for Story ads.
What is the Instagram Story safe zone?
Meta's guide for Story ads suggests keeping about 14% at the top, 35% at the bottom and 6% at each side free of text and logos. Ordinary Stories have similar controls, so the same margins are a sensible guide.
What file size can a Story ad be?
Meta's ad guide gives a maximum of 30 MB for Story image ads, saved as a JPG or PNG.
Why does my Story look zoomed in?
Your image is probably not 9:16, so the app crops it to fill the frame. Resize it to 9:16 here first to choose what stays.
Can I use a Reel cover size for a Story?
No. A Reel cover is 420 × 654, a 1:1.55 ratio, which is wider than a 9:16 Story.