The quick rules for posting a Reel without surprises:
| What | Limit | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 9:16, 1080 × 1920 | Official (Meta recommends 9:16) |
| Length, recorded in the app | Up to 3 minutes | Official help centre |
| Length, uploaded | Meta's developer docs allow 3 seconds to 15 minutes for Reels posted through the API. Some guides report 15–20 minutes in the app for some accounts. | 15 min via API is official. In-app beyond 3 min is Check in-app |
| Caption | 2,200 characters | Official (API docs) |
| Hashtags | 5 per post or Reel. Instagram announced this through its @creators account in Dec 2025. Meta's API docs still say 30. | Widely reported. Check in-app |
| @mentions | 20 per caption | Official (API docs) |
| File | MP4 or MOV, H.264 or HEVC, 23–60 fps, video bitrate up to 25 Mbps | Official (API docs) |
Cover image
- Upload a cover at 1080 × 1920. On your profile grid it's cropped to 3:4, which takes roughly 240 px off the top and the bottom.
- Put your title text in the middle third.
Safe zones
- Keep text out of the top ~14% (~270 px) and the bottom ~35% (~670 px). Your caption, username and audio label sit there.
- Leave ~6% (~65 px) clear on each side, and extra room on the right for the like and share buttons.
- See article 12 for more.