Instagram Reels
Safe Zone Checker
Check Instagram Reels and Stories, organic or paid, against Meta’s published safe zone guidance. Your creative is shown under the Reels buttons, caption, audio line and call-to-action so you can spot covered text before it goes live.
1Upload creative
Upload an image, video or cover frame
Best at 1080 × 1920 px. Your file never leaves your browser.
2Select placement
Instagram Reels: 1080 × 1920 px
- Top
- 250 px (13%)
- Bottom
- 670 px (35%)
- Left / right
- 65 px / 65 px
- Safe area
- 950 × 1000 px
Source: Meta Ads Guide (facebook.com/business/ads-guide), Instagram Reels (written for ads, slightly conservative for organic).
3Display options
Instagram Reels Preview
viralsuite
Your caption appears here, check it doesn’t cover your text ✨ more
Platforms auto-crop media that isn't 9:16 to fill the frame. Upload 1080 × 1920 px to avoid surprises.
The overlay PNG holds the layers you have switched on, ready to drop on top of your design in Canva, Figma or Photoshop. Free, no email needed.
Safe zone check
- Top 250 px (13%): Reels header and camera button.
- Bottom 670 px (35%): username, Follow button, caption, audio label and navigation bar.
- Sides 65 px (6%) each: like, comment, share and more buttons on the right edge.
If any text, face or logo touches the red striped areas or sits under the app buttons, move it inside the green outline.
How to check the Instagram safe zone
Three quick steps, all in your browser.
1. Upload your Reel or Story
Add a video, image or cover frame. For videos, scrub to the frame you want to check.
2. Pick Reels, Stories or their ad versions
Reels cover the bottom third with the caption and buttons; Stories cover the top and bottom strips with the progress bar and reply box or call-to-action.
3. Fix and download
Move text and logos inside the green outline, then save the transparent overlay for Canva or Figma, or export your image with the guides.
Instagram Reels and Stories safe zone dimensions
Margins follow Meta’s published guidance for 1080×1920 Reels and Stories. Meta writes them for ads; they are a slightly conservative fit for organic posts too.
| Placement | Size | Top | Bottom | Left / Right | Safe area | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instagram Reels | 1080×1920 (9:16) | 250 px | 670 px | 65 / 65 px | 950×1000 | Meta Ads Guide (facebook.com/business/ads-guide), Instagram Reels (written for ads, slightly conservative for organic) |
| Instagram Reels Ads | 1080×1920 (9:16) | 250 px | 670 px | 65 / 65 px | 950×1000 | Meta Ads Guide (facebook.com/business/ads-guide), Instagram Reels ads |
| Instagram Stories | 1080×1920 (9:16) | 250 px | 250 px | 0 / 0 px | 1080×1420 | Meta Ads Guide (facebook.com/business/ads-guide), Instagram Stories |
| Instagram Stories Ads | 1080×1920 (9:16) | 250 px | 250 px | 0 / 0 px | 1080×1420 | Meta Ads Guide (facebook.com/business/ads-guide), Instagram Stories ads |
Instagram Reels vs Stories safe zones
Reels and Stories share the same 1080×1920 canvas but cover it very differently. Stories only reserve a band of about 250 px at the top and bottom, leaving a tall 1080×1420 px safe area. Reels also ask for 65 px on each side and a much deeper 670 px at the bottom, where the caption, audio, buttons and call-to-action live, leaving about 950×1000 px.
If one asset runs as both a Story and a Reel, design to the Reels zone. It is the stricter of the two, so anything inside it is also safe in Stories.
| Placement | Size | Top | Bottom | Left / Right | Safe area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instagram Reels | 1080×1920 (9:16) | 250 px | 670 px | 65 / 65 px | 950×1000 |
| Instagram Stories | 1080×1920 (9:16) | 250 px | 250 px | 0 / 0 px | 1080×1420 |
| TikTok FeedApprox. | 1080×1920 (9:16) | 160 px | 480 px | 60 / 140 px | 880×1280 |
What this tool helps you with
Stop guessing where the app will cover your content.
Reels and Stories UI
Reels header, action rail with counts, profile row, caption and audio line; Stories progress bar, profile row and reply bar.
Organic and Ads
Ad placements show the “Sponsored” label and “Learn more” call-to-action exactly where Meta places them.
Overlay for Canva & Figma
Download a transparent 1080×1920 PNG to use as a top guide layer while you design.
Nothing Uploaded
Your Reels stay on your device. Free, no signup, no email.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Instagram Reels and Stories safe zones.
What is the Instagram Reels safe zone?
Meta’s guidance for 1080×1920 Reels is to keep roughly the top 14% (250 px), the bottom 35% (670 px) and about 6% (65 px) on each side free of text and logos. That leaves a safe area of about 950×1000 px.
What is the Instagram Stories safe zone?
For 1080×1920 Stories, Meta recommends leaving about 14% (250 px) clear at the top and bottom. That keeps your content away from the progress bar, profile name, reply box and call-to-action.
Is the safe zone different for Instagram Reels ads?
Meta’s published Reels numbers are written for ads and already allow for the call-to-action button. Organic Reels have no button, so the same zone is a little conservative for them, which is the safe side to be on.
Does the Reels cover image have the same safe zone?
The profile grid crops Reels covers to a shorter rectangle, so keep the title of your cover in the middle of the frame. Upload the cover here to check it against the Reels layout.
What size should an Instagram Reel be?
Use 1080×1920 px (9:16). Other shapes are cropped to fill the screen, which can push text into the covered areas.
Is this Instagram safe zone checker free?
Yes. It is free with no signup, and your files never leave your browser.