Introduction
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms for sharing photos and videos. With over 1 billion monthly active users, creating content that stands out on Instagram can be a challenge. One important but often overlooked aspect of sharing great videos on Instagram is cropping them properly for different formats.
The Instagram feed requires square 1:1 videos, while Instagram Stories and IGTV allow more flexible widescreen 16:9 or vertical 4:5 videos. Cropping videos to the optimal size and aspect ratio ensures they look great on any device and maximize real estate on the small Instagram screen. Whether you’re repurposing existing videos or editing new content, proper cropping can make a dramatic difference in engagement and viewership.
In this beginner’s guide, we’ll walk through several easy methods for cropping videos for various Instagram formats using free online tools.
Part 1: What You Should to Know before Doing instagram Video Cropping
Here are the key things you should know about Instagram video dimensions and aspect ratios before cropping:
Aspect Ratios
- Square 1:1 – Required for the Instagram feed
- Vertical 4:5 – Ideal for Instagram Stories
- Horizontal 16:9 – Best for IGTV videos
Dimensions
- Feed Videos: 1080×1080 pixels (max 60 secs)
- Story Videos: Minimum 600×1067 pixels (max 15 secs)
- IGTV Videos: Minimum 720×1280 pixels (max 60 mins)
Other Tips
- Landscape not supported on feed
- Square and vertical work for all
- HD is not required but recommended
- Shorter videos tend to perform better
Knowing these best practices for video specs will help you crop properly for each Instagram placement. Aim to crop videos to the ideal ratios when possible, but square or vertical tend to be most adaptable. Check the dimensions to ensure they meet minimums as well. Keeping videos short and high-quality can also improve performance.
Part 2: Crop Videos for instagram Free with Edimakor on PC Mac & Windows
HitPaw Edimakor is an AI-powered video editor that makes it easy to crop videos for Instagram. The intuitive interface and powerful AI features like automatic subtitles make video editing a breeze. You can crop multiple Instagram videos in just a few clicks for free. HitPaw Edimakor is available on Windows and Mac.
Overall, HitPaw Edimakor provides everything you need to easily crop and edit videos for optimal viewing on Instagram feed, stories, and IGTV. Let’s see how to crop video for Instagram reels.
Features
- Support for all major aspect ratios – You can crop to 1:1 for Instagram feed, 16:9 for IGTV, 4:5 for Stories/Reels.
- Custom crop tool – Precisely adjust cropping frames to get the perfect composition.
- Resize videos – Scale videos to any dimensions like 1080×1080 pixels for Instagram feed.
- Preset ratios – Choose from preset crop sizes for different Instagram placements.
- Multi video timeline – Combine cropped clips from different sources into one video.
- Filters and effects – Further enhance your cropped videos with filters, text, stickers etc.
- Export for social media – Save cropped videos optimized for Instagram and other platforms.
Steps on How to Crop Videos for Instagram on PC Mac and Windows
Here is how to crop videos for Instagram:
- Download and Install the HitPaw Edimakor on your computer. Add your video clip to the editing timeline.
- Click the “Crop” icon in the toolbar. Use the cropping frame to select the part of the video you want to keep. Adjust the frame size or aspect ratio if needed. Preview the cropped video to ensure it looks good. Click “OK” to apply the crop.
- When done editing, click the “Export” button. Select output settings tailored for Instagram such as square 1:1 resolution.
Part 3: Crop Videos for Instagram with Online Tool
1. Clideo
Clideo is a free online video editor with a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface. It provides various aspect ratio presets making it easy to crop and resize videos for different social platforms including Instagram.
Pros
- Intuitive cropping with preset ratios for Instagram
- Resize videos to any dimensions
- Trim/cut video clips
- Add text, filters, overlays
- No watermarks
Cons
- Limited creative editing features
- Need to download final video
2. Canva
Canva is a popular graphic design platform that also lets you edit videos right within your browser. Its excellent video cropping tool makes it simple to customize dimensions.
Pros
- Browser-based video cropping
- Export with adjustable resolution
- Instagram story templates
- Library of graphics/stickers
- Collaborative features
Cons
- Requires Canva account
- Primarily graphic focused
3. VEED.IO
VEED.IO is a versatile online video suite allowing intuitive editing and cropping without any downloads. Just drag corners of video to needed size.
Pros
- Easy browser video cropping
- Custom renders for social
- Trim, filters, text, etc
- GIF maker
- Screen record option
Cons
- Watermark on free videos
- Pay for full suite access
Part 4: How to Crop A Video for Instagram on iOS & Android?
On Android
Cropping videos for Instagram directly on Android phones is easy thanks to the built-in editing tools.
The intuitive uploading and cropping process allows precise edits without needing to toggle between apps. Instagram’s Android video editor empowers you to crop great content to share in just minutes. Here is how to crop video in Instagram:
- Open the Instagram app and tap the “+” icon to upload a new video from your Android’s gallery or camera roll.
- You can pinch/zoom and drag the video preview frame to set the crop position and frame size needed. Tap the crop icon to manually enter the aspect ratio or dimensions like 1:1 for square.
- Tap next when the crop looks good to add filters/captions and post to your Instagram feed or story.
On iOS
Cropping videos right on your iPhone to post on Instagram is extremely convenient when you’re on the go. Thankfully, Apple provides a capable built-in video editor called iMovie even on your iPhone that makes cropping for Instagram a breeze. It is the best Video Crop App for Instagram. Here is how to crop video Instagram:
- Open iMovie and tap “+” to start a new project. Select your video to import from your camera roll.
- Tap the video thumbnail, then the “Crop” icon. Pinch to zoom in/out and drag to reposition the crop frame. Get the desired composition. Tap the crop frame corner to adjust the aspect ratio as needed. Tap “Done” when ready.
- Tap the share button and select “Save Video.” Choose export settings like 1080×1080 resolution and square 1:1 ratio.
- Open the Instagram app, select your cropped video, make any final edits if needed, and then post. It is the best way if you are looking for crop video for Instagram free.
FAQs about How to Crop Videos for Instagram
Q1: How do I crop a video for Instagram?
You can easily crop videos for Instagram using the AI-powered video editor HitPaw Edimakor. Just add your clip to the timeline, click the crop tool to adjust the frame, resize if needed, preview it, and then export with a square 1:1 resolution perfect for Instagram.
Q2: Why Making/Cropping Instagram Videos Will Boost Your Account
Cropping videos to Instagram’s recommended formats, including 1:1 square for feed, 9:16 vertical for Stories, and 16:9 landscape for IGTV, improve their viewing experience.
Q3: How do you format a video for Instagram stories?
If you want to know how do you crop a video to fit on Instagram, the most easiest way is by using Edimakor. Instagram Story videos should be in 9:16 vertical aspect ratio at a minimum 600 x 1067 pixels resolution. Using the guides above to crop videos accordingly before uploading will maximize their display.
Final Verdict
Properly cropping videos using the right dimensions and aspect ratios can noticeably improve your Instagram feed, IGTV, Reels, and Story content.
Dedicated tools like HitPaw Edimakor make resizing easy. Experiment with square, vertical, and wide formats to determine what engages your audience best. It was all about how to crop video for Instagram story.