How to Post Different-Sized Pictures on Instagram: Create Perfect Mixed-Size Carousels

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How to Post Different-Sized Pictures on Instagram: Create Perfect Mixed-Size Carousels

Last Updated: 2026. 03. 23

Struggling to post photos of different sizes in a single Instagram carousel? You're not alone. Traditionally, Instagram cropped every image in a post to match the first photo's aspect ratio, often cutting out important parts of your pictures.

But in late 2024, Instagram introduced an update that makes mixed-size carousels possible. While square cropping is still the default, there's now a simple workaround that lets you combine portrait and landscape shots seamlessly.

In this guide, you'll learn step-by-step how to upload different-sized photos to Instagram and create a polished, eye-catching carousel.

Part 1 What Is Instagram's Mixed-Size Carousel Feature

Part 2 How to Post Different Sized Photos on Instagram

Part 3 Advanced Workaround: Pre-Edit To Fit Non-Standard Photos on Instagram

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Part 1 What Is Instagram's Mixed-Size Carousel Feature

Instagram added a new resize toggle in 2024 that lets you combine vertical, horizontal, and square images in a single carousel—what we now call the Mixed-Size Carousel feature. When you upload multiple photos, a small resize/expand icon appears during preview. Tap it, and you can choose:

Mixed or Original: Keeps each photo’s original size within Instagram's limits.

Portrait: Crops every photo to a 4:5 aspect ratio.

Square: Crops every photo to a 1:1 aspect ratio.

This is great news for creators who previously had to stick to portrait photos or edit images with third-party apps to avoid losing parts of their shots. Now, each image can keep its original composition, whether tall or wide, making your carousels more flexible and visually appealing.

Note: While the "Mixed" option is ideal, Instagram still crops images taller than 4:5 or wider than 1.91:1. Very tall screenshots or ultra-wide panoramas may need preparation to make your picture fit on Instagram is recommended for extreme formats.

Part 2 How to Post Different-Size Photos on Instagram

As we said before, while Instagram's Mixed-Size Carousel feature allows you to combine vertical, horizontal, and square images in one post, the platform still defaults to cropping all images to the first photo's size. To take full advantage of mixed-size carousels, a few extra steps are required.

Follow these steps to learn how to enable the mixed-size carousel feature and post different-sized photos on Instagram for perfect mixed-size carousels:

Step 1

Open the Instagram app and tap the "+" icon to create new content. Then, tap the multiple-image icon above your photo library on the right and select your pictures to create a carousel.

Step 2

After choosing your images, tap the resize/expand icon in the bottom-left corner of the preview.

Step 3

Now, you'll see three options: Mixed(or Original), Portrait, and Square. Just select Mixed to allow each photo to maintain its dimensions.

Step 4

Once selected, check how your photos look in the carousel preview and continue customizing your post, apply filter, add captions, tag your location if desired, etc. When everything looks perfect, tap Share to publish your post.

Portrait and Landscape on Instagram Together!

Part 3 Advanced Workaround: Pre-Edit To Fit Non-Standard Photos on Instagram

However, even when using the Mixed option, Instagram will still crop any image taller than 4:5 or wider than 1.91:1. So what if you have photos in extreme formats and want to display them in full? The solution is simple: resize, expand, or edit your images before uploading. This ensures your content appears exactly as intended, without unwanted cropping.

Here we recommended you to try FlexClip to process those non-standard photos for Instagram. When working with very tall or wide photos, FlexClip makes preparing your images quick and easy. Here’s how it helps:

Add Borders: Subtle borders unify mixed-size carousels, prevent cropping, and keep a polished look across different image formats.

Create a Blurred Background: For images that don't match Instagram's aspect ratios, you can add a blurred background version of itself. This fills extra space while preserving the original image’s integrity.

AI Expand for Extreme Formats: FlexClip's AI Expand feature intelligently extends the background of ultra-tall or ultra-wide photos, allowing you to share the full image while keeping the main subject intact.

Collage Different Sized Photos in one Post: FlexClip offers an intuitive solution for combining photos of varying sizes into a single cohesive post. Its drag-and-drop interface, adjustable layouts, and design tools make it simple to create polished collages that engage your audience.

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By using these tools, any non-standard photo can be transformed into an Instagram-ready image, making your carousels consistent and visually appealing. Turn to FlexClip and try it now!

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Sandy /

Has year of professional photographing experience. Very much into recording every detail of life. She is passionate about all things related to video production, and loves to exploring tips and tricks about it.