Free tool · Instagram
How long can Instagram Reels be?
Instagram Reels can be up to 20 minutes long. Reels over 3 minutes aren't recommended to people who don't follow you, so 3 minutes is the real limit for reach. Check your video below.
Instagram Reel length
Up to 20 minutes
Reels over 3 minutes aren't recommended to people who don't follow you.
Free, no sign-up. Your video stays on your device.
Instagram Reel length limits
| Limit | Length | From |
|---|---|---|
| Longest Reel | 20 minutes | Instagram Help Centre |
| To reach new viewers | 3 minutes or less | Instagram Help Centre |
| Reels ads | Up to 15 minutes | Meta's ads guide |
| A story clip, for comparison | 60 seconds | Instagram Help Centre |
What the 3-minute line means
A Reel longer than 3 minutes still posts, and your followers can still see it. What changes is that Instagram won't recommend it to people who don't follow you. For most creators that's where new viewers come from.
So if a Reel is meant to grow your audience, keep it to 3 minutes. Use the longer limit for things your followers already want: a full tutorial, a talk, a behind-the-scenes cut.
Cutting a long video down
If your video runs past 3 minutes, cut it into parts that each make sense alone, and say “part 1” on screen. Or post the strongest 3 minutes as the Reel and keep the full version for YouTube.
Questions
Asked often
Last checked 2 October 2026
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When you're ready to edit
Long recording, short Reel.
Tell Krafto to cut it to under 3 minutes, and it finds the best parts.