Instagram Reels Length: How Long Can Reels Be in 2024?

You’re all set to create your first reel, but how long should your Instagram reel be to stay engaging?

Engagement is key in succeeding on Instagram and while there are many factors at play, the length of you reel can influence this. You might have heard that you need to keep Reels short, or you might have heard that Instagram Reels length doesn’t matter as much as we think.

So where do you start? From Instagram’s own requirements to how to choose your own, here’s our ultimate guide to getting the perfect Instagram Reels length for your content

What are Instagram Reels?

Instagram Reels are a powerful tool for online communication and engagement. Like TikTok videos, Reels are short-form, full-screen videos designed to hook your audience’s attention and boost brand awareness.

Instagram Reels can offer many benefits! Reels content is diverse, which allows it to apply broadly across a range of industries and niches. They can also give you a discoverability boost! Housed in their own scrolling app tab, Reels can easily reach accounts that don’t follow you with content that makes people want to join your community.

In fact, research shows that Reels now account for 30% of the time users spend on the Instagram app, providing plenty of opportunities to maximize visibility and engage new audiences.

Instagram requirements: How long can Instagram Reels be?

As of 2024, Instagram Reels can run for a maximum duration of 90 seconds. This gives you enough time to offer value and make an impact before losing audience interest.

There are also a few considerations you should take into account when producing Reels content. Your Reel will need to achieve an aspect ratio of 9:16 with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels.

By crafting content in line with these Instagram guidelines, you can ensure that your Reels goes live and stays live, receiving the online attention it deserves.

How to trim videos to fit the length Instagram Reels

So you know that your Instagram Reels are capped at 90 seconds in length. But what if your clip runs overtime?

The good news is that trimming video content can be easy when you have the right tools on your side! This means that you can cut extraneous details and turn any video into an Instagram-compatible Reel.

Trimming Reels on Instagram

Your first option is trim Reels to the appropriate length directly within the Instagram platform. This is a good choice if you filmed content using the app and want to keep your entire production journey all in one place.

To trim Reels on Instagram, follow these simple steps!

Step 1: Open the Instagram app, and launch your chosen Reel project and upload a video of your choice.

At the bottom left of your screen, tap the “Edit video” button.

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Step 2: Click on your clip in the editing timeline, then press and drag the yellow slider to adjust the length of your video.

Step 3: Apply the slider to span your desired video length.

You can also cut a section from your clip by using the split function. Place the marker at the beginning of the section you want to cut out and select “Split”. Do the same at the end point of this clip. Click on this clip and click “Discard”.

Step 4: When you are happy with your changes, press the “Blue Arrow” at the top right of your screen.

Step 5: Apply any other edits, along with a thumbnail and caption, before sharing your Instagram Reel or saving as a draft.

Note: You can also select the “Speed” option at the bottom of your screen, and drag the relevant slider to alter playback speed.

This creates speeds your video, cutting it’s viewing length.

Trimming Reels with Riverside

While its easy to create your Reels directly on Instagram, you may find the editing tools rather limiting. There’s also reports of Instagram’s editor being glitchy and the transcriptions are not the most accurate plus you can’t easily go change your transcription text.

If you’re looking for a smoother editing experience, then you may be better off using dedicated content creation software like Riverside.

Riverside is a studio-quality software that helps you capture crisp, clear video content and easily repurpose long-from video for short-form sharing. You can record in top-quality resolution then edit your video effortlessly with AI. Our Editor works with text-based editing so trimming your content is as easy as deleting text. You can add highly accurate captions, style them as you like and then go ahead to style your video layout and background.

Best of all, with Riverside’s Magic Clips tool you can take one long recording and turn all its key moments into short shareable Reels, all at the tap of a button.

Some of our key features include:

• Up to 4K video resolution and 48kHz sound quality
• Separate video and audio tracks for up to 10 participants so you have more editing control
• Magic Clips AI which automatically extracting short-form clips from longer recordings
• AI transcription available in over 100 languages so you get highly accurate captions
• Customizable captions which you can style and position as you like
• Audio enhancement so you can remove background noise and normalize your audio in a single click
• Variety of video layouts and backgrounds to choose from and customize your videos
• Text-based editing where any text you delete in your transcript removes the matching video and audio in your actual recording

Want to get started with Riverside’s Magic Clips to create your next Instagram Reel? Follow these steps to begin!

Step 1: Launch Riverside and create a new studio or join an existing one. You can click the “Invite”  to invite guests if you’ve got someone collaborating with you, but you can also do this in te studio.

When you’re all set click “Go to Studio”.

Step 2: In the lobby check your camera and headphone before selecting “Join Studio.”

Step 3: When you and your guests are ready hit “Record” and “Start Recording” at the bottom of your screen to capture a new video.

Step 4: Once your recording is complete, press “Stop Recording” and choose “View All Recordings” from the panel on the right side of your screen.

Step 5: Wait for your video to process. Then select your chosen recording takes from the dashboard.

Step 6: Here you can either go to “Create new edit” to start editing your recording as is. Or, go to Magic Clips  and click “Generate clips” to turn your recordings key moments into short-form videos ideal for Reels.

You can download these clips as is, or you can edit them further by clicking “Edit”.

Step 7: In the Editor you can either edit your recording using your transcript. Simply delete text and the matching video will remove correspondingly.

Or if you prefer using our color-coded timeline to split, trim and merge clips together.

Here, click and drag the edges of the “timeline navigation bar” at the bottom of your screen to adjust video selection and duration.

Step 8: Finish off by adding captions, styling your background and layout with our automated tools.

Step 8: “Export” your project and save it to your device before uploading to Instagram as a Reel.

How to decide your Instagram Reels length: 5 aspects to consider

When choosing the length of your Instagram Reel, there are a few things you should consider. Making the right decision will help you achieve better content results and craft videos that appeal to your audience.

Instagram requirements

First, it’s important to verify that your content aligns closely with the requirements set by the Instagram app. Before attempting to share an Instagram Reel, make sure that your clip does not exceed 90 seconds in length. If it does, you’ll need to find a way to trim content down before you hit share.

Video message or purpose

Next, it can be helpful to think about the overarching message of purpose of your video content. What are you trying to communicate with your latest Instagram Reel? This information can guide your duration choices. For example, content for nurturing your current audience may be longer than content you’re using to target new followers who’re unfamiliar with what you do.

Think carefully about the message you want to share with your audience and how best to make this clear. A simple fact or anecdote might require only a brief Reel to explain, while a more complex conversation might span the full 90-second cap.

Production elements

It’s also a good idea to consider the impact of production elements in your Instagram Reels. This includes taking into account how specific editing features and integrations help to articulate your story.

Rewatch your Instagram Reel, and notice how visually engaging your video is. Does your Reel hold the audience’s attention with ease? If so, you can produce a longer clip! If not, you might want to trim content to account for shorter attention spans.

Audience considerations

Similarly, you need to maintain a strong awareness of your audience and how users are likely to consume your content. This information can help you tailor your strategy and directly serve your Instagram community.

Who is your target audience? How do they use Instagram? If you’re targeting busy professionals, you might want to keep videos short and sweet! If you’re targeting Gen Z users, you can use longer clips to capitalize on more frequent Reels viewing trends.

Other IG Reels content

Finally, it’s important to remember that no one Instagram Reel stands alone. Your Reels are part of your broader account and online presence, which means that each video is influenced by other Reels content.

If you’re producing a one-off video with no extra context, it may be helpful to use more of your time limit to cover further details. If your video is part of a Reels series across your account, shorter clips are often the best option.

Best practices for creating short but effective Instagram Reels

Ready to start creating short but effective Instagram Reels that help you grow your account and build your brand? Keep these simple best practices in mind.

Prioritize content quality

The latest research reveals that content quality is becoming an increasingly important consideration for consumers, with 28% of people rating good production value as essential. Quality content can make all the difference to your content, so take the time to make your video stand out! Aim for clear audio and high resolution that showcases your talent and professionalism.

Hook audience attention

Instagram Reels currently have 2.35 billion monthly active users, which provides plenty of opportunity and plenty of competition. The best way to make your Reel a success is by opening with a hook! Capture the audience’s attention early, and give users a reason to keep watching your content – or even visit your account page.

Exercise your creativity

Video marketing is a saturated market. A creative approach can help you stand out from the crowd and make an instant impact. What can you offer that sets your brand apart from the competition? How can you communicate your ideas in a fresh and innovative way? These skills will help you highlight your value and boost recognition.

Listen to your community

Last but not least, listen to your community. Refer to audience demographics and Instagram polls to get a clearer sense of what your followers really want to see from your content. This can help you learn what’s working well and what might be missing. You can use this information to create better videos that capture interest and deliver value more effectively and efficiently.

Bonus: 3 ways to post longer reels on Instagram

Sometimes, 90 seconds just isn’t enough time to say everything you want to say. In these instances, you have a few pathways you can use to dodge the rules and create longer content pieces.

Break your video into parts

The most simple solution is to break your video into parts! Instead of sharing one long clip, you can publish a series of Reels that connect with one another. This option is quick and easy, and it could even draw more followers to your account as users anticipate the latest update.

Direct traffic elsewhere

Who said you had to share your full video clip within the Instagram app? If you have a long-form video that just won’t fit on Instagram, create a short teaser that will. You can share this as a Reel and direct traffic to another platform that does accommodate longer clips, like YouTube.

Host an Instagram Live

Have you already recorded your video? If not, try going live instead! Instagram’s live broadcasting features offer great potential for engagement and are far less limited in terms of length than other platform tools. You can communicate directly with your audience in real-time and chat for far more than just 90 seconds.

FAQs on Instagram Reels length

Still unsure about Instagram Reels requirements? Here are our answers to a few frequently asked questions!

Can an Instagram Reel be 3 minutes?

Instagram Reels are capped at 90 seconds! This means that it is not currently possible to share a video that runs for 3 minutes.

How do I post a Reel longer than 90 seconds?

Unfortunately, Reels are currently limited to a 90-second maximum length. If you need to share a video longer than this, it’s best to break it up into parts, direct traffic to another video-sharing platform, or make the most of live-streaming tools to reach your audience.

Final thoughts

If you want to enhance your Instagram Reels strategy and create great content for your brand, don’t wait! Get started with Riverside, and rely on the highest-quality professional tools to help you craft better content than ever before.