Instagram highlight cover size
Make highlight covers at 1080 × 1920 pixels, the same 9:16 size as a story. That's what this tool downloads. Instagram uses the middle of the image and shows it as a small circle under your bio, so the top and bottom of the cover never show on your profile.
The circle is tiny on a phone, so keep your icon or word in the centre and leave space around it. The dashed circle in the preview is the full width of the cover; the inner circle is a safer area that stays clear even if you nudge the crop when you set the cover.
How to add highlight covers on Instagram
You don't have to post a cover as a story. Save the images to your phone first, then:
- Go to your profile and press and hold the highlight you want to change.
- Tap Edit highlight, then Edit cover.
- Tap the photo icon to choose a cover from your camera roll.
- Move or zoom it so the icon sits in the middle of the circle, then tap Done.
Making covers that look like a set
Covers work best when only one thing changes from one to the next. Keep the same background, colour and size, and change only the icon or the word. That's why this tool has one style for the whole set.
Pick colours from your brand or your feed. Soft neutrals look calm and let your profile picture stand out; a darker background with a light icon reads better in Instagram's dark mode. If you use words, keep them to one short word each: the circle is too small for more.
Icons, emoji or words?
Line icons look clean and match each other, which suits shops and service businesses. Emoji are quick and friendly, but they look different on iPhone, Android and the web, because each device draws them in its own style. The PNG keeps the emoji from the device you made it on.
Words are the clearest when people don't know what a highlight is about. Use capitals, keep it short and make the size big enough to read at a glance.
Frequently asked questions
What size is an Instagram highlight cover?
1080 × 1920 pixels, a 9:16 portrait image like a story. Instagram shows the middle of it as a circle on your profile, so keep the icon in the centre.
Do I have to post a story to change a highlight cover?
No. Press and hold the highlight, tap Edit highlight, then Edit cover, and pick an image from your camera roll. Nobody sees a new story.
How do I download all the covers at once?
Click Download all to get a ZIP with one PNG per cover, numbered in order. On a phone, open the ZIP in Files and save the images to Photos.
Why does my emoji look different on my phone?
Each device draws emoji in its own style. The cover is drawn with the emoji on the device you're using, so make the set on the phone or computer whose emoji you like.
How many highlight covers can I make?
Up to 12 in one set. Most profiles look tidiest with four to six highlights, and people rarely scroll further along the row.