Reel Templates for Mobile: 10 Editable Formats for Your Phone

You can edit these 10 Reel formats on your phone: product carousel, day in the life, bold price promo, before-and-after, text-first tips list, screen recording tutorial, trend audio lip-sync, split-screen comparison, customer talking-head and fast-cut unboxing. Pair them with Instagram's own Templates tool, which keeps a Reel's music and timing while you swap in your clips.

How Instagram Templates work

Instagram's Help Center says a template keeps the original Reel's music and timing and you replace the clips with your own. Templates are only available for Reels that include music and at least 3 clips, and not every Reel can be used as one. To use one, tap Create, then Reel, then Templates, tap a template, tap Add media and choose your photos or videos in order, then tap Next to preview and share. You can also tap Use template on a Reel you see. Use templates in the Instagram app on your phone. The rest of this guide is our suggestions, not Instagram requirements.

10 Reel formats and when to use them

1. Product carousel

Show several products in one Reel, one clip each, with the name on screen. Use it for bundles and new drops.

2. Day in the life

Follow one person at the brand from morning to close. Use it when you want followers to know the people behind the account.

3. Bold price promo

One offer, one price, one date, large text. Use it for short sales.

4. Before-and-after

Start on the "before," cut to the result. Use it when the change is easy to see.

5. Text-first tips list

Put each tip on screen as a short line over a simple clip. Useful for advice people may want to save.

6. Screen recording tutorial

Record your phone screen while you narrate the steps. Use it for apps, settings and how-tos.

7. Trend audio lip-sync

Match a short joke or reaction to a sound that is already popular in your niche.

8. Split-screen comparison

Show two options side by side and say which you pick and why.

9. Customer talking-head

A customer says what they bought and what changed. Ask for permission before you post it.

10. Fast-cut unboxing

Quick cuts of the box, the product and your first reaction.

Edit each template for a phone screen

• Put the hook in the first 1 to 3 seconds. This is our rule of thumb.
• Keep important text away from the very top and bottom of the frame, where buttons and captions can cover it. Instagram publishes no margins for regular Reels (Meta's ad specs give safe zones for Reels ads), so check a preview before you share.
• End with one action: follow, save, visit or shop.
• Reels can be shot in 9:16. Instagram's Help Center lists a minimum of 720 pixels of resolution.

Measure what works

After you post, open the Reel's insights and compare views, saves and shares for each template, then keep the formats that beat the rest. For more formats, see our UGC style Reel templates guide, 10 Reel hooks that stop the scroll and meme Reel templates.

Sources, read 9 November 2026: about.instagram.com/features/reels and Instagram Help Center, "Use a template to create an Instagram reel" and "Reel size & aspect ratios on Instagram".