Free tool · Social media

Instagram post preview

See your photo, video or carousel in an Instagram-style post before you publish, check the crop and export a PNG to share.

  • Free
  • No sign-up
  • Files stay on your device
Loading the post preview…

How it works

Preview a post in three steps.

  1. 1

    Add your photo or video

    Drop in one file for a single post, or up to 20 for a carousel. Put the slides in the order you want.

  2. 2

    Check the crop

    Switch between 4:5, 1:1, 3:4 and 1.91:1 and see what gets cut off. The grid view shows your cover as a profile tile.

  3. 3

    Write the caption and export

    Add your username and caption, see where the feed cuts it off, then download a PNG to share for feedback.

Size guide

Instagram post sizes to use.

Instagram posts are 1080 pixels wide. The height depends on the shape you pick, and every slide in a carousel uses the same one.

4:5 portrait, 1080 × 1350 px

Fills more of the feed than a square post. A safe default for most photos and graphics.

3:4 tall, 1080 × 1440 px

The tallest feed size and the same shape as the tiles on your profile grid. Phone cameras shoot 3:4 photos by default.

1:1 square, 1080 × 1080 px

Good for product shots and centered graphics. The profile grid trims the sides to fit its 3:4 tiles.

1.91:1 landscape, 1080 × 566 px

For wide scenes and banners. It shows smallest in the feed, so keep any text large.

Carousels

Get a carousel right before it goes out.

Lead with the cover

The first slide is the one people see in the feed and on your profile grid. Make it the strongest one.

Design for one shape

A carousel uses one size for every slide, and files that don't match get cropped. Make every slide for the same ratio.

Keep the subject in the middle

When a file is cropped, the edges go first. Keep faces, products and text away from the sides.

FAQ

Instagram post preview questions.

Short answers about how the tool works and what it's for.

What size should an Instagram post be?

Posts are 1080 pixels wide. For the height, use 1350 px for a 4:5 portrait post, 1440 px for a 3:4 post, 1080 px for a square post or 566 px for a 1.91:1 landscape post. The two taller sizes take up the most room in the feed.

How do I preview an Instagram post before posting?

Add your photo or video to the tool above, pick a size and write your caption. The preview shows what gets cropped, where the feed cuts the caption off and how the carousel dots look. It's a mockup, so small details can differ from the app.

Can I preview a carousel post?

Yes. Add up to 20 photos or videos, put them in order by dragging or with the move buttons, and flip through the slides with the arrows. The profile grid view shows the first slide as the cover.

Can I preview a video post?

Yes. Videos play in the preview with their normal controls. The PNG export uses the frame showing in the post view, so pause on the frame you want before you export.

Does this tool upload my photos?

No. Your files open in your browser and are never sent to a server. The PNG is made in your browser too. Close the tab and they're gone.

Does it post to Instagram?

No. It only makes a preview. When you're ready, post from Instagram or your scheduling tool. Lucas, SmallForce's AI social media manager, can write and schedule posts for you and waits for your OK.

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Lucas · AI social media manager

Previewed it? Lucas can post it.

Lucas, your AI social media manager, writes and schedules posts for every platform and waits for your OK before they go out.

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