Free · 6 min read
How to design an Instagram post: sizes, grid, text
Instagram post design from scratch: current sizes from Instagram Help, one idea per post, grid, fonts, carousels and a phone check before you publish.
- Which post sizes Instagram supports today
- How to make a post that reads in a second
- How to build a series of posts in one style
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Five steps to a post that reads
- 1
Step 1
Pick the format from Instagram Help
- 2
Step 2
One idea per post
- 3
Step 3
Grid, margins and typography
- 4
Step 4
Carousels and post series
- 5
Step 5
Check it on a phone and get feedback
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This guide is for you if you are
Making your first posts
You run a page for your project, your friends or yourself and want posts to look tidy, not random.
Learning graphic design
You want a short task to practice hierarchy, typography and working with color.
Building a portfolio
You want to show a series of posts for a brand as a study project, with your decisions explained.
In short
- Instagram keeps the original resolution of photos up to 1080 pixels wide with aspect ratios from 1.91:1 to 3:4, so 566 to 1440 pixels tall.
- One post, one idea. The headline should read on a phone in a second; the rest can go into the caption.
- A grid, equal margins and one or two fonts turn separate posts into a recognizable style.
- A carousel can hold up to 20 photos and videos, but every slide shares one orientation.
- Check the post on a phone at a small size and show it to others before publishing.
Five steps to a post that reads
- 1
Step 1
Pick the format from Instagram Help
Post sizes have changed more than once, so take them from Instagram Help rather than old articles. As of November 2026, Instagram uploads photos up to 1080 pixels wide. If a photo is between 320 and 1080 pixels wide and its aspect ratio is between 1.91:1 and 3:4, Instagram keeps the original resolution. At 1080 pixels wide, that means a height of 566 to 1440 pixels. Instagram crops photos with other ratios to a supported one, enlarges photos narrower than 320 pixels and shrinks ones wider than 1080.
- square 1080×1080 is the easiest start for a first series;
- portrait 1080×1440 (3:4) is the tallest supported ratio, so it takes up more of a phone screen;
- landscape 1080×566 (1.91:1) suits wide photos but is the shortest of the three;
- set up the layout in pixels at 1080 wide from the start, so Instagram doesn't compress or crop it.
💡 Choose the format before you open the editor. Turning a square post into a portrait one is almost a new layout: font sizes, spacing and the amount of text all change.
- 2
Step 2
One idea per post
People scroll the feed and see your post on a small screen. So first write down in one sentence what they should understand: an event announcement, a tip, a result, a new service. Then split the information into levels:
- the main thing: a headline or image, the biggest and highest-contrast element;
- the explanation: one or two short lines, only if you really need them;
- the brand mark: logo or name, smaller and closer to the edge;
- whatever doesn't fit goes into the caption: it's for details, the image is for attention.
💡 The one-second test: show the layout to someone on a phone and take it away right away. If they can't retell the main point, there's too much on the post.
Show your post before you publish
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- 3
Step 3
Grid, margins and typography
A tidy post relies on repetition. Set margins from the edges (equal on every side, for example) and align elements to a few shared lines, not by eye. One or two fonts that cover every character you need are enough; separate the levels by size and weight.
- the headline should be clearly bigger than the text: small differences disappear on a phone;
- don't push text against the edge: in a small preview it will look cut off;
- put text over a photo on a calm area or on a solid panel;
- check contrast: under WCAG 2.2 (level AA) it's at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
💡 Make one template layout with margins, a grid and places for the headline and logo. Build the next posts in it, and the series will look consistent without extra effort.
- 4
Step 4
Carousels and post series
A carousel is several photos or videos in one post. According to Instagram Help, it can hold up to 20 photos and videos, and the orientation you choose (square, portrait or landscape) applies to all of them. So every slide in a carousel should be the same size. In the feed people see only the first slide, so it works as the cover.
- the first slide is a promise: what the carousel is about and why to swipe;
- one idea per slide, with headlines and numbering in the same place;
- the last slide is a summary or an action: save, show up, send a message;
- for a series of separate posts, keep shared colors, fonts and margins and change the content.
💡 A study task for one evening: pick a local café or library and make three posts and one 5-slide carousel for it. Use their real logo and facts or label the project as a concept, so you don't mislead anyone.
Your post looks off and you can't tell why? Show it to the community → - 5
Step 5
Check it on a phone and get feedback
A layout on a big monitor and a post in the feed are different things. Before publishing, send yourself the file and look at it on a phone: full size and small, as in a profile. Then go through the checklist:
- the file is 1080 pixels wide with a supported aspect ratio;
- the smallest text is readable on a phone without zooming in;
- no mistakes in the text, dates or names;
- add alt text: on Instagram you can change it under Accessibility while posting or later via Edit, and screen readers read it.
💡 Show the post in the community before publishing and ask something specific: what people notice first, whether the text is readable, whether it's clear what to do next. A specific question gets a useful answer.
You're not alone with these questions
We counted what people ask about most in our community. Learning and portfolios lead. A series of posts for a real or imaginary brand answers both questions at once.
Messages by topic in Spaceberry Community, July 2024 — November 2026. Keyword search.
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Questions and answers
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What's the right size for an Instagram post?
According to Instagram Help, photos are uploaded up to 1080 pixels wide, and the original resolution is kept at aspect ratios from 1.91:1 to 3:4. Convenient options within that range are 1080×1080 (square) and 1080×1440 (3:4 portrait). Requirements can change, so check Instagram Help before each project.
Which app should I use for posts?
Any editor where you can set a size in pixels will do: Canva for a quick start, Figma if you're learning UI/UX and want to practice grids and components, Photoshop for heavy photo work. The tool matters less than hierarchy, grid and contrast. See [Canva for beginners](/en/guides/canva-for-beginners) and [Figma for beginners](/en/guides/figma-for-beginners).
How much text can go on a post?
As much as someone can read on a phone in a few seconds: usually a headline and, if needed, one short line of explanation. Move details, conditions and links into the caption or spread them across carousel slides. Try the one-second test: show the post to someone on a phone and take it away right away; they should be able to retell the main point.
How do I make a profile look consistent?
Set a few rules and stick to them: a limited palette, one or two fonts, equal margins and a fixed place for the headline. It helps to make two or three templates for different post types (announcement, tip, quote) and alternate them. More on color in [How to choose a color palette](/en/guides/color-palette).
Is the Spaceberry community paid?
No. Spaceberry Community is a free Telegram community supported by Spaceberry Foundation, a non-profit organization. All you need to join is a Telegram account. Inside are 1,504 designers who discuss each other's work, plus regular design games: the same brief for everyone, a deadline and a community vote. Conversations are in Ukrainian.
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