Instagram is currently one of the largest social media platforms, with billions of monthly active users. It is now more of a video application, where users share their visual content to attract attention.
One of the best features of Instagram is ‘Instagram Reels,’ which helps users reach more engagement and target audiences, and that is why people share more than three Reels a week in order to reach the highest possible engagement.
It is important to remember that Instagram Reels have limits on the duration, which means you can’t upload videos longer than a specific minute.
In this article, we are going to share valuable information about Instagram Reels and will discuss all the limits on Instagram Reels length.
What Are Instagram Reels?
Let’s start by explaining what Instagram Reels are in simple words. They are short videos that can be up to 90 seconds long.
Instagram users can record, edit, and create new videos using this feature and post them on their feeds to attract more target audiences.
Moreover, Instagram Reels allow users to show their creativity in making new videos and help brands and businesses better present their products or services.
There are some key points about Instagram Reels that you better be aware of. Let’s see what they are:
- These short videos can be up to 90 seconds.
- You need to record them in full portrait mode, which is 9:16.
- You can use the Instagram camera to directly record your video and edit it.
- Instagram Reels can only be recorded on mobile phones.
- You can add music or filters to your videos while editing the reels on your mobile.
- Instagram allows you to import photos or videos from your mobile’s gallery.
These are some of the important characteristics of Instagram Reels and knowing them helps you create better Reels to share on your account.
Do Instagram Reels Have a Specific Length?
As mentioned before, Instagram Reels have duration limits. You can create Reels using the Instagram app camera.
Therefore, if you use the Instagram camera to create reels, you can only record or edit videos up to 90 seconds.
However, the duration can exceed 15 minutes if you record your video outside the application and then upload it to your account.
The important thing to remember is that short reels have a higher chance of going viral and reaching more engagement, so it is better to create short videos up to 90 seconds to get the most out of Reels.
How Long Instagram Reels Can Be?
As mentioned before, Instagram Reels have certain length limits, and users must adhere to them when creating a new reel.
Note that the Instagram Reels algorithm has changed in the past few years. When Instagram first launched this feature, you could share Reels up to 15 seconds in length.
In 2021, Instagram increased the Reel duration to 30 and 60 seconds, and now, in 2024, the maximum length of an Instagram Reel is 90 seconds.
If you think this kind of limitation is bad for your account, you are wrong because this duration limit helps you to keep your audience hooked to your post.
How to Set Up Suitable Length For Instagram Reels
When you want to create a new reel in the Instagram Reel section, the default time is 15 seconds, but you can choose your ideal reel length and exceed it up to 90 seconds.
Follow the steps below to quickly set up the suitable length for your IG reels:
Step 1- Open the Instagram application on your device and tap the “Reel” icon at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2- Tap the “Camera” icon to access the Instagram camera.
Step 3- Now, you can see the default time icon of 15 seconds on the left side; tap on it.
Step 4- Here, you can see various Reel lengths that Instagram offers, such as 30, 60, and 90 seconds.
Step 5- Choose the ideal reel length based on your needs and start recording.
That is how easily you can create new Reels on Instagram and set up the best time for your videos.
Importance of Instagram Reels Length
We all know that Instagram Reels are a great way to attract more attention and new followers, so you should always pay attention to the duration of your videos.
In this section, we are going to discuss the importance of Instagram reel length:
1- It helps you attract more attention
It doesn’t matter whether you are a content creator or marketer on Instagram; at the end of the day, all users try to attract more attention to their content.
The length of your Reels affects how long people are willing to watch and interact with your videos. As said earlier, if you want to reach more engagement, it is better to go for short reels rather than long ones.
2- More people will share your videos
It is good to know that shorter reels on Instagram are more shareable because users will see the whole content quickly and find it easier to share it with their friends.
Note that when people share your reels with others, more people will watch it, and your video gets more views, which leads to reaching a broader target audience.
3- It helps you hook your audience
When you share a reel with a suitable length, users are more likely to watch your video until the end, which increases the watch time of your content.
According to the Instagram algorithm, when your video has a high watch time, it means that your audience likes it, so Instagram will show it to more target audiences.
4- Increases the viewers’ attention span
Most Instagram users usually scroll their Instagram feeds to see entertaining and bite-sized content, meaning shorter videos or videos with the correct length will increase the viewers’ attention span.
5- It helps your video to be in the Instagram algorithm
Did you know that the Instagram algorithm prefers shorter reels and will show it to more people?
In fact, the Instagram algorithm pays attention to your post’s engagement and the time users spend on your videos.
Thus, when you share a reel with the right duration, users will watch it till the end and Instagram will consider your content important and show it to more new people, which will also boost your account’s discoverability.
What Is the Best Instagram Reels Length to Attract More Audience?
When you want to choose the length of your reels, you should be aware of your purpose for sharing your video.
In this section, we will examine the suitable length for every purpose of sharing video on Instagram:
To get more shares
As mentioned before, shorter reels have a higher chance to increase your content visibility, so if you are looking for more people to reshare your video, it is better to create videos from 15 to 18 seconds long.
To get more views
When your videos get more views, it will go viral faster and more new people watch your content. If you want to get more views, you should create very short and captivating reels; the best length for this purpose is between 3 and 10 seconds.
To get more comments
If you aim to get more comments for your videos, you must share a video that is creative and conversational to get meaningful comments. To reach this point, you can share reels between 8 and 18 seconds in length.
More engagement
The first thing you need to do to reach this goal is to create engaging content to get your audience’s attention, and the best length for this goal is around 2 to 10 seconds.
Building more connections with your followers
If you want to build a better connection and friendship with your followers, you must share content that touches their heart, so it can’t be a short video because you should tell a story in your video.
Therefore, to connect with your audience, it is better to create reels that are between 60 and 90 seconds long. Remember that you should share high-quality and interesting content to achieve this goal.
Conclusion
Instagram Reels are one of the best features that this platform has launched in the past few years, and many users are still looking for ways to stand out in the crowd.
If you want to get more new followers from your reels, it is better to focus on the length of your videos to attract more attention.
As you may know by now, short reels (e.g., up to 15 seconds) have a higher chance of going viral and helping you get more new followers faster.
Finally, to get the most out of Instagram Reels, try to stay unique and creative and share valuable information with your followers to reach your goals.
FAQs
1- Are Instagram Reels limited to 90 seconds?
Yes, as of now, Instagram Reels are limited to a 90-second maximum length. However, you can also share videos up to 15 minutes on Instagram, but short videos are highly recommended to get better engagement.
2- Are short reels better to reach more engagement on Instagram?
The length of your videos depends on your content subject, and long videos are also a great option to attract attention. However, in the fast-scrolling world of Instagram, short videos are a better choice and more people are interested in this type of content.
3- How long should Instagram Reels be to go viral?
It is better to create reels that are between 15 and 30 seconds long to get more engagement and attention so they can go viral faster.
