Facebook & Instagram Safe Zone Checker for Reels, Stories & Feed Ads
Are your Instagram Reels ads getting covered by the "Like" button? Is your Facebook Stories CTA hidden behind the user's profile icon?
Optimizing creative for Facebook and Instagram is tricky. With different aspect ratios for Instagram Reels (9:16), Facebook Stories (9:16), Instagram Feed (4:5), and Square posts (1:1), it's easy to misplace crucial text or logos. Instagram's Reels interface and Facebook's Stories UI add overlays—like the caption, share button, and progress bar—that often obscure important parts of your design.
Use our free Facebook & Instagram safe zone checker to instantly preview your creative against the latest safe zone specifications for Reels, Stories, and Feed placements.
How to Use the Instagram & Facebook Safe Zone Tool
- Upload Your Creative: Click "Upload Image" or drag and drop your ad creative (JPG or PNG) into the tool.
- Select Your Format: Choose between Instagram Reels / Facebook Stories (9:16), Portrait Feed (4:5), or Square Feed (1:1).
- Check the Red Zones: The red hatched areas represent "unsafe" zones where Instagram and Facebook place UI elements (profile photo, likes, comments, etc.).
- Adjust & Re-upload: If your text or logo falls into a red zone, adjust your design and re-upload to ensure 100% visibility.
Why Facebook & Instagram Ad Safe Zones Matter
When you run ads on Instagram Reels, Instagram Stories, Facebook Reels, or Facebook Stories, the platform adds its own user interface on top of your video or image. This includes:
- Top: Profile icon and handle (Instagram and Facebook both use ~14% of screen height).
- Right Side: Like, Comment, Share, and Menu buttons (Instagram Reels engagement column).
- Bottom: Caption, audio information, and the "Learn More" or "Shop Now" call-to-action button.
If you place your headline or offer code in these areas, users won't see it. This leads to lower click-through rates (CTR) and wasted ad spend on both Facebook and Instagram.
Common Mistakes: Wrong Aspect Ratios for Reels & Stories
One of the biggest mistakes advertisers make is using square (1:1) images for Instagram Reels or Facebook Stories (9:16). When you do this, Instagram and Facebook automatically crop and zoom your image to fill the vertical space, cutting off crucial elements like headlines, logos, and CTAs.
Always design your creatives in the exact aspect ratio for your intended placement. Don't rely on Instagram's or Facebook's auto-cropping—it will butcher your carefully crafted design.
Facebook & Instagram Safe Zone Specifications by Placement
Here are the exact safe zone dimensions for each Facebook and Instagram ad placement:
| Placement | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Safe Zone Margins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instagram Reels / Facebook Reels | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | Top: 14%, Bottom: 35%, Right: 15% |
| Instagram Stories / Facebook Stories | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | Top: 14%, Bottom: 20% |
| Instagram Feed / Facebook Feed (Portrait) | 1080 × 1350 px | 4:5 | Bottom: 15% (CTA overlay area) |
| Instagram Feed / Facebook Feed (Square) | 1080 × 1080 px | 1:1 | Minimal—keep 50px margin from edges |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Instagram Reels safe zone size?
For Instagram Reels (1080x1920px, 9:16 aspect ratio), the safe zone excludes the top 14% (for the profile/search bar), the bottom 35% (for captions and CTA buttons), and a 15% margin on the right side for engagement buttons (like, comment, share). Keep all critical text, logos, and CTAs within the center safe area.
What is the Facebook ad safe zone?
Facebook ad safe zones depend on the placement. For Facebook Stories and Facebook Reels (9:16), use the same safe zones as Instagram Reels—avoid the top 14% and bottom 35%. For Facebook Feed ads (4:5 or 1:1), keep critical content away from the bottom 15% where CTA overlays appear.
What are the safe zones for Instagram Stories vs Reels?
Instagram Stories require roughly 20% clear at the bottom for swipe-up CTAs and stickers. Instagram Reels need more space—about 35% at the bottom for captions, audio info, and the CTA button, plus a right-side margin for engagement icons. Stories have less UI clutter than Reels.
Do Facebook and Instagram use the same safe zones?
Yes, for equivalent placements. Facebook Reels and Instagram Reels share identical safe zone requirements. Facebook Stories and Instagram Stories are also the same. This makes it easy to create one vertical creative that works across both platforms.
What size should my Facebook Feed ad be?
Facebook and Instagram feeds support both 1:1 (Square, 1080x1080) and 4:5 (Portrait, 1080x1350). We recommend 4:5 as it takes up more vertical screen real estate on mobile devices, giving your ad more visibility in the feed.
Why does my square image look cropped on Instagram Reels?
Instagram and Facebook automatically crop images to fill the 9:16 frame on Reels. If you upload a 1:1 square image to a Reels placement, the platform will zoom in and cut off significant portions of the top and bottom. Always design in the correct 9:16 aspect ratio for Reels.
What is the safe zone for TikTok vs Instagram Reels?
TikTok and Instagram Reels have very similar safe zones since both use 9:16 vertical video with engagement buttons on the right and captions at the bottom. TikTok requires roughly 20% bottom clearance for captions and 15% right-side margin. Instagram Reels needs slightly more bottom clearance (~35%) due to the larger CTA button area.
Does this tool save my images?
No. All processing happens locally in your browser. Your images are never uploaded to our servers, ensuring your ad creative stays completely private and secure.