What the 4:5 aspect ratio means
A 4:5 picture is a little taller than it is wide: 4 parts wide for every 5 parts tall, for example 1080 × 1350 px. It is the same shape as an 8 × 10 in print.
| Use | Size in pixels |
|---|---|
| Instagram or Facebook portrait post | 1080 × 1350 |
| 8 × 10 in print at 300 ppi | 2400 × 3000 |
Why 4:5 is used for Instagram
In the feed a 4:5 post takes up more of the screen than a square or a wide photo, so it draws more attention. Instagram and Facebook both show 4:5 pictures in the feed in full.
What the Instagram grid cuts off
In the grid of your profile Instagram shows posts as 3:4 tiles, a little narrower than 4:5. A thin strip at the left and right is hidden there, so keep text and faces away from the side edges.
Cropping is not resizing
Cropping cuts off the edges that do not fit the new shape; nothing is squeezed or stretched. Resizing only changes the number of pixels. This tool does both in one go: it cuts the photo to the ratio, then saves it at the size you pick, or with every pixel of the crop under “Original”.
When the photo itself is the problem
A crop cannot fix a photo that is too small, too dark or cut off at the forehead. If you need a portrait and have no good one, a professional headshot made from a few selfies gives you one that fits any frame.