Instagram Preview: How Your Photo Will Look on Your Feed
Instagram crops photos differently in feed (square or 4:5), grid (square), and story (9:16). A preview tool lets you see all three views before posting so you can choose framing that works in every context.
Instagram's interface shows your post in multiple contexts: the feed (one big image), the profile grid (square thumbnail), Reels surface (9:16 vertical), and explore page (variable). The same photo can frame beautifully in feed but get cropped weirdly in the grid.
Tips for posts that work in all crops
- β’Compose for the most aggressive crop β usually the square grid view
- β’Keep important content away from the edges, especially top and bottom 12.5% (cropped to grid)
- β’Use 1080Γ1350 (4:5 portrait) for the largest possible feed display
- β’Reels and Stories need separate 9:16 versions, not the same image
Extended FAQ
What aspect ratio gets the most attention?
Vertical 4:5 takes up the most screen space in the feed. Square 1:1 is universal but smaller. Horizontal 1.91:1 takes the least space (and the least attention).
Are my preview images stored?
No β runs entirely in your browser.