Meta Ads Creative Specs 2026: Feed, Stories and Reels
A practical Meta and Instagram ads size guide for feed, Stories, Reels and carousel creative, with safe-zone checks and official references.
Meta placements are not one canvas. Prepare a small set of native ratios, keep essential copy away from interface controls and preview the creative in Ads Manager before launch.
Meta Ads Creative Specs 2026 cheat sheet
| Format | Recommended | Minimum / limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed image | 1080×1350 (4:5) or 1080×1080 (1:1) | Use a clear native ratio | 4:5 gives mobile feed creative more vertical space; square is a flexible fallback. |
| Stories and Reels | 1080×1920 (9:16) | Full-screen vertical | Keep key copy and logos inside the central safe area so profile and CTA UI do not cover them. |
| Video | 9:16 for Reels; match the placement | MP4 or MOV | Use sound and motion intentionally; check duration and placement rules for the objective. |
| Carousel | One consistent ratio across cards | Square or portrait card set | Do not mix unrelated crops; make the first card understandable on its own. |
How to prepare the creative
- Create a 4:5 feed version and a 9:16 Stories/Reels version instead of relying on an automatic crop.
- Place the hook, product and CTA inside the safe zone; platform overlays vary by device and placement.
- Treat the preview as a QA step, not a guarantee that every device will render identically.
Specs change—use this as a preflight checklist
The linked first-party documentation is the final authority at upload time. Check the campaign objective, placement, region and account interface before publishing, then compare the live preview with the source asset.
References and methodology
We use primary documentation where available and treat calculators as planning aids, not guarantees. Check the linked source when a platform changes its rules.
- Meta for Business: Instagram ads
Meta's overview of photo, video, carousel and Stories ad formats.
- Meta for Business: Reels ads
Official guidance on 9:16 creative, audio and Reels safe zones.
- Instagram Help: Reel aspect ratios
First-party aspect-ratio reference for Instagram Reels.
Turn this answer into a repeatable growth workflow.
Use the free result as your starting point, then move the next campaign, creative or growth decision into GrowthGPT when the work becomes repetitive.