How Long Can Instagram Reels Be? What’s the Optimal Length?
Instagram Reels have quickly become one of the most popular content formats on social media. Whether you’re a creator, marketer, or just someone who loves sharing videos, knowing the exact Instagram Reels length limits is crucial for optimizing your content.
Our 2025 Social Media Study showed that Reels were the most popular video content form in terms of engagement rate – 5.84% in accounts with between 2,000 and 50,000 followers. So, whether your Reels aren’t having the impact you want or you haven’t made them part of your Instagram strategy yet, this article is for you. Maximum and minimum Instagram Reels length, how their length has changed over time, and tips for making the most out of this feature with examples – We’ve got it all, so let’s dive in!
Understanding Instagram Reels Length
What Is the Maximum Instagram Reels Length?
Instagram initially launched Reels with a short duration limit, but over time, the platform has expanded the maximum length to accommodate more content styles. Currently, Instagram Reels can be up to 3 minutes long.
Minimum Instagram Reels Length
The minimum length for an Instagram Reel is 3 seconds. Anything shorter than that will not qualify as a Reel and cannot be uploaded in the Reels format.
The Benefits of Reels (…and short-form video in general)
You don’t need us to tell you that short-form video is one of today’s most popular content formats. IG Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Snapchat, and many other platforms allow us to share short videos, but what are the benefits?
- They grab attention quickly and get straight to the point (well, good ones do!).
- Making short videos is a great way to repurpose long-form blog and video content.
- They are easier to digest on the go, through our phones than longer videos.
- The Instagram algorithm favors content that keeps users engaged, so a well-paced 30 to 90-second Reel has a higher chance of going viral.
Instagram Reels Length vs Stories, Feed Videos and Other Platforms
Stories vs Reels vs Feed Videos
As we mentioned, Instagram Reels can be up to 3 minutes long, while stories can now be up to 60 seconds. Feed videos can be up to 1 hour long.
IG Reels Length vs TikTok
TikTok recently increased the limit for videos recorded on the platform to 10 minutes. You can upload videos up to 60 minutes long to TikTok from your library.
IG Reels Length vs Snapchat
Snapchat videos always appear in a story-like format, so they can be up to 10 seconds. You can record and send longer videos but they will be cut into 10-second clips (up to 10).
IG Reels Length vs YouTube Shorts
YouTube increased the length of Shorts to 3 minutes in late 2024. Many people believe this was the inspiration for Instagram’s change.
How to Make the Most of Your Instagram Reels Length (With Examples)
Choosing the Right Instagram Reel Length for Your Content
- Short and Snappy (3-15 seconds): Great for quick tips, memes, or catchy visuals. High energy wins with shorter reels.
- Medium Length (15-60 seconds): Ideal for tutorials, product showcases, or engaging storytelling.
- Full-Length (60 seconds – 3 mins): Best for in-depth content, mini vlogs, or step-by-step guides. Here’s a great example from Social Media Agency manager, @brittsocialmedia
Best Practices for Engaging Reels
It’s not the size of the boat that matters, it’s the motion in the ocean. In other words the length of your Reels isn’t as important as the content within them. Here are some best practices to follow:
- Hook your audience in the first 3 seconds to ensure they keep watching.
- Use captions and text overlays to add context.
- Add trending audio and effects to increase reach.
- Maintain a fast-paced editing style to hold attention.
- Encourage interaction with questions, polls, or CTAs (Call-to-Actions)
How to Know If You’re Using The Right Instagram Reels Length: Tracking
The best way to make sure you are using the right instagram reels length, and that your content hits the mark with your followers. As well as the engagement metrics you already have on the Instagram, you can access advanced metrics through the Metricool Dashboard including:
- Organic Reels Summary: Average engagement rate, number of interactions, average Reels reach, total number views for all Reels, and Reels posted over a period of time you selct.
- Organic Reels Interactions: Number of likes, comments, saves, shares, and Reels posted over a period of time.
- List of Reels: Individual Reels with publish date, reach, interactions, and engagement per Reel.
How Instagram Reel Length Has Changed Over Time
Initial Launch: 15 Seconds Limit
When Instagram Reels first launched in August 2020, the maximum video length was limited to 15 seconds. This was Instagram’s way of competing with TikTok’s short-form content format.
30-Second Extension
A few months after the initial release, Instagram increased the duration limit to 30 seconds, giving creators a little more room to experiment.
60-Second Reels
By mid-2021, Instagram further extended the limit to 60 seconds, responding to user feedback and the growing popularity of longer videos.
90-Second Limit
As of 2022, Instagram officially extended the Reel duration to 90 seconds, allowing even more flexibility for storytelling and creativity.
3-Minute Reels (Current)
In January 2025, the maximum Instagram Reels length was extended to 3 minutes. Great news for creators who want to pack more information, knowledge, and creativity into their content.
Why Instagram Extended Reels Length
Before we get into our reasons for increasing Instagram Reels length, here’s the platform’s CEO, Adam Mosseri explaining the change:
So, while Mosseri only mentioned user feedback as the main reason for increasing the length of IG Reels, there were also some other impactful factors.
Competition With TikTok and YouTube Shorts
Although they insist they’re primarily a photo-sharing app, Instagram is in direct competition with platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts, both of which offer short-form video content. By increasing Reel length, Instagram allows users to create content that rivals these platforms.
More Room for Creativity
With a longer time limit, creators can add more context to their videos, engage audiences better, and avoid the need for multiple clips to tell a story.
Better Engagement and Monetization
Longer Reels mean more watch time, which can improve engagement rates. Additionally, creators and businesses can incorporate more storytelling elements, making their content more appealing.
Online Attention Spans are Increasing Again (Yay!)
We’ve all heard that attention spans have been getting shorter as technology has given us more things to divide our focus. But everything goes in cycles, right? Older generations are now embracing social media more than ever, and as nature would have it, current users are getting older. As we age, we naturally look for more in-depth information and greater context. 3-minute videos provide the perfect balance between depth and entertainment.
The Future of Instagram Reels Length: Will Instagram Increase It Again?
Instagram, as always, are tight-lipped on the future of Reels. However, with TikTok Increasing its maximum video length to 10 minutes, it will be interesting to see which platform will be first to follow suit.
For more on how to optimize your Reels content, check out our guide below
