INSTAGRAM AD IMAGES
AI Instagram ad images for Feed, Stories and carousels
Instagram is a visual first app: people follow photographers, designers and brands for the look of the grid, so an ad is judged against that taste in the first glance. Meta's Ads Guide recommends a 4:5 image for Instagram Feed ads and a 9:16 image for Instagram Stories, and it advises keeping the top, bottom and sides of a Story clear of key content. ImageQuarry lets you describe the styled shot or upload your own, then direct it in words, for example a flatter pastel palette or more negative space. Every direction becomes a version you can keep, so the Feed edit and the Stories edit grow from the same starting picture.
ImageQuarry publishes no aspect ratio list, so measure each download against Meta's spec for the placement you are buying, Feed or Stories, and crop before upload.
Last updated October 2026
Building an Instagram ad image
- 01
Set the look before the subject
Open with the aesthetic your followers expect: soft film grain, a bold flat color background, a sunlit linen flat lay. Then add the product, or upload your own product shot and describe the styled world around it.
- 02
Direct it like a shoot
Talk to the image the way an art director talks to a photographer: lower the camera, add a hand reaching in, move the color toward sage. Say what to hold onto, such as the serum bottle's label, and look at the new version to see whether it held.
- 03
Fit Feed and Stories separately
Compare the candidates and download the one you want for Feed. For Stories, branch from that version and ask for a tall, centered composition, then check both files against Meta's placement guidance before building the ad.
Instagram ad requests to borrow
These are requests a person could type for an Instagram campaign. None of them describes an output.
A grid-friendly flat lay
A top-down arrangement with a consistent background color reads as native on a feed full of curated posts.
Stories needs a centered subject
Meta warns that the profile icon and the call to action cover the top and bottom of a Story, so the subject belongs in the middle band.
Creator style without a creator
Instagram audiences respond to images that look handheld and personal. A slightly off-center, phone-camera feel can be described directly.
Match the brand palette
A reference image of the palette keeps a run of ads visually consistent across a campaign.
Reels cover style for a still ad
A still that borrows the energy of a Reel, with motion blur or a mid-action pose, stands out among posed product shots.
Seasonal refresh of a hero shot
Rather than starting over each season, branch from the hero version and change the setting, so last season's ad remains for comparison.
Instagram placements, according to Meta
Feed: 4:5 at 1440 by 1800
Meta's Ads Guide lists 4:5 and 1440 by 1800 pixels, JPG or PNG, as the recommended design for Instagram Feed image ads, with a maximum file size of 30MB and a 1% aspect ratio tolerance.
Feed accepts a range of shapes
The same page sets the narrowest Feed image at 400 by 500 and the widest at 191 by 100, with a minimum width of 500 pixels, so a landscape image runs but gives up height on the phone screen.
Stories: 9:16 with safe space
For Instagram Stories image ads, Meta recommends 9:16 at 1440 by 2560 pixels and suggests leaving roughly 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% of each side clear of text, logos and key visuals.
Caption and hashtags
Meta suggests primary text of 125 characters and a headline of 40 characters for Instagram Feed image ads, and allows up to 30 hashtags.
One starting image, several directions
You can branch from any earlier version, so the Stories crop and the Feed crop can each grow from the same chosen image while both paths stay in the workspace.
References steer the styling
Add one or more reference images for a palette, a texture or a lighting mood. They guide the result, and you review each version to see how closely it follows them.
Instagram ad placements side by side
Meta's recommendations for the three placements most Instagram image ads use, with the composition to ask for in words.
| Placement | Meta's recommendation | Keep clear | Composition to ask for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed image | 4:5, 1440 by 1800 pixels | No safe zone listed | "Tall frame, product slightly above center, simple background." |
| Stories image | 9:16, 1440 by 2560 pixels | About 14% top, 35% bottom, 6% sides | "Vertical, subject in the middle band, calm space top and bottom." |
| Feed carousel, images only | 4:5, at least 1080 by 1080 pixels | No safe zone listed | "Same background and light on every card, one item per card." |
| Feed carousel with video | 1:1 | No safe zone listed | "Square, centered subject with even margins." |
| Feed, landscape fallback | Widest allowed 191 by 100 | No safe zone listed | "Wide scene with the subject in the center third." |
As of 2026-10-20
Sources: Meta Ads Guide: image ads, Instagram Feed; Meta Ads Guide: image ads, Instagram Stories; Meta Ads Guide: carousel ads, Instagram Feed
What an AI Instagram ad image is
An AI Instagram ad image is the still picture in a paid Instagram placement, such as Feed, Stories or a carousel card, made from a written description or by changing an uploaded photo. In ImageQuarry you direct it through conversation, keep the versions you like, and download one per placement.
It is not an Instagram scheduling or posting tool, and it is not a stock library of ready Instagram ads. The image is made for your campaign and placed through Meta's ad tools.
Questions about AI Instagram ad images
Do I need different images for Feed and Stories?
Meta recommends 4:5 for Feed and 9:16 for Stories, and Stories cover the top and bottom of the frame with interface. A simple route is one chosen image, then a branch asking for a tall, centered version for Stories.
Where should text go in a Story ad?
Meta suggests keeping roughly the top 14%, the bottom 35% and 6% of each side clear of text and key visuals. Place headline words in the middle band, or leave them to the ad's own text.
How do I keep a campaign looking consistent on the grid?
Pick one background color and one light direction and repeat them in every request. A palette reference helps too; check each version to see how closely it follows it.
Can I make an image that looks like a creator's post?
Yes, describe it: phone height, slightly off center, natural daylight, a hand in frame. Instagram audiences scroll past heavy studio gloss quickly, so a casual look is a reasonable thing to test.
What does ImageQuarry not publish for Instagram?
It lists no output sizes, aspect ratios or file types. Ask for the shape in words and measure the downloaded file against Meta's Ads Guide.
Which plans are there?
Two paid monthly plans: Starter at $9 per month with 100 image credits a month, or Pro at $29 per month with 300 image credits a month.
Related ad images
Pricing
| ImageQuarry plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $9 per month | 100 image credits a month; optional metered overage at $0.12 per extra credit, off unless you turn it on |
| Pro | $29 per month | 300 image credits a month; optional metered overage at $0.09 per extra credit, off unless you turn it on |
Create an image. Edit it with words. Keep refining.
Style it for the grid. Then keep directing.
Describe the look your followers expect, adjust it in plain words for Feed and for Stories, and keep each direction until the right one is ready to run.
Start creatingAlready have an account? Sign in