The three frames that matter
| Placement | Ratio | Export size |
|---|---|---|
| Feed square | 1:1 | 1080 × 1080 |
| Feed portrait | 4:5 | 1080 × 1350 |
| Story / Reel cover | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 |
Those are the sizes Instagram displays. Uploading larger is fine, but exporting at the final ratio is what keeps the border even after processing.
How wide should the border be?
- 1:1 feed: 4–5% of the short side. A 1080 px square gets a 43–54 px border.
- 4:5 portrait: 5–6%. A 1080 px short side gets 54–65 px; the extra height gives the eye room.
- 9:16 story: 3–4%. Thick borders eat the vertical space and compete with the UI.
If the image will sit in a grid, pick one width and keep it across the set. Mixed margins read as screenshots.
Do not let Instagram crop the border
Instagram will crop an upload that does not match the selected frame. If you add a border to a 3:2 photo and then choose 4:5 in the app, the top and bottom margins disappear. Set the aspect ratio first, then add the border, then export at the final pixel size.
Step by step in white-border
- Open the editor and load the photo.
- Choose the aspect ratio: 1:1, 4:5, or 9:16.
- Set the border width to the percentages above.
- Check Fit if you want the whole photo, or Crop if it should fill the frame.
- Export JPEG at the highest quality you need. Keep the EXIF if the camera data matters.
Grid consistency
A profile grid is read as a whole before anyone taps a photo. Keep the same border width, the same aspect ratio, and a consistent color treatment. If one post uses a thin border and the next uses a wide one, the grid looks unfinished even when each photo is good.
For a series, save the settings and apply them to the whole batch. It is faster than matching numbers by eye.
Related guides
Need the general width rules? Read the white border width guide. Working with iPhone photos? See HEIC white borders.