How long an Instagram Story can be and what the frame limits are

Do you want to successfully showcase your brand on Instagram? Then Instagram Stories should be part of your daily work on Instagram. In our 'Storrito FAQ series,' we answer everything you need to know about Instagram, Instagram Stories, and Instagram marketing.

Key facts at a glance

• Each Instagram Story frame has a maximum length of 60 seconds
• Videos longer than 60 seconds are automatically split into multiple 60-second frames
• Instagram Video supports long-form uploads up to 60 minutes for eligible accounts
• Instagram Live sessions can run for up to four hours

How long can an Instagram story be?

The length of your Instagram story is fixed by Instagram. Each frame, i.e. a single story element, can be a maximum of 60 seconds. If you upload a video that is longer than 60 seconds, Instagram will automatically cut it into several 60-second frames for you. Once a frame is live, Insights tracks how many followers viewed it.

If you have a video that is significantly longer than 60 seconds, your stories can quickly get confusing. For long-form content, Instagram offers Instagram Video (formerly IGTV, folded into the main Instagram Video feed in 2022).

You can upload long-form videos from one to 60 minutes that your followers can watch in one piece. Uploads from your smartphone are capped at 15 minutes; longer videos need to be uploaded via computer.

To interact directly with your followers, you can also start a live video on Instagram. Your followers can ask questions in the comments which you can then answer live. You can go live for up to four hours.

Conclusion: Instagram Stories are the basis of a good marketing strategy

Instagram Stories are becoming increasingly important for a good marketing strategy. To facilitate work on stories within a team, there is Storrito. You can comfortably design, edit and schedule your stories from your computer. This way, everyone has access to and an overview of your Instagram Stories.