A giant picture that stretches across your Instagram profile, or a panorama that unfolds as people swipe, instantly makes an account look designed. It is easy to do once you know the sizes.
Two popular layouts
- Profile grid: a 3 x 1, 3 x 2 or 3 x 3 grid of posts that form one large picture on your profile.
- Swipeable carousel: one wide panorama split into 2 to 10 slides that flow together.
Pick the right size first
Instagram now shows grid previews as 3:4 portrait tiles, but each post is still 1080 pixels wide. Plan your source image before splitting:
- 3 x 3 grid of square posts: a square source of 3240 x 3240 pixels (each tile 1080 x 1080)
- 3 x 1 grid of squares: 3240 x 1080 pixels
- Carousel with 3 portrait slides (4:5): 3240 x 1350 pixels
If your picture is a different shape, use the Aspect Ratio Changer or Crop to get the shape right first.
Split the image
- Open the Instagram Grid Maker.
- Drop in your picture. A 3 x 3 grid appears over it.
- Change the number of columns and rows for your layout, or choose Vertically only for a carousel.
- Drag any dashed line if you want the cuts in a particular place, and zoom in for precision.
- Download all tiles as a ZIP.
Each tile keeps the original resolution, so nothing is blurred.
Upload in the right order
Instagram adds each new post at the top-left of the grid, so upload in reverse order: start with the bottom-right tile and finish with the top-left tile. For carousels, add the slides in left to right order.
Tips for a seamless look
- Avoid placing faces or text exactly on a cut line.
- Add a subtle border or keep a consistent colour palette so tiles feel related even if the grid breaks later.
- Remember that new posts will push the grid down, so plan the big picture for a moment when you can post all tiles in a row.
- For carousels, let one element (a line, a person’s arm, a horizon) continue across the cut to encourage swiping.
Other ways to split images
- Split Image into 4 parts for quarters
- Split Image into 9 parts for a classic 3 x 3
- Split Image for any custom grid, or to cut a long screenshot into pages
Need to put pieces back together?
Use Combine Images to join tiles side by side or in a grid.
Plan the layout before you cut
A 3-column grid looks best with 3, 6 or 9 tiles. Choose a wide image for a single row, or a tall image for a patchwork. Check that the key subject is not cut in half by a gap between tiles.
Pick the right ratio
Instagram profile grids now crop previews to portrait rather than square, so allow a little margin around the edges of your artwork. A 3 x 1 split of a wide image works well as a swipeable carousel. Use the aspect ratio changer to prepare the canvas first.
Posting order matters
Instagram shows the newest post top left. To make a picture assemble correctly, post the tiles in reverse order: last tile first, first tile last. For a carousel, upload the tiles in left to right order.
Tips for sharp results
- Start with a high-resolution image, at least 3240 px wide for a 3-column grid.
- Export as high-quality JPG or PNG.
- Do not apply Instagram filters to individual tiles, or they will not match.
Tools to use
Cut the picture with the Instagram grid maker or the more flexible split image tool, which lets you drag the cutting lines. Finally, check sizes with the Instagram photo resizer.
Frequently asked questions
In which order do I upload grid tiles?
Upload in reverse order: the bottom-right tile first and the top-left tile last, because Instagram places each new post at the start of the grid.
What size should the original image be?
For a 3 x 3 grid of square posts use 3240 x 3240 pixels, so each tile is 1080 x 1080.
How do I make a swipeable panorama?
Use a wide image, split it vertically into 2 to 10 slides and upload them as one carousel in left to right order.
Will splitting reduce quality?
No. Tiles are cut from the original at full resolution. Instagram may recompress them slightly after upload.
