How to Create Instagram Story Templates: A Step-by-Step Guide
Chloe Davis
July 16, 2025
Chloe Davis
July 16, 2025
Content Production
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5 minutes read
Let's be real, you want to boost engagement on your Instagram page and get in front of a bigger audience. Stories are your golden ticket. But who has the time to be a full-time content creator on top of everything else? That's where the magic of Instagram Story templates comes in.
Think of it as your secret weapon for creating more content with way less work. We’re going to show you how to create Instagram Story templates that are perfect for promoting your brand and, more importantly, saving your sanity.
Stories are that flashy, fleeting content—a mix of images and short videos with fun overlays and effects—that famously disappears after 24 hours. You pour all this effort into a masterpiece, and poof—it's gone. It can feel a little like building a sandcastle at high tide.
This is why templates are a game-changer. Instead of starting from scratch every single day, you have a solid foundation for your Instagram Story design. This frees you up to focus on the good stuff.
And here's a pro-tip backed by data: don't just make them pretty, make them interactive. A whopping 60% of businesses already use interactive elements like polls and quizzes in their Stories. Why? Because it works. Adding interactive stickers can boost a video's performance 83% of the time. So, when you're thinking about your templates, think about building in space for these engaging little extras.
To stand out, you have to step outside the lines. The world offers plenty of templates for blending in, but true distinction isn't found in the common frame. Creating your Instagram Story design in an external app is your ticket to breaking the mold.
Sure, you can whip something up inside the Instagram app. But if you want to get truly creative and develop a look that’s unmistakably yours, you need to use a dedicated design platform. It’s one of the simplest ways to stop looking like everyone else.
A tip: platforms like Canva already have created templates that you can use freely for your Instagram.
Let's get into the nuts and bolts of how to create Instagram Story templates that actually work.
You have a ton of options here, from professional-grade software to user-friendly online platforms. Some can be pricey, but you don't have to break the bank.
Sites like Creative Fabrica offer a treasure trove of resources to get you started. Check out their free graphics to find the perfect elements for your project. Do a little digging to make sure the platform you choose has the essentials: text tools, image and graphic libraries, and flexible color options.
This part is non-negotiable. To avoid blurry or awkwardly cropped Stories, you need to use the correct dimensions from the start.
The official Instagram Story template size is 1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels high. Just set your canvas to these dimensions, or use a 9:16 aspect ratio, and you're golden.
You have two main paths here:
Use Your Brand Colors: This is the go-to for a reason. Using your established brand palette makes your Stories instantly recognizable and creates a cohesive, professional look. It tells your followers, "Yep, this is me," before they even read a word.
Do Some Color Research: Don't have brand colors, or looking for a fresh vibe? Time to play the field. Instead of just guessing, use a free online Color Wheel tool to find palettes that are aesthetically pleasing. But if you want to get strategic, lean into colors that are proven to drive engagement. Studies have shown that specific hues like Rose Dawn (a dusty pink), Ethereal Blue, Ocean Depths (a rich teal), and Harvest Gold (a sandy yellow) tend to get more love on Instagram. Why guess when you can use data?
Social media is about connection, and nobody connects with a wall of text. Your templates need to have a human element.
Design your templates with dedicated spots for photos of yourself, your team, or your products. This builds trust and shows the real people behind the brand. Also, use graphics and icons that match your style to illustrate points or just to grab attention—you can even create your own Instagram GIF stickers to make your content truly unique. This is also a great way to build interactive Instagram story templates by leaving space for polls, quizzes, and questions.
Fonts are the unsung heroes of graphic design. The right font choice can make your message clear and compelling, while the wrong one can be a total vibe-killer. As you think about the best fonts for Instagram Stories, remember that your font is a key part of your brand's personality.
Your font should reflect your overall brand identity. And please, avoid using a font that’s heavily associated with another major brand, unless you're doing it on purpose. If you're using more than one font, look up "font pairing" to see which combinations work best together. You'll often find that your primary font already has a well-known partner.
Alright, you're armed and ready. But faced with a blank canvas, what kind of instagram story templates should you actually create? Thinking ahead now is a kindness to your future self, saving you from the frantic scramble down the line.
To make your life easier, build a versatile toolkit. Here are some essential instagram story template ideas to get you started:
This is just the beginning. Think of these as your foundational plays before you start designing your own interactive instagram story templates.
So there you have it. You're now equipped to go forth and create your own templates, meticulously crafting your unique brand identity.
Just remember to have fun with the process. Otherwise, you're just making prettier, more efficient contributions to the endless, screaming void of content. No pressure.
While these strategies are proven to work, every account is unique. Get a personalized audit that analyzes your specific account data and provides tailored recommendations for growth and monetization.
When I'm not writing, I'm usually trying out a new recipe, tending to my ever-growing collection of houseplants, or planning my next weekend trip to a place I've never been.
