Design full bleed
Let photography, colour and motion fill the vertical canvas rather than building in artificial borders.
Instagram Story · 2027 planning guide
Instagram Story size 2027: 1080 × 1920 and built for the UI
Instagram Stories are a full-screen vertical format. For 2027 planning, the current production standard remains a 1080 × 1920 pixel canvas at 9:16, with important copy and branding kept clear of the interface at the top and bottom.
2027 planning guideBased on current platform guidance reviewed 27 September 2026. We’ll update this page when platform specifications or UI change.
Instagram Story dimensions and practical layout guidance
The canvas is simple. The important part is how your creative sits beneath the Story interface.
| Format | Dimensions | Ratio | Design note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Story canvas | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | Recommended full-screen vertical production canvas. |
| Artwork treatment | Full bleed | 9:16 | Background imagery can fill the frame edge to edge. |
| Key copy / logos | Keep inside the central area | — | Avoid placing essential information tight against the top and bottom UI zones. |
| Cross-use with Reels | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | A shared master can work, but the Story and Reel interfaces occupy different areas. |
Treat the interface as part of the layout
Protect the message
Keep headlines, logos and important faces clear of the Story account header and bottom reply/actions area.
Check the real context
A safe area is not just a template overlay. Preview the actual UI treatment before sign-off.
What designers need to know
The size is stable; the interface is what dates templates
The 9:16 canvas has remained a dependable production format, but the surrounding Instagram UI continues to evolve. That is why a Story template can look old even when its pixel dimensions are technically correct.
MockUp Buddy’s approach is to keep the full-screen creative and current platform-style overlay together, so designers can review both the artwork and the environment it has to survive.
Preview it properly
Check your Story against the current interface
Preview the 9:16 artwork full bleed with the current Story-style UI sitting on top before you send the design for approval.
Preview an Instagram StoryFrequently asked questions
What size should an Instagram Story be in 2027?
Based on current guidance, use 1080 × 1920 pixels at 9:16.
What is the Instagram Story safe area?
There is no single permanent safe-area rectangle because interface elements and stickers can vary. Keep essential content comfortably away from the top and bottom UI zones and preview the creative in context.
Can I use the same artwork for Instagram Stories and Reels?
Both use a 9:16 full-screen canvas, but their interface elements differ, so important content should be checked in each placement.
Related guides
SOCIAL MEDIA MOCKUPS THAT LOOK LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY.
Check the spec. Then see the creative in context.
Use MockUp Buddy to preview your artwork inside a current platform-style interface before it goes into the deck or goes live.
Preview an Instagram Story →