How long of video can you post on instagram

Instagram is one of the world’s most popular social networking apps. With around 1 billion official app users and 500 million daily active users of IG stories—the app has made it big in the social media game.

Instagram allows users to share videos through their smartphones by simply setting up an Instagram account.

The users will be able to post videos on their profiles—visible to their visitors or to the public—depending on the privacy settings.

But, figuring out how to put up videos can be a little tricky as Instagram has variable video lengths allowed. Each video type has a different time limit.

This blog will cover all those video types, including Instagram feed and story videos, IG live, Instagram reels, and ad videos.

So, let’s get started!

1. The specified length of Instagram videos

Instagram feed video length can be from 3 seconds to 60 seconds.

If your video exceeds the minute-length limit, then it becomes a part of reels. Your normal feed will still be a 60-second preview of the video.

Users can also upload a video of 15 minutes max to Instagram, and they will become part of reels.

To post your video, simply select it and click on “Next,” then tap “Trim,” and then hold and drag the video until you have reached the time of the video you want to use in your handle.

You can also later drag the handle to crop left or right if you still have the 1-minute limit left.

Story videos can be 60 seconds long.

Before the recent update, if you tried to upload a 1-minute long video as your story, the app would automatically divide it into 15-second sections. However, users will now be able to share 60-second stories in a single slide with the new feature.

You can also share your reels via the story feature. It gives a short preview, and when you click to open it, it redirects you to reels.

IG reels can be of 90 seconds in length.

Reels can be 15 seconds long by default. But if you want to change it, switch from “15” to “90” on the left side of the screen before you start recording.

This will then lock the video’s selected time, so make sure that you switch up the timer before you start recording.

Instagram has taken several steps to push reels to try and compete with TikTok.

Videos can be of 15 minutes max to remain part of the reels. Users can split videos into 15 minutes if they are longer.

Instagram live video length can be 4 hours max.

If you want to share your live video directly after you finish, it has to be within the 15-minute limit because otherwise, it won’t upload.

If you’re going live on Instagram, you get the time limit of 4 hours per stream. This is a recent update from an earlier 60-minute video length allowed.

According to Instagram: “This could help people such as instructors who had to pivot to virtual classes, budding musicians, artists, or activists hosting discussions with fellow peers engage with their audience with no interruption from a 60-minute time limit.”

2. The specified length of Instagram video ads

If you want to run ads on Instagram, then the specified time limit is between 1 and 60 seconds.

Instagram story video ad length can only be 2 minutes.

If you want to put up your ad on an Instagram story, you can do it with separate story cards. Each story allows a 15-second video or a single photo ad displayed for 5 seconds.

A complete ad can have 10 cards, but only the first 3 will appear on the Instagram story feed. After that, the viewer will have to choose to see more after tapping on the ad.

3. How to adjust video length for Instagram

With all these time limits and different types of video posting options, you must be wondering how to upload perfectly each time. Here are some tips to make that happen:

• Create a video carousel post

If you’re afraid that your IG feed video is too long and don’t feel like editing it, simply create a video carousel post by dividing the video into smaller clips. The viewer would be able to watch it all by swiping the post.

These video carousels can be 10 minutes long—which is far greater than a 60 seconds limit!

• Lengthen your video with extra footage and loops

If you felt under pressure to be within the length limit and created a video way too short, then you can add extra footage, slow down the video or add a loop. Another way is to create an intro and an end screen using a video editor.

If your Instagram story is too long, then you can download any video editor of your liking for Instagram. Record, open, edit, and slice down the video into your app and select the clips to upload the whole story.

Related: How to Combine Multiple Videos into One

• Use cards for Instagram ad video

If your IG ad video is longer than 15 seconds, then use the 10 cards provided by Instagram containing 15 seconds video length limit each. This will allow you to display your entire ad without having to constrict it.

If you want to have a more extended live stream on Instagram and even the 4-hour limit seems too short. Then you can quickly go live again as soon as you hit the time limit and can restart the stream as many times as you want.

Wrap up

We hope this blog cleared your confusion about the Instagram video length limits and helps you plan your content strategy with greater precision.

If you want to dive right into creating engaging video content for your company’s Instagram or other social media but need help with production, feel free to reach out to us.

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