[FAQ]

I’ve been seeing some talk about a ‘new’ grid format on Instagram and I’m a bit confused about how it works now.

What is the current grid format for our profiles in mid-2025? Are our posts still being cropped to a square on the grid, or has that changed? I want to make sure I’m creating my content, especially my Reel covers, to look good on my profile.

Any clarification on the latest layout would be great. Thanks!

[Jeff Bullas]

That is a very timely question.

Quick Answer: As of 2025, Instagram has widely rolled out a grid format that shows full vertical previews for Reels and other posts, moving away from the traditional 1:1 square crop for all content.

This is a major strategic shift designed to make the profile grid a more dynamic and video-first experience, and it fundamentally changes how you should design your cover photos and images. Here is what you need to know.

First, instead of a uniform grid of squares, your profile grid now looks more like a mosaic of different shapes. Your Reels will now typically display using a 9:16 vertical preview, and your standard vertical image posts will use a 4:5 vertical preview. This means much less of your content is cropped when someone visits your profile page.

Second, this has a huge impact on how you design your Reel covers. The old advice was to keep all your important text and visuals in the centre square of your cover image. While that is still a good idea for ensuring clarity in some smaller feed previews, the full 9:16 vertical cover is now what people see on your main grid, which gives you much more creative freedom with your design.

And third, the challenge for creators now is to create a cohesive look with these different aspect ratios. This means thinking about how a tall 9:16 Reel preview will look next to a 4:5 image post on your profile. Using a consistent colour palette and font style across all of your content formats is now more important than ever to maintain a professional brand aesthetic.

In summary, the days of the perfectly uniform square grid are over. You must now design your content, especially your Reel covers, with their full vertical preview in mind to create a visually appealing and modern-looking profile that makes a strong first impression.

Cheers,

Jeff

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