How to Use Instagram Stories Templates
Instagram Stories might only last 24 hours, but they still play a big part in your content strategy. With the right templates, you can create polished, consistent content without spending hours designing each Story.
Whether you’re managing your own brand or handling content for clients, templates help you save time, post more often, and maintain a clean, professional look.
Here’s how they work, where to find them, and how to create custom templates for your Stories.
What Are Instagram Story Templates?
Instagram Story templates are pre-made layouts that make it easier to create Stories with a consistent design. Some are available directly inside the Instagram app, while others can be created using third-party tools like Canva or Unfold.
These templates are meant to simplify your workflow. You can update them with your own content and share polished visuals without starting from scratch every time.
Why Use Instagram Story Templates?
If you post Stories regularly, templates can help you keep your content looking consistent without reinventing the wheel.
Here’s what templates help you do:
- Save time and reduce design work
- Stay on-brand with consistent colors and fonts
- Post more frequently without creative burnout
- Share promotions, updates, and behind-the-scenes content with ease
- Make it easier for your audience to recognize your brand
Templates also work well when you’re short on time or ideas, helping you fill content gaps without sacrificing quality.
How to Find Story Templates on Instagram
Instagram now includes built-in Story templates that make it simple to post engaging, interactive content. These options are quick to use and ideal when you want to share something on the fly.
Follow these steps to find them in the app:
- Open the Instagram app and go to the Story camera
- Swipe up to open your photo library
- Tap Template at the top of the screen
- Browse categories like:
- Trending Templates
- International Hits
- Add Yours
These templates often include fun prompts like “This or That,” “About Me,” or “What’s Your Fave.” They’re meant to encourage your followers to interact and share their own version by tapping “Add Yours.”
You can also edit the text or add GIFs and stickers to personalize your post before sharing it.
How to Create Custom Templates With Design Tools
If you want full control over the look and feel of your Stories, third-party design tools let you create templates that match your brand. These are especially useful for businesses or creators who want to stick to specific fonts, color palettes, and logos.
Canva Instagram Story Templates
Want full creative control over how your Stories look? Canva makes it easy to build custom templates that match your brand style. Think fonts, colors, logos, and more. Whether you’re announcing a sale, sharing updates, or creating a weekly series, having reusable Story templates saves time and keeps your content consistent.
Here’s how to build your own templates in Canva:
- Open Canva and search “Instagram Story”
- Choose a template that fits your goal, such as a promo, quote, or countdown
- Swap in your brand colors, fonts, and images
- Add your logo or any other design elements you always use
- Download your design and upload it to your Instagram Story
Once you’ve created a few go-to designs, you can reuse them for different campaigns by tweaking the visuals or text.
If you’re also managing content with Metricool, you can make the process even smoother.
Use Canva and Metricool Together to Save Time
If you’re already using Metricool to plan and schedule social media content, you can pull your Canva designs straight into the planner. No need to download files or switch between platforms.
You have two ways to use this integration:
1. Access Canva from Metricool
If you’re on a Metricool paid plan, you can open your Canva files directly in the Media Planner:
- Go to the Metricool planner
- Click the media icon to the left of “Create Post”
- Select the Canva button and connect your account
- Search or browse your Canva files
- Drag a design into the planner, write your caption, and schedule it
This works for Instagram Stories, posts, Reels, or any other content you’re sharing. You can also export files in different formats such as PDF, MP4, or GIF, and schedule content based on your best posting times.
2. Schedule Stories from Canva with the Metricool Add-On
If you’re using the free version of Metricool, you can still schedule content from Canva with the Metricool add-on:
- Open Canva and create your Story design
- Click “Share,” then scroll down and click “More”
- Search for Metricool in the app marketplace
- Choose the file type, write your caption, and click save
- Canva will redirect you to your Metricool planner with the design and copy preloaded
All that’s left is to select the platform, pick a date and time, and finalize your post.
Why Use This Integration?
- Skip downloading and uploading files
- Keep your design and scheduling process in one place
- Access all your Canva templates right from Metricool
- Stay consistent with your content and post at the best times
- Spend less time managing content and more time creating it
If Canva is your go-to design tool and Metricool is your content planner, using both together is a smart move. It keeps everything connected and helps you work faster without losing your creative flow.
Other Instagram Story Template Tools
- Mojo for animated Stories
- Unfold for clean, minimal layouts
- Figma for more advanced design control
- GoDaddy Studio for layering images, text, and brand elements
Each tool offers different styles and features, so you can choose the one that fits your content needs best.
How to Schedule Instagram Stories With Metricool
After creating your templates, the next step is planning when and where they go live. That’s where Metricool comes in.
With Metricool, you can:
- Upload and schedule Instagram Stories from your desktop
- Send designs directly from Canva to your Metricool account
- View everything in one place with a visual content calendar
- Track what works and what doesn’t with analytics
This helps you stay organized, avoid last-minute scrambling, and keep your Stories aligned with the rest of your content plan.
Instagram Story templates make it easier to share great content without spending hours editing. Whether you’re using Instagram’s built-in options or designing your own with tools like Canva, templates help you stay consistent, save time, and look professional.
And when you schedule them with Metricool, managing your Instagram presence becomes even easier.
