Every limit that applies
The Help Center lists the numbers that decide how long a Reel can be and how it has to be made:
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Longest Reel | 20 minutes, from one clip or several added together | Instagram Help Center, Record a reel |
| Recommended to new audiences | Up to 3 minutes. Longer Reels are not. | Instagram Help Center, Record a reel |
| One clip in a story | Up to 60 seconds. Longer videos are split into several clips. | Instagram, How to use Instagram Stories |
| Aspect ratio | Between 1.91:1 and 9:16 | Instagram Help Center, Reel size and aspect ratios |
| Minimum frame rate | 30 frames per second | Same |
| Minimum resolution | 720 pixels | Same |
| Cover image | 420 by 654 pixels recommended, a 1:1.55 ratio | Same |
If you have read that the maximum is 60 seconds, 90 seconds or 3 minutes, those were all true at some point. Instagram has raised the limit several times, which is why older articles still disagree with the Help Center.
The 3 minute line
One sentence in the Reels help matters more than the maximum: Reels over 3 minutes will not be recommended to new audiences.
The short end is open too: even a Live Photo saved as a video, a few seconds long, makes a Reel, as how to post a Live Photo on Instagram explains.
A Reel reaches people by two routes. Your followers see it in their feed and on your profile. Everyone else sees it only when Instagram recommends it, in the Reels tab and in Explore. Go past 3 minutes and the second route closes, which on a 20 minute scale leaves a narrow window for discovery:
| Reel length | Your followers | People who do not follow you | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 3 minutes | Can see it. | Can be recommended. | Anything meant to find new customers. |
| 3 to 20 minutes | Can see it. | Not recommended. | Tutorials, demos, talks and recordings for people who already follow you. |
For a business the rule follows directly. A Reel whose job is discovery stays under 3 minutes. A long Reel is a service to people who already follow you, and it should be planned as one rather than trimmed down from something that was meant to travel.
How to record or upload a long Reel
- From your Feed, tap Create at the bottom, then Reel.
- Tap the camera to record, or tap your camera roll in the bottom left to add a video.
- Record one clip or several. The progress bar at the top shows how much you have used.
- Tap Next, then Edit video to trim clips, reorder them and adjust text and music on the timeline.
- Tap Next, choose a cover, write the caption and tap Share.
Reels are not available on every account. Some accounts can watch Reels without being able to record them, and updating the app is the first thing to try if the option is missing.
Long videos lose quality most easily, so turn on Upload at highest quality before you post: Profile, menu, then Media quality under "Your app and media". The upload takes longer with it on. The full posting flow for every format is in how to post on Instagram.
Size, aspect ratio and cover
- Aspect ratio. Anything between 1.91:1 and 9:16 is accepted. Vertical 9:16 fills the phone screen, which is where Reels are watched.
- Frame rate and resolution. At least 30 frames per second and at least 720 pixels.
- Cover. 420 by 654 pixels is the recommended size. The cover cannot currently be changed after upload, so choose it before you share.
- Text placement. The caption and the buttons sit along the bottom and the right edge, so keep on screen text away from both.
The same numbers for every platform side by side are in our reference on social media post sizes.
How long a Reel should be
There is no single right length. What decides the length is how long the idea takes to deliver:
- One idea per Reel. If the script needs "and also", it is two Reels.
- Payoff early. The first seconds decide whether the rest is watched. Nine ways to open a Reel goes through the openings and where each one backfires.
- Edit by retention. Insights show the second where viewers leave, and that second is the next cut.
- Under 3 minutes for discovery. This one is Instagram's line, not a matter of style.
To study a Reel that works, yours or someone else's, our guide to pausing Instagram Reels covers the controls.
Reels and stories compared
| Format | Length limit | How long it stays | Reaches new people? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reel | Up to 20 minutes | On your profile until you delete or archive it | Yes, if 3 minutes or shorter |
| Story video | 60 seconds per clip, longer videos split into clips | 24 hours, unless added to a highlight | Mostly seen by followers |
A story is for the people who already follow you and lasts a day; our guide to how long Instagram stories last covers highlights and the archive.
How we will test this
Not run yetEverything above comes from the published sources listed below, and nothing here is presented as something we measured. Our own test on live accounts has not been run yet.
This is the test we will run: we post Reels of 55 seconds, 2 minutes 50, 3 minutes 10 and 12 minutes from our own test accounts, on iPhone and Android, and record what the app accepts, what it trims and what the insights show about reach among non followers after seven days.
Platforms change behavior without announcing it, so once the first test is run we repeat it every quarter, and this section will say when it was run and on which devices and app versions.
Sources
Read on September 17, 2026.
- Instagram Help Center, Record a reel on Instagram
- Instagram Help Center, Reel size and aspect ratios on Instagram
- Instagram, About blog, How to use Instagram Stories
Questions people ask next
How long can Instagram Reels be?+
Up to 20 minutes, according to Instagram's Help Center. Reels longer than 3 minutes are not recommended to new audiences.
Are Instagram Reels 90 seconds or 3 minutes?+
Neither is the current maximum. Instagram has raised the limit over time, and its Help Center now says 20 minutes. The 3 minute figure survives as the limit for being recommended to people who do not follow you.
Do long Reels get less reach?+
Reels over 3 minutes are not recommended to new audiences. Your followers can still see them.
How long can a Reel be if I upload it from my camera roll?+
The Help Center gives one limit, 20 minutes, for a Reel made from one video or several clips added together, and does not set a separate one for uploads.
What is the best aspect ratio for Reels?+
Instagram accepts ratios between 1.91:1 and 9:16. Vertical 9:16 fills the screen and is the usual choice.
What size should a Reel cover be?+
420 by 654 pixels, a 1:1.55 ratio. The cover cannot currently be edited after upload.
What frame rate do Reels need?+
At least 30 frames per second, with a minimum resolution of 720 pixels.
How long can a video in an Instagram story be?+
Each story clip can be up to 60 seconds. A longer video is split into several clips that play back to back.
Why can I not record Reels?+
Reels are not available to everyone, and some accounts can see Reels but cannot record them. Updating the app is the first thing to try.
How long should a business Reel be?+
As long as the idea needs and no longer, and under 3 minutes if the Reel is meant to reach new customers. Retention in insights shows where to cut.