ChartBeauty / Instagram infographic guide
Instagram infographic guide
An infographic in a feed gets about a second of attention on a small screen, cropped by at least one of Instagram’s views. Here is how to design for that.
The sizes that matter
| Where | Ratio | Pixels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed post / carousel | 4:5 | 1080×1350 | Tallest feed format, so the most screen space. Every slide of a carousel takes the first slide’s ratio. |
| Feed post (grid-matched) | 3:4 | 1080×1440 | Matches the profile grid, so nothing is cropped there. |
| Square post | 1:1 | 1080×1080 | Still supported, but smaller in the feed and cropped on the grid. |
| Story / Reel cover | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | Keep the top and bottom ~250 px clear of text. |
What Instagram hides
Choose a format and toggle the overlays to see which parts of your chart can get cropped or covered.
On your profile grid Instagram shows a 3:4 crop, trimming 6% of a 4:5 post (a sliver from each side). In the feed it is shown in full. Keep labels away from the left and right edges.
Seeing the crop move as you switch formats makes the rule stick far better than a table of pixel numbers. When a visual makes a concept click — that's the idea behind ahaboo, a small collection of explainers you can explore by moving pieces around and watching the result.
Layout rules that survive the feed
- Lead with the takeaway. Write the conclusion as the title (“Carousels get twice the saves”), not the topic (“Post performance”).
- One chart per slide. A carousel is a free way to split a complex story into simple frames.
- Big type. On a 1080 px canvas, 56 px+ for titles and 28 px+ for labels. The feed shrinks your image to about a third.
- Label the data directly. Legends force eyes back and forth; put numbers on slices and bars.
- Margins of 60–80 px. Enough to survive the grid crop and keep the chart from feeling cramped.
- Always cite a source and add your @handle, because infographics get reposted without captions.
A carousel structure that works
- Hook slide: one big number made with the stat card maker.
- Context: the whole picture, e.g. a donut chart of where something comes from.
- Comparison: a VS chart or bar graph.
- Trend: a line graph showing the change over time.
- Takeaway: what to do with it, plus your handle.
Save a brand kit in any ChartBeauty maker and every slide gets the same colours, font and size automatically.
Questions
What size is an Instagram infographic?
For feed posts and carousels, 1080×1350 pixels (4:5) gives you the most screen space. 1080×1440 (3:4) matches the profile grid exactly. Stories and Reels covers are 1080×1920 (9:16).
Why is my infographic cropped on my profile?
Since early 2025 Instagram shows profile-grid thumbnails as 3:4 rectangles. Square and 4:5 images are trimmed at the sides in that view, even though they appear in full in the feed.
How many slides can an Instagram carousel have?
Up to 20 images or videos per carousel post. For data stories, 5 to 8 slides is usually enough: a hook, the charts, and a takeaway slide.
What font size is readable on Instagram?
On a 1080-pixel-wide image, keep body text at 28 px or larger and headlines at 56 px or larger. The feed shows your image at roughly a third of its real size on most phones.
Should I add alt text to infographics?
Yes. Instagram lets you write custom alt text under Advanced settings → Accessibility. Screen-reader users otherwise get an automatic description that cannot read your numbers. ChartBeauty writes it for you under each chart.