Best Instagram Reels Length to Get More Views and Shares

(Published on July 19, 2022 | Updated on September 11, 2023)

Your Instagram Reels length can impact the outcome of your Instagram marketing initiatives.

Depending on your goals, whether you’re looking to get more views, engagements, or conversions, there’s an ideal Reels length that tends to generate great results.

And that’s what we’ll cover in this guide.

(Must read: IG Reels Tutorial: The Ultimate Guide [Tips, Steps, Tools])

What you’ll learn:

• What is a Reel on Instagram?
• 3 Reasons why length matters for Instagram Reels?
• Best Instagram Reels length for views
• Best Instagram Reels length for shares
• Best Instagram Reels length for comments 
• Best Instagram Reels length for conversions
• Best practices to get more from your Instagram Reels
• What is the best time to post Reels on Instagram?
• What you can get wrong with Instagram Reels length
• Instagram Reel hacks: Time-tested tips and insights from popular social media marketing leaders
• FAQs on Instagram Reels length
• Post high-performing Instagram Reels now

What is a Reel on Instagram?

A Reel on Instagram is a short video that has their own tab on the IG navigation bar.

When choosing a length for your Reel on Instagram, the platform will offer four options: 15, 30, 60, or 90 seconds.

Unlike Instagram Stories will automatically disappear after 24 hours, a Reel will only disappear once the user deletes it.

3 Reasons why length matters for Instagram Reels?

The length of your Instagram Reels plays a crucial role in its success and engagement. 

Here are a few reasons why:

1. Capture user attention

Now, more than ever, the attention span of internet users is much shorter.

According to a study conducted by Microsoft, the average human attention span dropped to 8 seconds in 2015 compared to 12 seconds in 2000.

Given the audience’s shorter attention span, shorter Reels are more likely to capture and maintain viewer attention throughout your content.

2. Audience engagement

Shorter Instagram Reels increase the likelihood that your audience will watch the entire video, signaling IG’s algorithm to prioritize your content for higher engagement and visibility.

HubSpot reports that videos under 30 seconds achieve the highest engagement rates on Instagram.

3. Shareability

Concise and engaging Reels tend to get shared more than longer videos.

Considering how most people are using their mobile devices, this makes absolute sense.

People not only have limited screen time but also find it much more convenient to consume and finish watching short videos on mobile devices.

Best Instagram Reels length for views (3-15 seconds long)

The ideal length of Instagram Reels for maximum views is anything over three seconds—but as close to it as possible.

Several studies talk about people’s diminishing attention spans. That’s why short videos get more views overall in social media marketing, including Instagram Reels. 

Maxing out the 90-second time limit for Instagram Reels may discourage viewers from watching the entirety of your videos. Even if they watched till the end, they might already be disinterested at that point.

For higher views, create short videos that conclude the key takeaways in 15 seconds or less. Mention Calls-To-Action (CTAs) like sharing, commenting, tagging, or saving to increase views in the long run.  

Best Instagram Reels length for shares (around 18 seconds long)

Talk about your core message within 15 seconds, then add three seconds for a CTA focused on shares. That brings your Instagram Reels length to about 18 seconds. 

Add a simple message like “Like and share this video if it helped.” If you create valuable and user-oriented Reels, most viewers will be happy to oblige. 

Best Instagram Reels length for comments (7-18 seconds long)

Generating comments with Instagram Reels isn’t a question of length. It’s how you structure the main content and CTAs. 

Be more conversational and ask questions during the Reel’s main video. In the CTA, drop a one-liner saying, “Let me know what you think in the comments section.”

Make viewers feel like they’re a part of the conversation to encourage them to write a comment or leave a direct message.

Let users express their thoughts and gather feedback about your client’s products, social media content, and more. 

Respond to them with a unified social media management platform like Vista Social to build a healthy and engaged following. 

Best Instagram Reels length for conversions (30-90 seconds long)

Instagram Reels made for conversions target high-quality prospects. 

These are Instagram users with a proven interest in your client’s business. They are eager to learn more about the solution to their problems or your client’s products/services, so don’t be afraid to upload 90-second Reels.

However, don’t make 90 seconds your target. If you can deliver your message within 15, 30, or 60 seconds, then do it.

Regardless of the messages you plan to convey, try to keep your Reels as short as possible.

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Best practices to get more from your Instagram Reels

Here are additional tips to get more views, shares, comments, and conversions with Instagram Reels:    

1. Analyze your competitors

There’s no one-size-fits-all Instagram Reels strategy, but what worked for your clients’ competitors might also work for your clients. 

Use the built-in search bar to look for similar brands.

On their profile page, switch to the “Reels” tab and look for their most-viewed Reels. These should be easy to spot since the Instagram app and website displays the number of views in each Reel’s thumbnail.

Use a separate timer app to measure the length of their top-performing Reels. Also, pay attention to elements like Reel formats, thumbnails, text overlays, and hashtags. 

2. Schedule Instagram Reels 

Schedule Instagram Reels through Vista Social so you can align your Reels’ publishing time with the activity patterns of your client’s audience.

Vista Social is one of the very first social media management tools that support direct publishing to Instagram Reels. Unlike other platforms that only send notifications to social media managers when it’s time to publish.

As a bonus, Vista Social also lets you manage your client’s accounts on other social media platforms. It’s the “Swiss Army Knife” for social media marketers who handle multiple client campaigns at once. 

To pick the best posting times for your Reels, Vista Social analyzes user engagement patterns on previous posts. 

These times are easily accessed when scheduling Reels via the Publish tool.

3. Make shortness a selling point

Invite more users to view your Instagram Reels by highlighting the shortness of your posts. 

For example, use phrases like “10-second hacks” instead of “easy-to-use tips.” You can also mention the duration of your Reel in the thumbnail or use hashtags like “#5secondhack” to get more viewers.

A few more things you can try: 

• Get straight to the point. Don’t ruin the experience with a long-winded intro. 
• Experiment with lines like “in 5 seconds or less” and “the fastest way.” 
• Provide a link to a more detailed post (if necessary).

4. Create evergreen Reels  

Instagram lets users save Reels so they can view them later. This translates to more views over time, better brand loyalty, and a more authoritative presence on Instagram. 

To encourage users to save your client’s Reels, focus on evergreen topics and video content formats. 

Think of videos that users can repeatedly watch and still be valuable, like checklists, buyer’s guides, and quick tutorials. 

You can also show Instagram users a “behind the scenes” look at your client’s company—or, at least, an interview with the team. These Reels provide evergreen value to prospects who care about company culture. 

5. Combine Instagram Reels with Stories

Watching Instagram Reels allows users to learn more about a company—thanks to the extended maximum length. They’re perfect for evergreen video content that can be published on your client’s profile feed, shared on a website, or saved by users. 

Despite the default time limit of only 15 seconds, Instagram Stories improve user engagement through interactive stickers. Their 24-hour time limit also makes Stories feel more compelling and urgent than Reels or regular Instagram posts.

If you’re unsure about Instagram Reels vs Story, remember that you don’t have to choose one over the other. Use both for their intended purposes to help your clients reach more users and dominate their competitors.

6. Storyboard

Before creating your first Instagram Reel, try to draft a storyboard or outline to help you design your content.

This way, you can plan your content effectively.

Make sure that the length of your Instagram Reels is based on the desirable length suggested by the studies above.

Digestible Instagram content allows your audience to engage and watch the whole video.

7. Include elements to hook the viewer

Have you ever experienced “Love at First Sight”? If yes, the same concept should be applied when creating your Instagram Reels.

Make sure that the intro of your Instagram Reels grabs the attention of your audience.

To grab the attention of your audience, you can use a surprising fact, an intriguing scene, or any eye-catching visuals.

The study conducted by Wistia shows that audiences may keep watching or abandon the video within the first 10 seconds.

3. Use transitions and effects

Transitions and effects are some of the key factors that will make your Instagram Reels catchy.

Instagram’s platform offers functionalities that help you create visually appealing content.

Utilize these tools to design engaging and dynamic Instagram Reels, which will enhance the user’s overall experience.

4. Sound optimization

When creating an engaging Instagram Reel, keep your content understandable and visually appealing even if the user does not turn on the sound.

This will help your audience who wish to play the Reels without the sound or background music.

Adding subtext or text overlays, cues, or captions will also help the audience engage even in silent video Reels. 

5. Hashtags and captions

Learning the power of hashtags and captions will help your Instagram Reels be discovered by users and improve the visibility of your content.

Hashtags and powerful captions will also help your Reels reach a wider audience and increase audience engagement.

What is the best time to post Reels on Instagram?

The best time to post Reels on Instagram is between 9 AM to 12 PM. (From Monday to Thursday.) However, the time could change depending on the dynamics of your target audience. Study your audience engagement to ascertain the best time to post Reels on your IG profile.

What you can get wrong with Instagram Reels length

Watch for the common pitfalls when trying to nail your Instagram Reels length. 

Creating Reels too short

While short and snappy content can be effective, overly short Reels (less than five seconds) may not provide enough context or value for viewers to engage with. 

Aim for a balanced length so your Reels can effectively convey your clients’ messages. 

Think short, but not too short. 

Ensuring your Reels have enough time to present your clients’ stories or ideas is crucial for audiences to understand and retain key information. 

Ignoring audience preferences

Not all audiences prefer the same length for Reels. 

Some may enjoy quick and digestible content, while others prefer longer, more detailed videos. 

Leverage analytics to determine your target audiences’ preferences and tailor your clients’ Reels length accordingly. 

Review your clients’ engagement metrics regularly to see which lengths perform best, and tweak your strategy to meet audience preferences. 

The approach helps ensure that your clients’ Reels appeal to their viewers and keep them coming back for more. 

Overloading content

Trying to fit too much information into one Reel can make the content overwhelming to viewers. 

Instead, consider breaking up longer content into a series of Reels to keep each video focused and easy to follow. 

Segmenting your clients’ content allows you to delve deeper into each topic without overwhelming audiences. 

The approach can also create anticipation and encourages audiences to watch the next part of your clients’ content series, boosting overall engagement. 

Poor pacing

Reels must have good pacing to keep them engaging regardless of the length. 

Reels that are too fast can be hard to follow, while a turtle pace may cause viewers to lose interest quickly. 

Keep a steady, engaging flow to keep your audience’s attention. 

Good pacing involves a combination of fast-paced and slower segments to maintain interest and provide variety. 

Be mindful of your Reels’ transitions and keep them natural and smooth to maintain the viewers’ attention.  

Not leveraging the full length

If your clients’ can benefit from a bit more detail and depth, don’t be afraid to use the maximum length for Reels. 

However, avoid stretching content unnecessarily. 

If you have a compelling story or valuable information, use the full length of your clients’ reels to provide a richer experience. 

Don’t just add more seconds to make your clients’ Reels longer, though. Ensure every second adds value for viewers, making the Reels count. 

Poor editing

Editing plays a crucial role in maintaining viewer interest. 

Put simply, it won’t matter whether your clients’ Reels are short or long. If the editing is poor, audiences won’t likely watch them. 

Dragging scenes, awkward transitions, and poor cuts can detract from the viewer’s experience. 

Edit your Reels to ensure they’re smooth and engaging from start to finish. 

Good editing can enhance the flow of your Reels’ story and flow, making them easier to follow and enjoy. 

Instagram Reel hacks: Time-tested tips and insights from popular social media marketing leaders

Learn valuable insights and tips on Instagram Reels from the top social media marketing influencers and leaders below. 

• Gary Vaynerchuk: What’s the best time to post a Reel?
• Kim Garst: Grow Your Biz with Instagram Reels and Stories
• Neil Patel: Ideal content length for each social network
• Jeff Bullas: Instagram Reels Mastery: Tips and Tricks for Business Success
• Jasmine Star: The Only Reel Tutorial You Need

FAQs on Instagram Reels length    

What is the ideal length for an Instagram Reel?

It depends on your content goals. 

For instance, it’s best to keep quick, punchy content, such as updates or teasers, within 15 to 30 seconds. 

For more detailed tutorials or stories, 60 to 90 seconds works best. 

Shorter Reels are more likely to get better engagement and reach. 

Does the length of your Instagram Reel affect its performance?

Yes, Instagram Reel lengths can impact performance. 

The platform’s algorithm may not prioritize longer Reels, which can influence your Reels’ visibility and engagement. 

Keeping your Reels concise and to the point can help maintain viewer interest and algorithm favor, improving their performance.               

How do you edit the length of your Instagram Reel?

You can use Instagram’s built-in editing tools to trim the length of your Reels. 

Open your Instagram app, tap the + button at the bottom center of your screen, and select Post. 

Choose your video from your gallery and use the editing tools to merge, trim, or pull clips together to create your Reel accordingly.

How do you know if your Instagram Reel is the right length?

Consider your clients’ content goals and audience engagement to determine whether your Instagram reel is the optimal length. 

Test various Reel lengths and track key performance metrics such as likes, views, and comments. 

Adjust your content’s length based on what resonates best with target audiences.

Post high-performing Instagram Reels now

Vista Social helps you schedule Instagram Reels at the best times for maximum engagement. 

Automate a posting schedule and track user engagement for sustainable social media growth. Make it all happen today with a free Vista Social account.