The Reels on Instagram are short, entertaining videos that a lot of people enjoy creating. You might be asking yourself such questions as “How Long Can a Reel Be on Instagram?” This is quite relevant for those creators and brands who wish to leverage this feature effectively.
That is why understanding time limits allows you to get more people to watch your videos. During the discussion in this article, we will discuss the following topics: How many minutes can Reels be? Recent updates? For more views, what length is optimal? How to make your Reels unique?
What Are Instagram Reels?
IGTV started in June 2020 because people liked TikTok. Reels are short videos that are tall, like a reel on your phone! They allow one to create several funny videos with music, text and excellent effects. The best Instagram reel size is 1080 by 1920 pixels.
You can post these videos to Reels, feed and profile, as well as to the Reels section on the Explore page. This way, you can get your videos seen by more people on the internet. Reels are not the same as Instagram Stories, which disappears after 24 hours, or IGTV if more extended videos.
Why Is Reel Length Important?
The length of your Reels is very important. It influences the desire of people for your video. Shorter videos can help grab a view and share fast. Then, having a longer video means that more stories can be told. That is why balance plays a crucial role.
Current Reel Length Limit
At the moment, Reels on Instagram can be no longer than 90 seconds. It is way longer than the 15 seconds that Reels initially offered. It had to do with yet another update that introduced the extended length since people wanted something that allowed them to make awesome videos. They also want to continue the trend of other applications such as TikTok and the YouTube Shorts application.
Changes in Instagram Reel Length Over Time
Speaking of Reels, Instagram has gradually added more time to it in order to fulfil various content creation requirements. Here’s a quick breakdown of how Reel lengths have changed:
- 15 seconds: In the beginning, Reels can only be 15 seconds long.
- 30 seconds: Next, it was trimmed down to 30 seconds by Instagram, which gave people artistic freedom.
- 60 seconds: For the middle of the year 2021, they made it to 60 seconds because users demanded more of it.
- 90 seconds: Originally, Instagram Reels capped the video at 30 seconds, but in 2022, the time limit increased to 90 seconds.
These changes indicate that Instagram wishes to provide the creators with more time, although the videos should be brief enough to hold the audience.
Can You Make Reels Longer Than the Time Limit?
In a technical context, it is impossible to upload a single Reel which exceeds 90 seconds. But as you will soon discover, there are a couple of tricks if you decide to share longer pieces of content. You can:
- You can also break your content into different sections and post it in different Reels one after the other.
- If the content is longer than that of the reel, you can use Instagram Stories or IGTV.
- Your audience will find it easy to watch the complete video on another platform, and you will post a link to the full video in your feed or share a link in the caption.
What Is the Ideal Length for an Instagram Reel?
Ideally, just like any other Reel, your reel should be Liked within the first five seconds. Here’s how to ensure your content stands out:
It is not a secret that the first few seconds are really important. Regardless if it’s an eye-catching image or text or some interesting stat, you want to capture people from the start.
If you have been given 90 seconds to speak about a topic, do not use all the time. There appears to be no wasted time, so make sure that every second counts.
It is advisable to adorn your reel with clips oriented to the current viral trend or use popular songs as a soundtrack.
How to Choose the Best Length for Your Reel Content
If you’re advising someone for 5 minutes or want to share a hilarious story, sticking to 30 seconds might be ideal for you.
- What’s your message? However, if we’re describing something or giving a commentary on a product or person, you will require anywhere between 60 and 90 seconds.
- Who’s your audience? Shorter Reels can be useful for children or for people who cannot sit through long videos, and longer videos are suitable for educational or instructional ones.
How to Adjust Reel Length Based on Content Type
Your reel’s length should match the type of content you’re sharing:
- Educational Content: Depending on the lesson you might be teaching or the information you are explaining it may take you 60 to 90 seconds.
- Entertainment and Trends: As for entertaining and amusing videos with not very serious messages, the CTA length should not exceed 30 seconds.
- Product Showcases: Provide no more than 60 seconds to call attention to the added values of a product.
Best Practices for Creating Engaging Reels
No matter the length, your Reel needs to capture attention quickly. Here’s how to ensure your content stands out:
- Start with a hook: The first few seconds are crucial. Whether it’s a catchy visual, text overlay, or a surprising fact, you want to pull viewers in right away.
- Keep it concise: Even if you have 90 seconds, that doesn’t mean you should use the entire time. Make sure every second adds value.
- Incorporate trends: Jumping on viral trends or using popular music can boost your reel’s visibility.
Reel Length for Maximum Engagement
Get to the point within the first few moments of the Reel time, no matter how long your reel may be, to ensure that it holds people’s attention. When you get viewers to engage early on in just those 3-5 seconds, even those who initially didn’t want to watch a 60 or 90-second Reel stay engaged.
How Reel Length Affects Algorithm Performance
Instagram considers many things when it comes to determining what to do with your videos. One of the largest factors is the average duration that people view your video.
The completion rate is how many people watched the whole video. This is relevant a lot because it allows Instagram to determine whether the next user ought to be shown your video.
Indeed, shorter Reels, which the majority of users have the habit of watching to completion, perform pretty well on the Explore tab. However, if these Reels are able to maintain the viewer’s attention with more fun and engaging or informative Reels of the platform, then longer Reels remain effective.
How to Record and Edit Reels for Optimal Length
This is also noteworthy when recording: the time used for recording is another consideration. Another effective feature constantly improved in the application, is an in-app timer that reveals how much time is left. During the recording you should delete or cut portions not needed as you record to fit the time required during the editing.
Tools to Help You Keep Track of Reel Length
- Instagram’s built-in features: With the use of the Reel editor, you can tell the exact time that your video will take from start to finish. In the app, you can get clips, trim them, and cut them or even split them using a couple of taps.
- Third-party apps: For more enhancements, you get options like InShot or Splice; InShot lets you have pinpoint accuracy for editing the video, while Splice lets you plan for the videos to upload.
Reels vs. Other Instagram Video Formats
Other video formats available on the Instagram platform include Instagram Stories, IGTV (Instagram TV) and general video posts. Each format serves different purposes:
- Stories: Ideal for conveying short and urgent messages up to 15 seconds for each story.
- IGTV: Suitable for videos that are over one minute long.
- Video Posts: These are suitable for frequent content, and they can last up to one hour for the verified accounts.
Reels, however, as their name suggests, are meant to be short and empowering and thus make for the perfect idea for sharing quick content pieces.
Impact of Longer vs. Shorter Reels
Longer Reels, anywhere from one minute to 1:30 helpful when it is necessary to explain something in detail. They are most suitable for workflows, tutorials or other kinds of guides. But let me remind you that the audience on social networks is as often easily distracted and forgetful as a goldfish. But, if your video fails to grab their attention immediately, chances are they swipe right off the screen.
Shorter Reels are good and also powerful. It’s been found that a Reel lasting 15 to 30 seconds is likely to be viewed till the end. This means higher completion rates, and you already know that Instagram’s algorithm approves!
Short Reels: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Great for getting through a specific project or idea quickly and also useful for more casual, fun videos.
- There are going to be more consumers who tune right in fully till the end.
- ShareIC can be sent around, which is easier than sending them through other modes.
Cons
- Harder to tell a full story.
- Quite hard to provide a lot of practice information.
Longer Reels: Pros and Cons
Pros
- More time to feed audiences with detailed information.
- Ideal to use during lessons, do a sneak peek, or tell a story or a series of events.
Cons
- They may or may not read what’s not engaging them or what does not spark their interest in them.
- This, however, might not be the case if the articles are too long or too slow in evolving the main concepts.
Guidelines for Reels Depending on the Length
- 15-30 seconds: Concentrate on one message or on one punchline. Action-packed with lots of motion graphics.
- 30-60 seconds: Provide more background information, but do not use it too often. Ensure that each tick is worthy.
- 60-90 seconds: Plan the narrative carefully. Try to develop the ideas even more to create additional levels for your story, but stay away from cramming your piece with content that can put your audiences to sleep.
Common Mistakes with Reel Length
Some common mistakes creators make when it comes to Reel length include:
- Making Reels too long without enough value: While you may get the hang of making a 90-second Reel, it doesn’t mean you’ll be producing one next year. Value every second that you’ve got.
- Not hooking the audience early enough: First of all, it means that you have only a few seconds to attract people’s attention, and you should use this opportunity.
- Overstuffing a Reel with too much information: Rather than creating one long reel, maybe it is better to divide your content into a sequence of Reels.
Tips for Maximizing Engagement Regardless of Reel Length
- Use captions: A lot of people have their videos on silent. Having captions increases the total time spent on the video.
- Leverage hashtags: It is helpful to use appropriate and popular Hashtags so that the reel you create gets promotion.
- Add music or effects: Having the right audio can complement and keep the audience’s attention, especially if the reel is lengthy.
- Use jump cuts: A flow interruption should be done away with if it is not necessary to have one.
- Add text overlays: You can do this to pass your message across in a short while, especially when creating Reels with fewer contents.
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Conclusion
To make your Instagram Reels successful, it’s important to know how long they should be. Reels started out being only 15 seconds long, but now they can go up to 90 seconds.
Shorter videos are good for quick, exciting content, while longer videos are great if you want to explain something or tell a longer story. No matter how long your Reel is, it’s important to grab people’s attention right away and make sure your video is fun to watch from start to finish.
Use Instagram’s built-in tools to make editing easy, and try using popular music or effects to make your Reel more fun. Whether your video is short or long, just make sure it keeps your viewers interested, so they’ll want to watch more of your content!
FAQ’s
Q1. How do I check my Instagram Reels views count?
To check your Instagram Reels views count, go to your profile and tap on the reel. You’ll see the number of views below the video. Remember, Instagram Reels viewers are only counted if they watch the reel for a few seconds.
Q2. How to add music to part of a reel?
Upload your video first. Then, tap the music button, pick a song, and drag the slider to choose where the music should start and end.
Q3. How to make a reel with music on Instagram?
To create a reel on Instagram, open the Instagram app. Tap the “+” button and pick “Reel.” Upload your video or record a new one, then tap the music icon to add a song.
Q4. Can you add any song to a reel on Instagram?
If you can add any song to a reel, Instagram lets you pick from many songs in its library. However, not all songs are available because of copyright rules.
Q5. How to adjust audio on Instagram reels?
Record or upload your video. Tap the music button and use the slider to change the volume of the music and the original sound.
Q6. How to upload a video on Instagram with music?
Select your video, then tap the music icon to pick a song from Instagram’s library.
Q7. How to add subtitles to Instagram Reels?
Use the “Text” tool to type them in. Instagram also has an automatic caption sticker for some users that adds subtitles by itself.
Q8. How to post a reel on Instagram?
Tap the “+” button, choose “Reel,” upload or record a video, and tap “Share.”
Q9. How to make a reel on Instagram?
To create a reel on Instagram, tap the “+” button, pick “Reel,” upload a video or record one, then add effects or music and share it.
Q10. What’s the difference between reels and short videos?
Reels are on Instagram. Short videos can be on other apps like YouTube or TikTok.
