A photo is worth 1000 words, so it’s no surprise that there are many different ways to share your memories. You can take pictures and upload them directly onto Instagram; you could put up an old picture from when someone was young in their childhood room with captions like “I remember this!” Or maybe show off some recent vacation shots by recommending specific videos.
With all these choices available nowadays, people often wonder which one will best showcase what they’re trying to say.
Instagram is a social media platform that allows users to share photos and videos. The platform is owned by Facebook and has over one billion active monthly users. It is a powerful marketing tool for businesses of all sizes as it offers a variety of ad types and formats, which can be used to reach a wide range of marketing goals.
It has:
- 1 billion+ Instagram accounts worldwide are active every month.
- 500 million+ Instagram accounts worldwide active every day.
- Eighty percent of accounts follow a business on Instagram.
- 500 million+ accounts use Instagram Stories every day.
Since Instagram & Facebook have such a large audience, businesses are quickly catching on to its marketing potential.
Instagram offers a variety of ad formats and placements, giving businesses the flexibility to choose what works best for them. But with so many options, it can be challenging to know where to start.
Instagram offers four types of ads: photo, video, carousel, and Stories.
What are photo ads? These are the most basic type of Instagram ads. They consist of a single image with optional text overlays. They can be static or animated.
Static photo ads are the most common. Animated photo ads are called “GIFs” and can be up to five seconds long.
Video ads are similar to photo ads but use short videos instead of images. These videos can be up to 60 seconds long.
Carousel ads are photo ads that allow businesses to showcase multiple images in a single ad. Users can swipe through the images or view them as a slideshow.
Stories ads are newer ad types appearing in users’ Instagram Stories feed.
These ads consist of a series of images or videos with optional text and sound.
Now that you know the basics of Instagram ad types let’s dive into the details of each one.
Instagram Image Ad Sizes
Instagram advertisers have one advantage over most other social media networks. Users typically see just a single post on this app at once – so an Instagram image gets to take up all of your screens rather than fighting with other posts.
You can choose from three types of ads: landscape images (which look great when they’re wider), square pictures, or vertical strips for more confined spaces.
Instagram Landscape (Horizontal) Image Ad
This type of ad is designed to be viewed on a mobile device, so it is important to ensure that the image is clear and easy to see. The landscape format also means that there is more space for text, which can be used to include a call to action or other important information.
It is ideal for wide images with a lot of negative space, as this will make them easy to see on a small screen. Landscape images can be up to 1080px wide and 1350px tall.
Images that are too busy or have many small details may not work well in this format, as they can be difficult to see on the phone. If unsure whether an image will work, it is always best to test it on a mobile device before using it in your ad.
When designing a landscape image ad, it is important to consider your brand’s overall look and feel and the specific message you want to communicate. With a little planning and creativity, you can create an Instagram image ad to help your business stand out from the competition.
Here are some tips, specifications, and recommendations that you can use to create a great landscape image ad:
- Use high-quality images that are clear and easy to see.
- Use strong branding elements, such as your logo or company colors.
- 600 x 315 pixels is the bare minimum resolution.
- 1200 by 628 pixels is the ideal resolution.
- 1.9:1 is the correct aspect ratio.
- JPG or PNG is the preferred file type.
- 30-MB maximum image size
- 125 characters are the ideal length for a caption.
- Maximum character count for captions: 2,200
Instagram Square Image Ad
This ad type uses a square image to catch users’ attention in their feed. They are also more likely to be seen and interacted with than rectangular images, making them ideal for businesses that want to increase engagement.
Specifications and recommendations include:
- Image size: 1080×1080 pixels.
- Aspect ratio: Square (i.e., not landscape or portrait)
- File type: JPEG, PNG.
- Text: Up to 125 characters.
- Hashtags: Up to 30 hashtags.
- Maximum image size: 30MB
- Minimum image size: 400×400 pixels
Instagram Vertical Image Ad
This is the most straightforward type of ad on the platform. These ads consist of a single image displayed in a vertical orientation. They are best suited for tall and skinny images, as they will take up the entire width of the screen when displayed on a user’s feed.
To create a vertical image ad, you only need a single image at least 1080 pixels wide and 1920 pixels tall. The image can be either a JPEG or PNG file, and it should have a maximum file size of 30 MB and a maximum caption length of 300 characters.
Once your image is ready, you can upload it to the Instagram Ads interface and add your ad copy, target audience, and budget.
When creating vertical image ads, it is important to keep in mind that they will be displayed alongside other content on a user’s feed. As such, you should ensure that your image is attention-grabbing and relevant to your target audience.
They are a great option for businesses that want to create simple, straightforward ads that are easy to create and measure. If you’re unsure what type of ad is right for your business, we recommend starting with a vertical image ad.
Instagram Video Ad Sizes
Videos are an incredibly popular content format on social media. In fact, according to reports, by 2021, 82% of all internet traffic was video traffic.
That’s why it’s no surprise that Instagram offers a range of video ad formats for businesses to take advantage of. It has made video easy by providing guidelines for what you can upload. You can upload horizontal (like on television), square, or vertical videos.
Instagram Landscape (Horizontal) Video Ad
Landscape videos have been used in cinemas and television since moving pictures were invented. They’re particularly well suited to landscapes vistas or sweeping action shots on our screens, both big (cinema)and small(television).
It’s no surprise, then, as Instagram continues its shift towards becoming a platform geared toward content creators rather than just simple social media.
Specifications and recommendations include:
- The ideal Instagram landscape video ad size is 1080px by 1920px, with an aspect ratio of 16:09.
- The file size limit for landscape videos is four gigabytes, and the length limit is 120 seconds.
- The video should have a maximum frame rate of 30fps.
- We recommend using H.264 compression, square pixels, fixed frame rate, progressive scan, and stereo AAC audio compression at 128kbps+.
Instagram Square Video Ad
This is a great way to show off your brand in a fun and creative way. This ad format is perfect for businesses that want to show off their products or services creatively. It is also a great way to create an emotional connection with your audience.
Specifications and recommendations include:
- Minimum resolution: 600 x600 pixels.
- Proper aspect ratio: 1:1.
- Maximum size of 4GB.
- MP4 or MOV file type is recommended with a maximum size limit of 60 seconds per clip and 30fps frames per second.
As always, we recommend testing different ad creatives to see what performs best with your target audience on Instagram. These are only guidelines; what works for one business might not work for another. The best way to find out is to experiment.
Instagram Vertical Video Ad
Vertical videos are becoming increasingly popular on social media as people consume content on their mobile devices. And with an increasing number of people using Instagram, it’s no surprise that the platform would start to offer vertical video ads.
Specifications and recommendations include:
- The minimum resolution for a video is 600 x 750 pixels.
- It should have an aspect ratio of 4:5 and can be in either MP4 or MOV format with a maximum size limit of up to 120 seconds long,
- 30 fps max frames rate. This will depend entirely upon how fast things are moving within your footage.
It is difficult to predict what length film someone might get without knowing specifically which type(s) they want beforehand.
The aspect ratio should be between a square (the standard for Instagram posts) and a full-screen video.
Instagram Stories Ad Sizes
Instagram stories ads come in two types: image and video. Image ads are static images that can be up to 30 seconds long, while video ads are short videos that can be up to 60 seconds long.
Both image and video ads can be effective, but video ads tend to be more engaging and can tell a more complete story about your brand. If you have the budget, we recommend creating both types of ads to see which performs better with your target audience.
But with all the different ad sizes, knowing which one to use can be confusing. Here is a quick guide to the different ad sizes for Instagram stories:
- Standard: 1080×1920 pixels
- Vertical: 1080×1350 pixels
- Square: 1080×1080 pixels
- Wide: 1200×627 pixels.
The standard ad size is the most common and can be used for almost any type of story, while the vertical ad size is great for promoting products or services that are vertically oriented, such as clothing or travel.
The square ad size is perfect for promoting square-shaped products or services, such as books or home goods, while the wide ad size is ideal for promoting products or services that are wide in orientation, such as furniture or appliances.
So whatever type of product or service you’re promoting, there is an Instagram stories ad size that’s perfect for you. Once you’ve chosen the right size for your ad, you’ll need to create compelling content that will grab users’ attention and make them want to learn more about your brand.
Specifications and recommendations of Instagram stories images include:
- Minimum resolution: 600 × 1067 pixels.
- Recommended resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels.
- The appropriate aspect ratio is 9:16.
- All picture formats must be JPG or PNG with a maximum duration of 5 seconds and a maximum image size of 30MB.
- Instagram stories videos have the following formal sizes and specifications:
720 x 1280 pixels is the minimum resolution. - 1080 x 1920 pixels is the recommended resolution.
- The appropriate aspect ratio is 9:16.
- All video formats must be MP4 or MOV.
- 4GB is the maximum video size.
Instagram Carousel Ad Sizes
These are a great way to show off multiple products or images in one ad. They can be up to four images or videos, each individually customized with its link.
They are also interactive so that users can swipe through the images or videos in the ad.
Instagram Carousel Image Ads
Instagram carousel image ads allow businesses to share multiple images in a single post, and they can be an effective way to tell a story or highlight different products or services.
Businesses should keep certain specifications and recommendations when creating a carousel ad. They include:
- Each image should be 1080 x 1080 pixels (recommended size is 1,200 x 628 pixels).
- Images should be JPEGs or PNG with a maximum file size of 30MB.
- There is a limit of 10 images per carousel ad.
- Recommended resolution: 1080 x 1080 pixels.
- Proper aspect ratio: 1:1
In addition to the image specifications, businesses should also keep the following recommendations in mind when creating carousel ads:
- Ads should be creative and visually appealing.
- Copy should be clear and concise.
- Call-to-action should be included in each image.
- The target audience should be considered when selecting images and determining the ad’s overall message.
Instagram Carousel Video Ads
These are a great way to create an engaging and visually-appealing ad campaign. Here are some things to keep in mind when creating your carousel ad:
- Each video should be between 3 and 60 seconds long.
- The videos should be formatted as .mp4 or .mov files.
- The aspect ratio should be 1:1 or square.
The maximum file size is 4GB. - Minimum resolution: 600 x 600 pixels.
- Recommended resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels.
- Maximum video size: 4GB per video.
Keeping your videos concise and focused on a single message is important in terms of content.
You can include up to 10 videos in a single carousel, so make sure each one contributes to the overall story you’re trying to tell.
Don’t forget to add captions to your videos – they’ll help ensure your message is understood even if someone is watching without sound.
By following these guidelines, you can create an Instagram carousel video ad that is both effective and eye-catching.