Stories are full-screen, fast, and UI-heavy. The same beautiful PSD that looks perfect in isolation can fail once Instagram stacks stickers, link pills, and reply affordances on top.
Master canvas
1080 × 1920 pixels, 9:16. That matches how most phones display Stories end-to-end.
Photo Stories vs video Stories
- Photo: Keep essential subjects inside the center “safe column”; export JPG/PNG with sane file weight.
- Video: Use the same geometry as Reels masters when possible so editors reuse timelines.
Sticker & link real estate
Interactive stickers (polls, sliders, questions) eat touch targets. Plan negative space instead of crowding the lower third-especially for commerce tags.
Text & brand guidelines
- Minimum type size should remain readable when scaled to iPhone mini class widths.
- Use brand colors with enough luminance contrast for outdoor viewing.
- If you localize, check string length-German copy wraps aggressively.
Privacy adjacent (not the same topic)
If you were looking for anonymity tips, see our separate guide on viewing Stories with less visibility-a different problem than export geometry.
Scheduling checklist
- First frame sells the swipe-optimize cover thumbnails inside video exports.
- Second clip should escalate value (tutorial step 2, punchline, CTA).
- Link stickers: confirm destination UTMs before go-live.
Frequently asked questions
- What dimensions are Instagram Stories?
- Design at 1080×1920 (9:16) for full-screen vertical Stories. Export H.264/AAC MP4 when uploading video Stories when possible.
- How much padding should I leave for stickers and UI?
- Keep critical text and tap targets out of the extreme top, right, and bottom bands where reply fields, link stickers, and profile chrome appear.
- Should I burn captions into Story video?
- Yes if you rely on sound-off viewing. Lift captions slightly above the default sticker lane so they are not covered by UI.
- How long can Instagram Stories be?
- Video Stories are short per clip limits; plan multi-clip narratives. Confirm the current cap inside Instagram before a timed launch.