What are the different Instagram ad formats?
What are the different Instagram ad formats?
Instagram offers several ad formats to match your marketing goals:
1. Feed Ads (Photo & Video)
•Appear in users' main feed
•Square (1:1) or vertical (4:5) format
•Up to 10 images in carousel
•Best for: Product showcases, brand awareness
2. Stories Ads
•Full-screen vertical format (9:16)
•15 seconds max for videos
•Swipe-up or tap for action
•Best for: Limited-time offers, behind-the-scenes
3. Reels Ads
•Full-screen vertical videos
•Up to 90 seconds long
•Appears between organic Reels
•Best for: Viral content, entertainment, tutorials
4. Explore Ads
•Shown in Explore feed
•Reaches discovery-minded users
•Same format as feed ads
•Best for: New customer acquisition
5. Carousel Ads
•2-10 swipeable images or videos
•Each card can have unique link
•Great for storytelling
•Best for: Product catalogs, step-by-step guides
6. Collection Ads
•Combines video/image with product catalog
•Instant shopping experience
•Mobile-optimized
•Best for: E-commerce, product discovery
Choosing the Right Format:
•Brand awareness: Feed + Stories
•Product sales: Carousel + Collection
•Engagement: Reels + Stories
•New audiences: Explore + Reels
Related Questions
Ready to Create Your Instagram Ad Strategy?
Get a personalized Instagram advertising strategy tailored to your business in minutes.
Generate Your Strategy Now →