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Portada: Instagram Opens the Grid to Landscape(-ish): The New Aspect-Ratio Playbook

Instagram Opens the Grid to Landscape(-ish): The New Aspect-Ratio Playbook

By Alberto Luengo|09/25/25
editingcreatorsplatformssocial mediacontent strategy
Instagram’s grid is moving beyond perfect squares: rectangles change how your profile reads, how you crop covers, and how you package posts across formats.

Instagram is rolling out 4:5 portrait tiles on the profile grid and testing 3:4 support, shifting the strategic weight to first frames and grid-safe covers. This guide lays out the aspect-ratio playbook, packaging flows, and measurement tactics to win in a multi-format world.

Instagram Opens the Grid to Landscape(-ish): The New Aspect-Ratio Playbook

TL;DR: Instagram’s profile grid is no longer a wall of perfect squares. It now shows rectangles—and that changes how your profile reads, how you crop covers, and how you package posts across Reels/Feed/Carousel. (Technically, IG is rolling out portrait 4:5 tiles in the grid and adding 3:4 support—not a pure 16:9 “landscape grid,” despite the nickname floating around.) (The Verge)

What actually changed (facts first)

  • Grid tiles go rectangular. Instagram began transitioning profile grids from squares to vertical rectangles (4:5) as part of a broader redesign. Your profile now presents more like a magazine wall than a stamp sheet. (The Verge)
  • New post aspect supported. Instagram is also testing support for 3:4 posts, widening the acceptable “portrait-ish” canvas beyond 4:5.
  • Context across platforms: TikTok continues to normalize non-9:16 viewing—testing longer uploads (up to 60 minutes) and a horizontal experience in pockets—so cross-platform packaging matters more than ever.

Translation: your first frame and cover crop decisions now decide how your profile looks, not just a single post.

Why this matters (and what it fixes/breaks)

  1. Your profile becomes a poster wall. Rectangular tiles read like mini posters. Great for storytelling, product “one-sheets,” data slates, and event cards. Bad for random screen-grabs that don’t survive a tall crop. (The Verge)

  2. The first slide is now strategic real estate. On carousels, Slide 1 must carry the grid look (4:5/3:4 safe; on-frame title; clean subject). If your best visual is 16:9 landscape, it likely won’t present well in the grid without a smart cover.

  3. Cross-posting gets easier—if you template it. With TikTok and YouTube stretching formats, a multi-ratio set (4:5, 9:16, 16:9) future-proofs each idea across feeds, Reels/Shorts, and horizontal players. (The Verge)

The Aspect-Ratio Playbook (copy-paste this into your production notes)

A) Covers & first frames (the grid view)

  • Default grid cover: 4:5 portrait (1080×1350).
  • Alt when needed: 3:4 (e.g., 1080×1440) where supported. Keep type and faces inside a safe inner 80%; avoid edge-hugging text.
  • On-frame labeling: Add a clear title bar (top 15–18% of canvas) + micro-descriptor. Think: “Drop #14 · Studio Vlog” / “Case Study · 3 Edits That Convert”.

B) Inside the post (the content)

  • Carousels:

  • Slide 1 = poster cover (4:5).

  • Slide 2–N = whatever best serves the content: 4:5 for continuity, 1:1 for diagrams, 16:9 for wide frames (shot lists, product side-by-sides).

  • Video in feed: Still fine to post 16:9 cuts, but lead with a 4:5 poster as the thumbnail so your profile doesn’t look chopped.

  • Reels: Keep your 9:16 hero cut. If you have a horizontal master (16:9), ship two versions: 9:16 Reel + 16:9 hero for YouTube/TikTok horizontal experiences. (TikTok keeps leaning into longer/horizontal variants; don’t be caught resizing last-minute.)

C) Template once, ship forever

Create three export presets for every “keeper” idea:

  • Poster/Feed: 4:5 (1080×1350) – your grid-safe cover and carousel base.
  • Reel/Short vertical: 9:16 (1080×1920) – the attention machine.
  • Wide master: 16:9 (1920×1080) – for YouTube, embeds, decks, and TikTok horizontal plays.

In Rkive, you can save these as Format Presets and one-click version them per platform. If you’re juggling timing, check Peak Hours in Rkive (predictive, based on when your content tends to land) or IG’s native “audience online” chart (descriptive) and set your queue on autopilot.

Creative patterns that win with rectangles

  1. One-sheet storytelling. Treat Slide 1 like a film poster: big title, hero image, one promise. Slides 2–5 deliver the proof (clips, receipts, how-to beats).

  2. Data slates and proofboards. Grid-visible stat tiles (4:5) with a single, legible claim up top; details inside. Great for brand lifts, A/B wins, before/after edits.

  3. Eventability. Drops, premieres, pop-ups: Date/Place in the title bar; Reel in the caption preview; Carousel shows map, lineup, teaser frames.

  4. Grid-anchored series. Consistent spine: same bar, same type scale, new colorway weekly. Your profile starts to read as a show.

Safe-area guide (so your type doesn’t get eaten)

  • Title bar: 15–18% of canvas height, top-aligned.
  • Face/subject: Keep eyes in the center 50–70% of height for a natural crop in Explore.
  • Do not rely on bottom captions for the pitch—grid tiles won’t show them. The tile must sell itself.

Packaging flows (how to ship fast without losing the plot)

Flow 1 — The Poster + Reel Combo (fastest)

  1. Cut a 9:16 Reel with the hook in second 0–1.
  2. Export a matching 4:5 poster (same hero frame, on-frame title).
  3. Schedule Reel at your next Peak Hour; post the carousel afterward (Slide 1 poster + Slide 2 “steps” or “receipts”).
  4. Pin one of them for the week.

Flow 2 — The Wide-First Story (events, product updates)

  1. Edit the master in 16:9 (explainer/demo).
  2. Auto-version to 9:16 with reframing (crop to faces/hands), and to 4:5 for the poster.
  3. IG: Poster/Carousel; TikTok: consider horizontal upload if the story is demo-heavy; YouTube: longform or a 60–180s cut.

Using Rkive, you can define this as a Post Type (“Feature Drop” or “Rundown”), so analytics roll up by type. Then let scheduling autopilot slot the best times; the system learns from performance and nudges the windows you should own next.

Measurement: how to know if your new crops are actually working

  • Profile → Post view rate: Are those poster tiles pulling people into the content? If reach per post rises but ER is flat, you got attention without value—tighten the first seconds and on-frame utility.
  • Saves vs Shares: High saves + low shares = useful but not cosignable → re-package Slide 1 with a bolder promise and better payoff framing.
  • Cohort windows: If the same day/hour wins twice, lock it as a cohort window for that post type (Rkive suggests these in Peak Hours).
  • Series effect: Grid-anchored series should lift return visits and profile tap-throughs over 2–3 weeks; if not, your title system isn’t sticky enough.

Troubleshooting (real problems, quick fixes)

  • “My best shot is 16:9 but the grid crop ruins it.” Make a dual-frame cover: top half = close crop of the subject; bottom strip = title bar. Then put the wide hero on Slide 2.
  • “Text keeps getting cut in Explore.” Shrink type 10–15%, bump contrast, and keep the primary keyword in the top third.
  • “Carousels are dying on Slide 1.” Your poster isn’t a promise; it’s a still. Add a verb + outcome (“Cut Edit Time 30%”) and a micro-visual cue (arrow, circle, underline).
  • “We’re drowning in exports.” Lock three presets (4:5, 9:16, 16:9). Anything else is optional, not required.

Team checklist (weekly)

  • Refresh template pack (poster bars, safe areas, colorway).
  • Audit Slide-1s from last week → pick 2 winners and 1 underperformer; replicate the winners’ structure, not their topic.
  • Lock 2 Peak Hour windows for your poster formats (Rkive → Analytics → Peak Hours).
  • Ship one grid-anchored series post and one poster + Reel combo.

The bigger picture: why rectangles aren’t just a cosmetic change

Rectangles turn your profile from a scrapbook into a showcase. They reward teams that package ideas like episodes—with covers, claims, and continuity—and they make first frames matter again. In a world where TikTok and YouTube keep stretching formats (longer runtimes, more horizontal contexts), a multi-ratio discipline is the difference between looking improvised and looking inevitable. (The Verge)

Sources

Operator note: If you want this running on autopilot, set the presets in Rkive (4:5/9:16/16:9), define your Post Types (“Poster+Reel,” “Feature Drop,” “Case Study”), and let Peak Hours schedule the drops. You can still check IG’s native analytics for audience-online context, but Rkive’s windows are performance-based—built from when your posts land, not a generic heatmap.

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About the author

Alberto Luengo is the founder and CEO of Rkive AI, a leading expert in AI for content automation and growth. He shares real-world insights on technology, strategy, and the future of the creator economy.

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