How long can an Instagram Reel be?
Up to 3 minutes in the Instagram app (since January 2025). Through the API that scheduling apps use, Reels can be 3 seconds to 15 minutes, up to 300MB.
Instagram raised the in-app Reels limit from 90 seconds to 3 minutes in January 2025.
Posting through the API, the specs are:
| Reels | Stories | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3 seconds to 15 minutes | 3 to 60 seconds |
| File size | 300MB | 100MB |
| Shape | 0.01:1 to 10:1 (9:16 recommended) | 0.1:1 to 10:1 (9:16 recommended) |
| Width | Up to 1,920 pixels | Up to 1,920 pixels |
| Frame rate | 23 to 60 fps | 23 to 60 fps |
| Format | MP4 or MOV, H.264 or HEVC, header at the start | Same |
"Header at the start" trips people up: Instagram asks for files whose header (the moov box) comes before the video data. Turn on "Optimize for web" or "fast start" when you export.
Sources
Checked October 14, 2026. Platforms change their rules; tell us at contact if something here is out of date.