# Best export settings for Instagram Reels

> Export Reels as a 9:16 MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio at 128 kbps or more. Meta's sizes and limits, plus a file-size example, checked 3 Nov 2026.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-05
- **Category**: Ad specs
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-guides/best-export-settings-for-instagram-reels

---

Export a Reel as a 9:16 MP4 with H.264 video, a fixed frame rate and stereo AAC audio at 128 kbps or more. Meta recommends 1440 x 2560 for Reels ads and 1080 x 1920 for Instagram Feed (checked 3 Nov 2026).

## The settings

| Setting | Choose |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 |
| Size | 1440 x 2560 (Reels page) or 1080 x 1920 (Instagram Feed page) |
| File type | MP4 (MOV also works) |
| Video | H.264, square pixels, progressive scan |
| Frame rate | Fixed. Meta gives no number, so match your footage |
| Audio | Stereo AAC, 128 kbps or higher |
| File size | Up to 4 GB |
| Length | Reels ads run 0 seconds to 15 minutes |

These come from Meta's [Instagram Reels ad guide](https://en-gb.facebook.com/business/ads-guide/update/video/instagram-reels) and apply to ads. For text limits and ad rules, see [Instagram Reels ad specs](/guides/instagram-reels-ad-specs).

## Pick the size

Each Meta placement page lists its own size. Reels says 1440 x 2560. Instagram Feed says 1080 x 1920. Both are 9:16.

Export at the size you filmed. Stretching a 1080 x 1920 clip to 1440 x 2560 adds pixels, not detail.

## Frame rate and bitrate

Meta asks for a fixed frame rate and gives no figure. It lists no video bitrate either. Export at the rate you shot, because Apple warns that changing a frame rate can add stutter or repeated frames.

YouTube lists 8 Mbps for 1080p video at 24 to 30 frames per second. That is YouTube's figure, not Meta's, but it gives you a starting point.

Normal Reels, which are not ads, have their own guidance. Instagram's help article on Reel sizes lists at least 30 frames per second and a resolution of at least 720 pixels. We saw only a search summary of it (checked 3 Nov 2026), so check the live page.

## A worked example

Say you export a 30-second Reel with an 8 Mbps video stream and 128 kbps audio.

1. Add the two rates: 8 + 0.128 = 8.128 Mbps.
2. Multiply by the length: 8.128 x 30 = 243.84 megabits.
3. Divide by 8 to get megabytes: about 30.5 MB.

That sits far below Meta's 4 GB cap, so file size is not your problem.

## Steps in any editor

1. Set the project to 9:16.
2. Keep text and logos inside the safe zone. Leave about 14% free at the top, 35% at the bottom and 6% on each side.
3. Choose MP4 and H.264.
4. Choose AAC stereo audio at 128 kbps or higher.
5. Leave the frame rate at your footage's rate.
6. Export, then play the file on a phone before you upload it.

Menu paths: [CapCut](/guides/capcut-export-settings-for-instagram-reels), [Premiere Pro](/guides/premiere-pro-export-settings-for-instagram-reels) and [DaVinci Resolve](/guides/davinci-resolve-export-settings-for-instagram-reels). Premiere Pro is now called Adobe Premiere. The [Reels safe zone](/guides/instagram-reels-safe-zone) page has the margins in pixels.

## Export from Marxx

[Marxx's AI video editor](/features/ai-video-editor) exports MP4 (H.264) with a Meta ads preset. It offers four quality levels, up to 1080p and 30 frames per second. We make Marxx.

## FAQ

### What resolution should I export Instagram Reels at?

Meta's Reels ad page recommends 1440 x 2560, and its Instagram Feed page recommends 1080 x 1920. Pick the one your footage supports.

### Is MP4 or MOV better for Reels?

Meta accepts both for Reels ads. MP4 with H.264 is the safest, because every platform page we read accepts it.

### Should I export Reels at 60 frames per second?

Meta gives no frame rate number, only "fixed". Export at the rate you shot and keep it fixed.

---
- [More Ad specs articles](https://marxx.ai/library-guides/category/ad-specs)
- [All articles](https://marxx.ai/library-guides)