# Photo Collage Maker – Free Instagram Collage & Photo Grid

> Free photo collage maker. Combine 2 to 9 photos in 11 layouts, set gaps, borders and rounded corners, and download an Instagram collage for posts or Stories.

Canonical: https://scheduleforyou.com/tools/photo-collage-maker

Add 2 to 9 photos, pick a layout and a size for Instagram posts or Stories, drag each photo into place, and download one finished collage. It all happens in your browser.

This page has a photo collage maker that runs in the browser; use the HTML page to run it. The text below is the guide that goes with it.

## What this photo collage maker does
This photo collage maker puts 2 to 9 photos into a single image. Add your photos, choose one of 11 layouts, pick the output size (square, portrait feed, Stories/Reels or landscape), set the gap, outer padding, corner radius and background color, then download the collage as a JPG or PNG. Every size is 1080 pixels on its short side, the width Instagram, TikTok and most feeds display images at, so the file is ready to post without resizing.

### Your photos stay on your device
The collage is drawn in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, there's no account to create and no watermark is added. Large phone photos are scaled down as they load, but stay larger than any cell they fill, so the result stays sharp.

### Files it accepts
JPG, PNG, WebP and GIF images, up to 9 at a time. iPhone photos saved as HEIC may not open in every browser; the tool tells you if one fails, and converting it to JPG fixes it.

## Layouts for 2 to 9 photos
| Photos | Layouts | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Side by side, Stacked | Two halves, left and right or top and bottom |
| 3 | 1 + 2, 3 columns | One large photo with two smaller ones beside it, or three equal columns |
| 4 | 2×2, 1 + 3 | The classic four-square grid, or one wide photo on top with three below |
| 5 | 2 + 3 | Two photos on top, three below |
| 6 | 3×2 | Three columns, two rows |
| 7 | 3 + 4 | Three on top, four below |
| 8 | 4×2 | Four columns, two rows |
| 9 | 3×3 | The nine-photo grid |

When you add photos, the tool jumps to the first layout that holds exactly that many and only lists the layouts for that count. Tick **Show all layouts** to choose any of them. If a layout has more cells than you have photos, a note tells you how many to add, and empty cells are saved in the background color. If it has fewer cells, it uses the first photos in your order.

## How to make a photo collage
### 1. Add your photos
Tap **Choose photos or drop them here (2–9)**, or drag image files onto the box. To add more later, use **Add more photos**, which shows how many of the 9 slots you've used.

### 2. Put them in order
Each thumbnail under **Photo order** carries a number. Use the ← and → buttons to move a photo and × to remove it. Photo 1 fills the first cell: the top-left one, or the large cell in the 1 + 2 and 1 + 3 layouts, so put your strongest shot first.

### 3. Choose a layout and output size
Pick a layout under **Layout** and a shape under **Output size**.

### 4. Frame each photo
Photos fill their cells completely, and whatever doesn't fit is cropped. Drag a photo in the preview to choose which part shows in its cell, which helps when a face sits near the edge of the frame. **Re-center photos** puts every photo back in the middle. Your framing is kept when you switch layout or size.

### 5. Style the borders
**Gap** (0 to 40 px) sets the space between photos, **Outer padding** (0 to 80 px) the frame around the edge, and **Corner radius** (0 to 40 px) rounds the corners of each photo. Under **Background**, choose **White**, **Black** or **Custom** for any color; it shows through the gaps and padding. Set Gap and Outer padding to 0 for a seamless photo grid collage.

### 6. Download
Choose **JPG** (smaller files, best for photos) or **PNG**, then press the download button. It names the exact size, for example **Download 1080×1350 JPG**.

## Instagram collage sizes for posts, Stories and Reels
| Output size | Pixels | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 1:1 | 1080×1080 | Square feed posts on almost any network |
| 4:5 | 1080×1350 | Portrait Instagram and Facebook feed posts, which take up more of the screen |
| 3:4 | 1080×1440 | The shape the Instagram profile grid shows posts in, at the time of writing |
| 9:16 · Stories/Reels | 1080×1920 | Instagram and Facebook Stories, full-screen TikTok photo posts |
| 16:9 | 1920×1080 | Landscape posts for X, LinkedIn and Facebook |

### An Instagram collage for the feed
For the feed, 4:5 shows the largest. At the time of writing, Instagram's feed takes images between 4:5 portrait and 1.91:1 landscape, so 1:1, 4:5 and 16:9 collages post without being cropped. A 3:4 collage is taller than 4:5: it matches the profile grid, but post it from the Instagram app, because Instagram's publishing API, which scheduling tools use, only accepts the 4:5 to 1.91:1 range at the time of writing. Our guide to [Instagram post sizes](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/instagram-post-size) goes into more detail.

### A collage for Instagram Story
Choose **9:16 · Stories/Reels** for a full-screen story collage. Keep faces and text away from the very top and bottom, where the account name and the reply bar sit. Stacked, 1 + 3 and 3 + 4 layouts suit the tall shape because each photo keeps a sensible width. The same 9:16 file works as a slide in a TikTok photo post.

### Collage or carousel?
A collage shows every photo at once, each one smaller; a carousel shows one at a time at full size. Use a collage for before-and-after shots, event recaps or a carousel's cover slide. To spread one wide picture across several swipeable slides, use the [Instagram carousel splitter](https://scheduleforyou.com/tools/instagram-carousel-splitter); to turn one image into a puzzle across your profile, use the [Instagram grid maker](https://scheduleforyou.com/tools/instagram-grid-maker).

## Tips for a photo grid collage that reads on a phone
### Use fewer, bigger photos
On a 1080-pixel square with the default spacing, each photo in a 3×3 grid is only about 344 pixels wide. Nine photos work for a mood board or a "my year" recap; for detail, four to six reads better on a small screen.

### Match photo shape to cell shape
Side by side on a square gives two tall cells, which suit portrait photos. Stacked gives two wide cells for landscapes. Choosing the right one means less cropping and less dragging.

### Make the gap part of the design
A white gap looks like a printed photo strip, and black suits concert shots. A brand color with a 16 to 24 px corner radius keeps a series of collages consistent.

### Add a headline afterwards
Want a title over your collage, like "Weekend in Lisbon" or "New arrivals"? Download it, then open it in the [add text to image](https://scheduleforyou.com/tools/add-text-to-image) tool to place text on top in a plain, band or outline style.

## Frequently asked questions
### How do I make a photo collage for free?
Add 2 to 9 photos, choose a layout and an output size, drag photos to frame them, set the gap and background, and press download. The photo collage maker is free, needs no sign-up and adds no watermark.

### How many photos can I put in one collage?
Up to 9, with layouts for every count from Side by side (two photos) to a 3×3 grid (nine).

### What size should an Instagram collage be?
For a feed post, 1080×1350 (4:5) takes up the most room, and 1080×1080 (1:1) is the safe square. For Stories, use 1080×1920 (9:16). The 3:4 option (1080×1440) matches the profile grid but should be posted from the Instagram app.

### Can I make a collage for my Instagram story?
Yes. Choose the **9:16 · Stories/Reels** output size and a tall-friendly layout such as Stacked or 1 + 3, then download and add it to your story in the Instagram app.

### How do I change which part of a photo shows in its cell?
Drag the photo in the preview. Each photo moves inside its own cell, as far as its overflow allows. Press **Re-center photos** to undo all the framing.

### Why won't my iPhone photo open?
iPhones often save photos as HEIC, which some browsers can't open. Export or convert the photo to JPG and add it again.

### Are my photos uploaded anywhere?
No. The collage is made in your browser and saved straight to your device.

## Schedule your collages with Schedule For You
Once your collage is ready, Schedule For You can publish it to Instagram, Facebook, X, Threads, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Bluesky, TikTok and Google Business Profile from one queue, with a caption tailored for each platform. It posts the image exactly as you upload it and doesn't edit or crop it, so make your collages here first. Instagram needs a Business or Creator account; 9:16 collages can go out as Stories, without a caption. Plans start at $19/month. [Start your 7-day free trial](https://scheduleforyou.com/signup). A card is required and you aren't charged until day 8.

## Related

- [All free tools](https://scheduleforyou.com/tools)
- [Schedule posts with Schedule For You](https://scheduleforyou.com/)