When was the last time you checked your social media image formats? If it’s been a while, now’s the time to take another look. Recent updates, especially on Instagram, are changing how your content appears—and optimizing for these changes can improve your engagement.
Instagram’s Big Change: The End of the Square Grid
Instagram is rolling out a significant update to its profile grid: photos and videos will now display as rectangles instead of the traditional square format. According to Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, this shift reflects how most users already upload vertical content.
For years, Instagram has been known for its signature square photo layout, and many businesses have built their profiles around it. However, if you’ve been posting vertical content like Reels, you’ve likely experienced the frustration of Instagram cropping key elements to fit the square format.
What’s the New Instagram Format?
The new profile grid format uses a 4:5 aspect ratio, meaning your ideal image size should be 1080×1350 pixels. This change allows your content to take up more space in the feed, increasing visibility and engagement.
The new format — a 4:5 ratio or 1080×1350 — should simplify things for you and let your content take up more space in the feed.
For Instagram Reels and Stories, a 9:16 ratio (1080×1920 pixels) is still the best format since it fills the entire mobile screen. However, keep in mind that when displayed in your profile grid, these vertical videos will be cropped slightly to 1080×1320 pixels. To avoid cutting off crucial information, position key elements in the center of your thumbnail.
Why This Matters for Your Social Media Strategy
Since most social media is now consumed on mobile devices, optimizing for vertical formats gives your content more screen real estate.
More image space means more screen real estate for your content.
Beyond Instagram, this update has implications for other platforms:
- LinkedIn & Facebook: A 4:5 ratio (1080×1350 pixels) works well here too, making your posts more visually impactful.
- Pinterest: Vertical images have been performing well for a while, but the optimal aspect ratio here is 2:3 (1000×1500 pixels).
Action Steps: Update Your Templates
With these updates in mind, now is a great time to review and refresh your content strategy:
- Adjust Your Image Templates – Ensure your images are formatted correctly for each platform.
- Keep Key Information Centered – Especially for videos that may be cropped in profile grids.
- Take Advantage of More Screen Space – Using the right dimensions increases visibility and engagement.
By tailoring your content to each platform’s strengths, you’ll not only improve the look of your posts but also maximize their impact. If you haven’t updated your image formats yet, now’s the perfect time to start!
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Links in this episode: Instagram profile grids are going to feature rectangles instead of squares
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