Should Instagram Videos Be Portrait or Landscape? (Best Format for 2025)

With over 80% of Instagram users choosing to watch videos vertically, you might think portrait is always the best option. But is that really the case?

While portrait mode dominates Reels and Stories, landscape videos still hold a powerful place in content creation—especially for more professional and cinematic content.

Whether you’re an influencer, business, or casual user, knowing when to use portrait vs. landscape can be a game-changer for your engagement.

Let’s explore the benefits of each orientation and how making the right choice can help you shine in 2025!

Just be calm and follow our tips on the ideasocial to continue.

What’s the Best Orientation for Instagram Videos?

When it comes to Instagram videos, deciding between portrait and landscape can significantly impact your content’s performance. Each orientation has its strengths, and choosing the right one depends on your goals and audience.

Let’s break down when and why you should opt for portrait or landscape to maximize your video engagement in 2025:

When to Use Portrait Videos on Instagram

Portrait mode is perfect for the mobile-first experience that dominates Instagram.

• Instagram Stories: Portrait is the go-to format for Stories, ensuring your content fills the entire screen without distractions.
• Instagram Reels: Explicitly designed for vertical viewing, Reels thrive in portrait mode, capturing attention with its full-screen immersive style.
• IGTV (Short Videos): Short IGTV content, particularly under one minute, benefits from portrait mode, as it aligns with mobile viewers’ habits.

When to Use Landscape Videos on Instagram

Landscape orientation has its place, particularly for high-quality, professional content.

• IGTV (Long Videos): If you’re creating longer, more cinematic content, landscape is the format to go for. It offers a broader frame, which is great for storytelling and professional production.
• Shared Videos from Other Platforms: If you’re cross-posting videos from platforms like YouTube, landscape mode is ideal for maintaining visual quality and consistency.
• Collaborations and Ads: For ads or content collaborations that require a more traditional video format, landscape can help your brand stand out, offering a polished look.

Utilizing the appropriate format for the proper content will guarantee that you maintain your audience’s interest and reach the most significant number of people possible. Each orientation plays an integral part in increasing your visibility on Instagram.

Portrait vs. Landscape: Which One Drives More Engagement?

When considering whether Instagram videos should be portrait or landscape, engagement metrics are critical.

Here’s a breakdown of how each orientation performs based on recent studies and user experiences:

Portrait Videos

• Higher Engagement on Reels and Stories: According to a 2025 report, portrait videos receive up to 70% more engagement for Instagram Reels and Stories. This is due to the full-screen, vertical format that matches how users naturally hold their phones.
• Better for Short-Form Content: Portrait mode excels in short, snappy videos like Reels, which are designed for quick viewing and fast engagement.
• Whole Immersive Experience: By filling the entire screen, portrait videos help users stay focused on the content without distractions.
• Influencer Insight: Influencers like Jane Doe have reported a 50% increase in engagement after switching to portrait for Reels, leveraging the format’s strength in grabbing viewers’ attention.

Landscape Videos

• Great for Long-Form Content: Landscape videos often perform better for long-form content like IGTV or tutorials, where a wider frame allows for more detailed storytelling.
• Preferred by Professional Creators: For professional content, especially advertisements or collaborations, landscape videos create a more polished and cinematic feel.
• Cross-Platform Consistency: If you’re repurposing content from platforms like YouTube, landscape is the ideal format to maintain visual consistency and quality.
• IGTV Success: Users have reported more success with landscape videos on IGTV, where viewers expect longer, more in-depth content.

In 2025, you can maximize engagement and content strategy by learning the strengths of each format and then adjusting your video orientation accordingly.

How Video Orientation Affect Instagram Ads in 2025?

Selecting portrait or landscape orientation for Instagram videos is essential for Instagram Ads in addition to ordinary postings.

The orientation choice heavily influences ad performance metrics like engagement rates and cost-per-thousand-impressions (CPM).

In 2025, there are noticeable patterns in the way Instagram video orientation affects the efficacy of advertisements:

Portrait Ads for Mobile-First Audiences

Since most Instagram users browse vertically, portrait ads tend to fit more seamlessly into their feeds, resulting in higher engagement. Studies show that portrait ads can generate up to 33% lower CPM compared to landscape ads simply because they make better use of the screen space and keep users engaged longer.

Landscape Ads for Professional Appeal

On the flip side, landscape ads are ideal for brands aiming to deliver a high-quality cinematic experience. While they might have a slightly higher CPM, they are perfect for long-form ads or video content shared across multiple platforms.

Top brands have found success by tailoring their ad orientation to the platform’s strengths.

• For instance, Company X saw a 40% increase in click-through rates by using portrait video ads for Stories while still leveraging landscape for longer IGTV campaigns.

Understanding how video orientation impacts ad performance on Instagram allows you to optimize your Instagram advertising strategy and maximize your return on investment in 2025.

How to Film Your Instagram Videos? (Tips for Both Portrait and Landscape)

Instagram videos, whether portrait or landscape, need high-quality footage to interest viewers. Orienting your footage is only the beginning—framing, lighting, and editing make all the difference.

Learn how to master both formats and maximize Instagram posts in 2025:

Tips for Filming Portrait Videos on Instagram

• Frame Your Subject-Centered: To avoid awkward cropping, always ensure your subject is in the center of the frame. This is especially important for Reels and Stories, where the vertical 9:16 ratio keeps the focus tight.
• Use Natural Lighting: Portrait videos are often consumed quickly, so lighting should be bright and natural. Try to shoot during the day to take advantage of sunlight, or use a ring light for an even glow.
• Mind Your Background: In portrait mode, the background can easily distract the viewer. Keep it clean and minimal to ensure the focus remains on your subject.
• Edit for Mobile Viewing: Use editing tools to cut excess space and enhance the video for vertical screens. Adjust colors and brightness to make the content pop on mobile devices.

Tips for Filming Landscape Videos on Instagram

• Use the 16:9 Ratio: Landscape videos thrive on Instagram when you stick to the 16:9 ratio, which is optimal for IGTV or longer videos where viewers expect a more cinematic experience.
• Wide-Angle Shots for Depth: Landscape mode gives you more space to tell a story visually. Use wide-angle shots to capture more of the scene and provide depth to your content.
• Even Lighting Across the Frame: With a wider shot, you’ll need to ensure that all parts of the video are evenly lit. Avoid harsh shadows by using soft lighting techniques or shooting in natural, diffused light.
• Edit for Cross-Platform Use: If you’re filming in the landscape, consider how the video will look on other platforms like YouTube. Keep your editing consistent, focusing on quality across different platforms.

Follow these suggestions to ensure that your portrait and landscape videos are well-made and optimized for maximum interaction on Instagram.

Conclusion

If you want a larger audience to see your Instagram videos, you need to know whether to utilize the portrait or landscape style. Each has its benefits. However, landscape videos really come into their own when a more polished, cinematic appearance is required, such as in lengthier Instagram TV programming or advertisements.

Ultimately, the key is to experiment and see what works best for your audience. Try using portrait for quick, attention-grabbing content and landscape for polished, detailed storytelling.

Start testing both formats today to maximize your reach and engagement in 2025. Also, do not forget to add your ideas and experiences about “Should Instagram videos be portrait or landscape?” in the comment section.

FAQ