How Long Can Instagram Reels Be: The Ultimate Guide to Ideal Video Lengths

by

How Long Can Instagram Reels Be: Elevate your content with our essential guide to maximizing the impact of your Instagram Reels videos.

An image illustration of How Long Instagram Reels Can Be
How Long Should Your Videos Really Be?

Instagram Reels are short videos that you can create and share on the platform.

They are a great way to showcase your creativity, personality, and brand.

But how long can Instagram Reels be?

And what are the best practices for creating engaging Reels? In this blog post, we will answer these questions and more.

The Maximum Length of Instagram Reels

Officially, Instagram Reels can be from 15 to 90 seconds long — that’s if you’re recording your Reel using Instagram’s camera.

However, if you’re uploading Reels through a third-party scheduling tool like Hootsuite, your Reel can be anywhere from 3 seconds to 15 minutes long.

The maximum length of Reels has changed over time. When Reels first launched in 2020, they were limited to 15 seconds.

Then, in September 2020, Instagram increased the limit to 30 seconds.

And in July 2021, Instagram announced that Reels can now be up to 60 seconds long.

However, some users have reported that they can make Reels up to 90 seconds long.

This may depend on your location, device, and account status.

To check how long your Reels can be, tap the timer icon on the left side of the screen when you’re creating a Reel.

You should see a slider that lets you adjust the duration of your Reel.

The Optimal Length of Instagram Reels

While it’s good to know the maximum length of Reels, it’s also important to consider the optimal length for your content.

The optimal length of your Reel depends on your goals, audience, and message.

Here are some factors to keep in mind when deciding how long your Reel should be:

  • Attention span: The average attention span of a social media user is around 8 seconds.

This means that you need to capture your viewers’ interest in the first few seconds of your Reel, and keep them engaged throughout.

A shorter Reel may be more effective than a longer one in this regard.

  • Content type: Different types of content may require different lengths of Reels.

For example, if you’re creating a tutorial, a product review, or a story, you may need more time to convey your information.

On the other hand, if you’re creating a comedy skit, a dance, or a challenge, you may be able to get your point across in a shorter time.

  • Trends: One of the best ways to gain virality on Reels is by following the trends.

Trends can be related to topics, music, sounds, filters, effects, or formats.

By using the same elements as other popular Reels, you can increase your chances of being discovered and reaching new audiences.

However, trends can also influence the length of your Reel.

For example, if you’re using a trending song or sound, you may want to match the length of your Reel to the length of the audio clip.

Ultimately, the optimal length of your Reel depends on your own experimentation and analysis.

You can use Instagram Insights to track the performance of your Reels, and see how the length affects metrics like views, likes, comments, shares, and saves.

You can also use tools like Hootsuite to schedule your Reels and measure their results.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Instagram Reels

Q: How do I add music to my Reel?

A: To add music to your Reel, tap the music note icon on the left side of the screen when you’re creating a Reel.

You can choose a song from Instagram’s music library, or use your own audio.

You can also adjust the segment of the song that you want to play during your Reel.

ALSO READ:

I hope this blog post helped you learn How long Instagram Reels can be.

If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to leave a comment below. 

Leave a Comment