If you are looking to make the most out of Instagram advertising, then you must know the correct ad formats, sizes and various other specifications. Creating the perfect Instagram ad is not as difficult a task as you might think.
Though Facebook and Instagram advertising are essentially the same, they are quite complex, to say the least. The ad creation process for both can be boiled down to 6 major points.
- Selecting your target audience.
- Deciding ad placements (Where do you want to run your ads)
- Setting up your budget (Always have a budget)
- Picking the right format for the chosen Ad.
- Execution☠ (Launching your ad, that is)
- Measuring and optimizing your ads.
Related Article: 10 Tips to Improve Targeting For Facebook Ads in 2023
Step 4 is a crucial stage. You might have certain expectations of how your ad should look in front of your ideal target audience. Every social media advertiser wants their ads to look its best.
You don’t want your ad copy to be manipulated by Instagram to fit into an allocated space. And that is why we gathered the various types of Instagram ads and their appropriate sizes and specifications.
So with this quick reference to the various specs. creating your Instagram ad will be much easier, and you don’t have to worry about your ad being unceremoniously disfigured to fit into a box. So let’s jump right in!
Related Article: 10 Best Practices for Facebook Ads in 2023
Instagram Ads Format – Sizes And Specifications For 2023
Instagram Feed ad sizes
The Instagram Feed is a constantly updating list of images and videos. Feed displays media from accounts that your target audience follows and also from advertisers.
You can leverage Feed ads by using image or video format ads to show off your product, service or brand. You can also use the carousel ad format to show up to ten images or videos within a single ad.
Instagram Feed Video Ads
Sizes and specifications guidelines for Instagram Feed Image Ads
- Recommended resolution: 1080×1080
- Recommended aspect ratio: 1:1, other aspect ratios may be masked.
- All file formats should be either JPG or PNG.
- All image files are 30MB max.
Text recommendations:
- Primary text: 125 characters
- Headline: 40 characters
- Maximum number of hashtags: 30
Text more than the specified character limit will be truncated.
Sizes and specifications and guidelines for Instagram Feed Video Ads
- Recommended resolution: 1080×1080.
- Aspect ratio: 4:5.
- Recommended video formats include MP4 and MOV.
- Max video size for all formats is 30GB.
- Max video length for all formats is 2 minutes.
Text recommendations:
- Primary text: 125 characters
- Maximum number of hashtags: 30
Text more than the specified character limit will be truncated.
Instagram Story ad sizes
Instagram stories, like Facebook Stories and Messenger stories, appear as a full-screen vertical ad between other Instagram user Stories. You can use Stories ads to showcase your product, service or brand personality
Stories ads’ greatest advantage is that you can use many of the same features available to normal Instagram Stories, including stickers, GIFS, and filters. You also benefit from including a clickable swipe-up link in your ad that can take your viewers to your website or showcase more ad media.
Both image and video media can be used in Stories ads. Photo stories are visible for five seconds or until the user swipes out of the story. While videos that are longer than 15 seconds are clipped, and multiples are created.
If you use an image, then Instagram recommends leaving 14%, roughly 250 pixels of the top and bottom of the image free from any text or logos to avoid covering these key elements with the profile icon or CTA.
Specifications guidelines for Instagram Stories Image Ads
- Image formats should be either JPG or PNG.
- Recommended resolution: 1080×1080 pixels.
- Aspect ratio: 9:16.
- Max image size is 30MB.
- Minimum width: 500 pixels
- Aspect ratio tolerance: 1%
Text recommendations:
You can only have primary text for Instagram Stories ads. Text more than the specified character limit will be truncated.
- Primary text: 125 characters
Specifications guidelines for Instagram Stories Video Ads
- All formats should be either MP4 or MOV.
- Recommended resolution: 1080×1080 pixels.
- Aspect ratio: 9:16.
- Video duration: 1 second to 60 seconds.
- Max video size is 250 MB.
- Video sound and captions are optional but highly recommended.
- Video settings:
- H.264 compression.
- Square pixels.
- Fixed frame rate.
- Progressive scan.
- Stereo AAC audio compression at 128 kbps+.
Text recommendations:
You can only have primary text for Instagram Stories ads. Text more than the specified character limit will be truncated.
- Primary text: 125 characters
Instagram Reels ad sizes
Instagram Reels is a feature that allows anyone – creators, businesses and individuals to create entertaining short-form video content that can be shared with the Instagram community. Reel ads are built for the mobile platform to reach high-intent audiences and engage them through their interests.
Instagram Reels ads can be up to sixty seconds in length, and your audience can engage with you through comments, likes, saves and shares. Reels are exclusively for media in video format.
Size and spec. guidelines for Instagram Reels Video Ads
- File type: MP4, MOV
- Ratio: 9:16
- Resolution: At least 500 x 888 pixels
- Video sound and captions are optional but strongly recommended
- Video settings:
- H.264 compression.
- Square pixels.
- Fixed frame rate.
- Progressive scan.
- Stereo AAC audio compression at 128 kbps+.
Text recommendations:
Text more than the specified character limit will be truncated.
- Primary text: 125 characters
- Maximum number of hashtags: 30
Instagram Explore ad sizes
Instagram Explore is where Instagram sources content based on a person’s interest. It shows posts from accounts that the user does not yet follow and may be interesting to the user. Ads in Instagram Explore appear between organic content.
You can use the image video format in Instagram Explore to show your product, service or brand to potential audiences. Additionally, you can also use the carousel format to showcase up to ten images or videos within a single ad, each having its own link.
Guidelines for Instagram Explore Image Ads
- Preferred image file types are JPG or PNG, while other formats are also supported.
- Recommended resolution: 1080×1080
- Recommended aspect ratio: 1:1, other aspect ratios may be masked.
- All image files are 30MB max.
- Minimum width of image should be 500 pixels
- Aspect ratio tolerance: 1%
Text recommendations:
Text more than the specified character limit will be truncated.
- Primary text: 125 characters
Guidelines for Instagram Explore Video Ads
- File type: MP4, MOV
- Ratio: 4:5
- Resolution: At least 1080 x 1080 pixels
- Video sound and captions are optional but strongly recommended.
- Video duration: 1 second to 60 minutes
- Maximum file size: 250 MB
- Video settings:
- H.264 compression.
- Square pixels.
- Fixed frame rate.
- Progressive scan.
- Stereo AAC audio compression at 128 kbps+.
Text recommendations:
Text more than the specified character limit will be truncated.
- Primary text: 125 characters
BONUS Ad Sizes
Instagram Carousel ad sizes
The Instagram Carousel ad format allows you to showcase up to ten images or videos within a single ad, each with its own link.
With Carousel ads, you can highlight different products your brand has to offer and showcase specific details about one product. You can also use carousels to tell a story about your brand that develops across each carousel card.
You can choose the automatic optimisation feature and let Facebook optimise the order of the carousel images based on each card’s performance. However, if you’re using the format to tell a sequential story, make sure you opt out of the automatic optimisation feature.
Size and specifications for Instagram Carousel Image Ads
- Recommended resolution: 1080×1080
- Recommended aspect ratio: 1:1, other aspect ratios may be masked.
- All file formats should be either JPG or PNG.
- All image files are 30MB max.
Text recommendations:
- Primary text: 125 characters
- Headline: 40 characters
- Maximum number of hashtags: 30
Size and specifications for Instagram Carousel Video Ads
- Recommended resolution: 1080×1080.
- Aspect ratio: 4:5.
- Recommended video formats include MP4 and MOV.
- Max video size for all formats is 30GB.
- Max video length for all formats is 2 minutes.
Text recommendations:
- Primary text: 125 characters
- Maximum number of hashtags: 30
Instagram Collection ad sizes
An Instagram Collection includes a cover image or video followed by three product images. When someone taps on a collection ad, they see an Instant Experience.
Instant Experience is a full-screen landing page optimized to drive engagement and nurture interest and intent. When creating an Instant Experience to use with your collection ad, you can use the shopfront or customer acquisition templates or build a custom Instant Experience.
The below section shows you a condensed version of the Instagram Collection ad format.
Specifications Instagram Collection Image Ads
- Recommended resolution: 1080×1080
- Recommended aspect ratio: 1:1, other aspect ratios may be masked.
- All file formats should be either JPG or PNG.
- All image files are 30MB max.
Text recommendations:
- Primary text: 125 characters
- Headline: 40 characters
- Maximum number of hashtags: 30
Specifications Instagram Collection Image Ads
- Recommended resolution: 1080×1080.
- Aspect ratio: 4:5.
- Recommended video formats include MP4 and MOV.
- Max video size for all formats is 30GB.
- Max video length for all formats is 2 minutes.
Text recommendations:
- Primary text: 125 characters
- Maximum number of hashtags: 30
Wrapping Up
Businesses nowadays exist on more than just their own websites. They have taken a multichannel approach to build customer relationships and promote and sell their products and services.
Optimizing your ads for each platform will ensure that your target audience gets the best experience possible. Moreover, you can showcase your brand personality the way you imagined.
Speaking of optimization, AdVize is an AI & ML-powered ad optimization and reporting tool that can help you make data-driven decisions by continuously learning the factors that drive positive results in your ad sets.
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