How to Crop Video for Instagram
Walkthrough
- 01
Open FastEdit
Go to fastedit.net. The editor runs entirely in your browser with no installation or sign-up.
- 02
Drop your video file
Drag and drop your video onto the editor. Supported formats include MP4, MOV, and WebM. Your file stays on your device.
- 03
Select the Instagram preset
Open the presets menu and choose the Instagram option that matches your target placement: Reels (9:16, 1080x1920) or Feed Video (4:5, 1080x1350). For a square feed video, lock the crop to 1:1 and set 1080x1080 manually.
- 04
Position the crop area
Adjust the crop frame to center your subject within the new aspect ratio. Keep important elements away from the edges, especially the top and bottom where Instagram overlays UI elements.
- 05
Export as MP4
Select MP4 with H.264 codec for maximum Instagram compatibility. Click Export to download your cropped video, then upload it to Instagram.
Small things worth checking
- Instagram Reels and Stories use 9:16 (1080x1920). Feed posts work best at 1:1 (1080x1080) or 4:5 (1080x1350). Use the correct preset for your target placement.
- Keep your subject centered. Instagram crops thumbnails from the center, so edges may be hidden in the feed grid.
- Export as MP4 with H.264 codec. Instagram re-encodes all uploads, but starting with H.264 minimizes double-compression artifacts.
- Keep videos under 60 seconds for Reels and under 60 minutes for feed posts. Shorter content (15-30 seconds) tends to perform better on Reels.
- Avoid placing text near the top or bottom 15% of the frame. Instagram overlays the username, caption, and action buttons in these areas.