Instagram Story Safe Zone
Instagram Story safe zone at 1080 × 1920: keep text out of the profile row at the top and the reply bar at the bottom. Check a Story frame below.
Grey shapes show roughly where Instagram Stories's buttons and text sit. The red area is outside the safe zone.
Nothing is uploaded: the file opens in this tab only and is gone when you close it.
- Top
- 269 px
- Bottom
- 672 px
- Left
- 65 px
- Right
- 65 px
A transparent 1080 × 1920 PNG with the layers you have on. Put it on the top track in your editor and hide it before export.
What is the Instagram Story safe zone?
The Instagram Story safe zone is the part of a 1080 × 1920 Story that the profile row and the reply bar don't cover. Meta's Ads Guide for Stories asks for roughly 14% clear at the top, 35% at the bottom and 6% on each side: about 269 px, 672 px and 65 px.
Stories carry less interface than Reels: no side buttons and no caption over the video. The 35% bottom margin is there for the ad button and the reply bar; organic Stories have only the reply bar, so text can sit a little lower if you never run the Story as an ad.
What covers your video on Instagram Stories
- Top: the progress bars, your profile picture and name, the time, and the menu and close buttons.
- Bottom: the Send message field, the like and share buttons.
- On ads: a Learn more (or similar) button above the reply bar, and a Sponsored label at the top.
Instagram Story safe zone in pixels
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Top margin | 269 px (14%) |
| Bottom margin | 672 px (35%) |
| Left margin | 65 px (6%) |
| Right margin | 65 px (6%) |
| Safe box | x 65–1015, y 269–1248 (950 × 979 px) |
Instagram Stories: Meta: leave roughly 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% on each side free of text and logos.
These figures are approximate. They come from each platform's published ad specs, checked on 2026-10-13; the apps change their layouts, captions vary in length and phones differ in shape, so check a real post before you deliver. The grey shapes in the checker are a rough drawing of each app, not a published spec.
Why the safe zone matters for UGC ads and TikTok Shop videos
- Link stickers placed low in the frame sit close to the reply field, where they're easy to miss or hard to tap.
- Story ads made from UGC lose anything in the lower third to the ad button.
- Brands often reuse one 9:16 export for Stories and Reels; keeping text inside the Story margins leaves it clear on both.
Tips for placing text on Instagram Stories
- Keep text and stickers below about 269 px so the profile row doesn't cover them.
- Keep link stickers and key text above about 1248 px, clear of the reply bar and ad button.
- Use the full width: Stories have no side buttons, only the 6% edge margin.
- Tap through a test Story on your own phone; the profile row is taller on some phones.
Sources
- Meta Ads Guide: Instagram Stories video ads (checked 2026-10-13)
Pixel values are for a 1080 × 1920 frame; Meta's percentages are rounded to the nearest pixel.
Safe zones for other apps
How to use Instagram Story Safe Zone
- 1
Add your video or image
Drop a file on the frame or tap to choose one. It opens in this tab only; nothing is uploaded. A 1080 × 1920 export shows exactly what Instagram Stories will show.
- 2
Check what gets covered
Turn the overlays on and off. Anything under a grey shape or in the red area can be hidden by the app: move text, faces and products inside the green line.
- 3
Download the template
Download the transparent PNG, put it on the top track of your editor while you place text, and hide it before you export.
FAQInstagram Story Safe Zone FAQ
What is the Instagram Story safe zone?
Meta's Ads Guide for Stories says to leave roughly 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% on each side free of text and logos: about 269 px, 672 px and 65 px on a 1080 × 1920 Story.
Is the Story safe zone smaller for organic Stories?
Organic Stories only show the progress bars and profile row at the top and the reply bar at the bottom, so you can place text lower than in an ad. Story ads add a Learn more button above the reply bar, which is why Meta's ad margin is 35%.
Where should a link sticker go in a Story?
Inside the safe zone, above the reply bar. A sticker low in the frame can sit under the reply field or the ad button and be hard to tap.
How is a Story different from a Reel?
Stories have no side buttons and no caption over the video, so the full width is usable. Reels cover the right side with buttons and the bottom with the caption.
Where can I get an Instagram Story safe zone template?
Choose Stories above and press Download for a transparent 1080 × 1920 PNG with the margins and the parts of the screen you have on.
Are these numbers exact?
They're from Meta's Ads Guide, checked on 2026-10-13, and Meta calls them rough. Check a test Story on your phone.
Still have questions?Email us
More free tools
Safe Zone CheckerSafe zone checker for TikTok, Instagram Reels, Instagram Stories and YouTube Shorts: drop in a vertical video or image and see what each app's buttons and captions cover.
TikTok safe zone checkerTikTok safe zone for 1080 × 1920 video: keep text 240 px from the top, 660 px from the bottom and clear of the side buttons. Check your own video below.
Reels safe zone checkerInstagram Reels safe zone at 1080 × 1920: Meta asks for 14% clear at the top, 35% at the bottom and 6% on each side. See what that covers on your Reel.
Shorts safe zone checkerYouTube Shorts safe zone at 1080 × 1920: keep text between 48 and 888 px across and 288 and 1248 px down. See what the Shorts buttons and title cover.
From the UGCLive appCaptions you can see before you post.
UGCLive captions every word and lets you drag captions and text anywhere on the 1080 × 1920 frame, so you can lift them above the app buttons before you export.
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