Best Export Settings for Instagram Reels
Instagram re-encodes every upload, so your export settings determine how much quality survives. These are the settings that produce the sharpest Reels with the smallest file size.
Resolution and aspect ratio
Export at 1080x1920 pixels (9:16 vertical). Instagram will accept other sizes but will crop or letterbox them. Always edit in a 9:16 sequence from the start to avoid reframing surprises.
Frame rate
Export at 30fps for standard content. Use 60fps only if your Reel features fast motion (sports, speed ramps) and your source footage was shot at 60fps. Instagram accepts both but 30fps produces smaller files with less re-encoding quality loss.
Codec and bitrate
Use H.264 in an MP4 container. Set bitrate to Variable Bit Rate (VBR) 2-pass, target 15–20 Mbps. This is above what Instagram will keep (they re-encode to roughly 3–5 Mbps), but starting higher means more detail survives their compression.
In CapCut, select "Export at highest quality" — the app handles codec settings automatically. In DaVinci Resolve, use the YouTube preset and change resolution to 1080x1920.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my Reels look blurry after upload?
Instagram compresses aggressively. Exporting at a higher bitrate (15+ Mbps) gives the algorithm more data to work with, reducing blur. Also avoid dark scenes with lots of grain — compression artifacts are worst there.