Instagram feed posts
Single-image posts that stop the scroll, survive the 3:4 profile grid crop and earn saves.
A single image is the simplest Instagram post, and still the one that most shapes how your profile looks. It needs to work twice: full size in the feed, and cropped to 3:4 on your profile grid.
At a glance
| Spec | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Size | 1,080 × 1,350 px (4:5) · 1,080 × 1,080 px (1:1) |
| Aspect ratio | 4:5 → 1.91:1 |
| Profile grid crop | 3:4 (1,012 × 1,350 px) |
| Max file size | 8 MB |
| File types | JPG (PNG and WebP are converted for you) |
| Text length | 2,200 characters |
Safe zone
Since 2025 the profile grid shows posts as 3:4 tiles. A 4:5 post loses a thin strip on the left and right there, so keep text and faces away from the side edges.
Hook
- Use the full 4:5 height. A vertical post takes up more of the screen than a square one, which buys more attention in the feed.
- One focal point. A single face, product or headline reads at a glance; a busy collage doesn’t.
- Put the payoff on the image. A short headline (five to seven words) tells people why to stop before they reach the caption.
Design and edit
- Design at 1080 × 1350. Instagram downsizes anything larger and crops other ratios.
- Keep text large and short. If you need to zoom to read it on a phone, it’s too small.
- Stick to your brand look. The same fonts and colors across posts make your grid read as one brand.
- Add alt text. It makes your post accessible to people using screen readers.
Caption and copy
- Front-load the first line. Only the start of the caption shows before “more”; make it a reason to keep reading.
- Ask for a save or a share. Posts people send to friends or save for later travel further than posts that only get likes.
- Use a few specific hashtags. Three to five that describe the post beat a long list of generic ones.
Timing and cadence
- Post when your followers are online. Check when your audience is active and schedule a little before the peak.
- Be consistent rather than frequent. A steady rhythm you can keep beats bursts followed by silence.
What to measure
Saves and shares say the post was worth keeping or sending; reach shows how far it travelled beyond your followers. Compare them per post rather than likes alone.
How Octapost reports these metrics
Do it in Octapost
- Open the image editor with the Feed Vertical preset (1080 × 1350).
- Upload PNG or WebP if you like: Octapost converts it to JPG when it publishes, because Instagram only accepts JPG.
- Schedule it from the composer and check the Instagram preview before you confirm.
Creating posts in the composer
Checklist
- The image is 1080 × 1350 (4:5) or 1080 × 1080 (1:1).
- Nothing important touches the left or right edge (3:4 grid crop).
- Text is readable on a phone without zooming.
- The caption’s first line gives a reason to keep reading.
- Three to five relevant hashtags and alt text are added.
Sources
Platform guidance changes often. These are the official pages we check this guide against.