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How-to Guide

Create a Photo Grid for Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories are consumed vertically at 9:16 — but most photo grids are square. MergeFrame lets you build grids in portrait orientation, perfectly sized for the Story format that gets the most engagement.

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Instagram Stories reach 500 million daily users and consistently outperform feed posts in engagement — when the creative fits the format. The 9:16 (1080×1920px) vertical canvas is fundamentally different from the square feed. A 3×1 vertical grid (three photos stacked) fills the screen perfectly, with each photo occupying roughly one-third of the viewport. A 2×2 grid at 9:16 gives each photo a portrait cell, ideal for before/after transformations or outfit breakdowns. A 4×1 product strip works beautifully for swipe-up shopping features. MergeFrame's flexible canvas lets you set custom export dimensions: set width to 1080px and height to 1920px for perfect Story sizing. Add a 2–4px white border between cells for a clean, premium look that stands out against Stories' fast-scrolling interface. For businesses, a branded Story grid template (consistent colors, logo placement, font style) builds recognition across daily Stories.

How to Do It — Step by Step

  1. 1

    Curate 2–6 photos for your Story

    Vertical orientation photos work best. Consistent editing and theme.

  2. 2

    Open MergeFrame

    mergeframe.com. Set custom export dimensions: 1080×1920px.

  3. 3

    Choose vertical grid layout

    2×1 for pairs, 3×1 for trios, 2×2 or 2×3 for collections.

  4. 4

    Add subtle spacing and branding

    2–4px white borders. Small logo in corner if desired.

  5. 5

    Export and upload to Stories

    Download PNG. Upload directly to Instagram Stories.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the exact size for Instagram Stories?

1080×1920px (9:16 aspect ratio). Set these as custom export dimensions in MergeFrame.

Do Story grids get more engagement?

Yes. Well-composed grids keep viewers watching longer, which signals Instagram's algorithm to show your Story to more people.

Can I add interactive elements on top of the grid?

Yes. After uploading your grid, add Instagram's native stickers, polls, questions, and links.

MergeFrame — Combine images into a grid. Free. No account. Browser-only.

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