Formats
JPG, PNG
Instagram story highlight cover size
As of July 2, 2026, the Instagram story highlight cover is 1080 by 1920 pixels (9:16). Below is the full spec, then a resizer already set to that size so you can export a perfectly fitted image.
InstagramStory highlight coverConvention, not published by InstagramLast verified July 2, 2026
Recommended size1080x1920 px
Aspect ratio9:16
Safe zone: Instagram crops a circle from the centre; keep any icon, logo or text inside the centre 600 by 600 pixels so it survives the mask.
Resize to 1080x1920 now
Preloaded to the Instagram story highlight cover size. Drop an image and download it ready to post. It never leaves your browser.
About the Instagram story highlight cover size
A Story highlight cover uses the same 1080 by 1920 canvas as a regular Story, because Instagram simply lets you pick a custom image or a frame from an existing Story when you set the cover. What actually shows on your profile is a tiny circle cropped from the centre of that image, so the outer edges are wasted space. Design a highlight cover the way you would a highlight icon: a simple, centred mark inside roughly the middle 600 by 600 pixels, high contrast, and no fine detail, because it is often displayed at 60 to 90 pixels wide next to your name.
Quick tips
- 01Upload at 1080 by 1920, the same canvas as a Story; only the centre circle actually shows.
- 02Keep the icon or logo inside the centre 600 by 600 pixels so the circular crop does not cut it off.
- 03Design for a tiny 60-90px circle; bold and simple beats detailed artwork.
Frequently asked questions
What aspect ratio is the Instagram story highlight cover?
The Instagram story highlight cover uses a 9:16 aspect ratio at 1080 by 1920 pixels.
Looking up the number rather than the platform? What 1080x1920 is, and everything else that uses it.
9:16 is a shape, not just this size. See every image size that uses the 9:16 aspect ratio, where it comes from, and how to crop into it.
Related sizes
Instagram post (portrait)1080x1350Instagram story1080x1920Instagram reel1080x1920Instagram profile picture640x640Instagram portrait post1080x1350Instagram carousel1080x1350
How this spec was checked
Platform sizes change without notice, so this entry records what it was verified against rather than stating a number and hoping it holds. Last checked July 2, 2026.
ConventionInstagram does not publish a size for this surface. The number below is the one the industry has standardised on, which is a useful answer but not a claim about Instagram.
Every spec on this site carries one of those two labels. See the cheat sheet for the full split, and the changelog for every correction with the date it happened.
See all Instagram sizes, the full cheat sheet, or grab this spec from the JSON API.