Instagram Video Lengths: The 6 IG Formats and How Long Each Should Be

Are you a business owner? Did you know Instagram has a lot to offer businesses to increase their social media presence? Instagram videos are being used more than ever and can be a powerful marketing tool when done well. 

The digital age has made Instagram the best place to market your brand. Getting your videos out there is crucial to keeping your business afloat and your products selling. 

Keep reading because this article will teach you how long your Instagram videos should be and great video formats to reach your target audience. 

Table of Contents

How Long Should an Instagram Video Be?

To leverage Instagram for your brand, you must keep up with the latest trends

The number of different formats Instagram has for videos and the introduction of new formats, like reels, make it hard to keep up, but this is essential if you want to grow your brand. 

We have compiled this guide to help you learn more about Instagram video lengths so that your video strategy can stand out from the rest. 

Do Shorter Videos Get More Views on Instagram?

How long should an instagram video be? Do shorter videos get more views? 

It’s not a simple black-and-white answer, but trends show consumers prefer shorter videos

Why is this? It could be because most people today are busy. When they open an app on their phone, they’re more likely to watch shorter videos.

Do Long Videos Do Well on Instagram?

While short-form videos drive traffic from new users, long-form videos build brand loyalty. 

New users will see shorter videos in their feeds and engage more with them; however, the backbone of your business will be longer videos.

Even if your video is short, perfecting it can be time-consuming for newbies. Considering the various aspects, like the script and the goals, can make the task overwhelming. 

Isn't it better to let the professionals handle this?

Whether you need help finding the right ideas or prefer to leave the whole process to professionals, Ridgeline Media Marketing can help. Our team knows how to script social media content effectively to put your business on top.

Ready to learn more? Contact us today.

how long should an instagram video be

6 Instagram Formats and the Recommended Video Length for Each

#1: Instagram Story

It is recommended that stories be up to 15 seconds long.

Pro Tips To Make the Most of Your Time on Story

Stories on Instagram allow you to post videos up to 15 seconds long. Uploading a longer video automatically cuts it into 15-second segments. As a result, you can only upload 60 seconds of video at a time since it only cuts the video into four parts.

A video can be enhanced with …

  • Text
  • GIFs
  • Stickers
  • Music; or
  • Another photo or video

… once it has been uploaded. This can be done using the built-in story features.

#2: Instagram Reels

Ideally, reels should last 30 seconds; however, 60 seconds is fine.

Pro Tips To Make the Most of Your Time on Reels

Instagram Reels lets you upload videos from your camera roll or shoot them directly within the app. The editing process can be slowed down or sped up, and you can even add music. 

Using the reels feature, you can shoot in breaks and different locations or attires. In addition, you can combine other parts or videos to make a reel if you upload a pre-recorded video.

If you want to get the most impact out of Instagram Reels: 

  • Cover your audience's common pain points (i.e., financial, productivity, etc.).
  • You could share your list of favorite books or tools that you think your audience would enjoy. 
  • Consider talking about updates in your industry. 
  • Share any tutorials or tips you think would benefit your audience. 

#3: Instagram Feed

For Instagram feed videos, the duration should be between 3 and 60 seconds.

Pro Tips To Make the Most of Your Time on Feed

You can think of your Instagram feed as a visual lookbook. 

Before you think of ideas for posts for your Instagram feed, keep these three things in mind:

  1. Any post you make here stays for a long time and is visible to anyone who visits your profile. Therefore, you should focus on the quality and relevance of your content.
  2. Every post affects the overall theme of your page. For it to be effective, it needs to match your brand's content and visual identity. 
  3. You’re asking for your audience’s time and attention by posting a video on your feed. Provide them with quality content that's packed with valuable information.

#4: IGTV

You have up to 10 minutes for regular accounts and 60 minutes for large/verified accounts.

Pro Tips To Make the Most of Your Time on IGTV

Instagram allows you to post long-form videos on your feed via IGTV. You can upload a video of 1 minute to 10 minutes from your mobile device, and from your computer, you can upload a video of 60 minutes.

When you post an IGTV on your feed, your audience can only see a 15-second preview. The user must click on 'Keep watching' if they wish to keep watching it.

Make your audience want to watch the entire video after the preview by optimizing the first 5-10 seconds. You can achieve this by starting the video with your best insight or part so it immediately catches people's attention and makes them want to watch the entire video. 

#5: Instagram Live

A live video can last up to four hours.

Pro Tips To Make the Most of Your Time on Live

You can interact and collaborate with other creators in your field and your audience through the live feature. You are more likely to get more followers and profile views if you have more viewers.

With Instagram Live, you can: 

  • Add captions
  • Use a branded IGTV cover
  • Optimize your title; and
  • Optimize hashtags

Additionally, you can see the number of people who attended your live session as soon as it ends.

What are some ways to attract more viewers to Instagram Live? 

  • Use bullet points and reveal your story to your audience.
  • Invite people to the live session using the countdown feature on your story.
  • To invite more people, share your Instagram live timings and details on other social media platforms.
  • If you're doing a live session with a guest, prepare a poster and ask them to share it.
  • Use a question sticker on your story to ask people questions you will answer live. 

#6: Instagram Ads

Story ads can last up to 15 seconds, and feed ads can last up to 60 seconds.

Pro Tips To Make the Most of Your Time on Ads

When you post video ads to your feed, they are stacked between your regular posts. 

Here are some actionable best practices for feed video ads to motivate followers to take action:

  • Videos are muted by default, so you might want to add captions.
  • It's essential to have a hook within the first five seconds to keep viewers interested.
  • Promote the benefits, not the offer.
  • Optimize the thumbnail to attract more viewers.
  • Clear and compelling calls-to-action are essential.

Let Ridgeline Capture Your Audience With Engaging Instagram Videos That Are the Perfect Length

Not quite ready to make an Instagram video yourself? Wanting a professional-looking video that gets results? 

Look no further than Ridgeland Media Marketing

We create videos to help you get back more time, increase traffic, increase sales, and build better relationships. 

We study your target audience to ensure our videos fall into the right hands. We know what works. 

Contact us today to learn more and schedule your strategy call.

how long should an instagram video be