Guide
Instagram Reel vs feed post rate
Figures and workflows here are illustrations, not financial, tax, or accounting advice. Talk to a tax or finance specialist in your jurisdiction before you invoice, set payment terms, or treat a number as a rate you should charge.
Format comparison (use this, not a blended rate)
| Factor | Reel (15–45s) | Static feed still | Carousel (5–10 cards) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical 30-day views vs your static (2026 — varies by size) | ~1.2–1.6× under ~10k; higher if you already win Reels | 1.0× (baseline) | Often ~1.0–1.3× — not always above statics on small accounts |
| Production | Shoot + cut + captions + sound | 1–3 stills, light retouch | Design + copy deck |
| Revisions that eat time | Hook recuts | Crop / colour | Card-by-card copy |
| Brand screenshot risk | High (they want the file) | Very high | High |
| Usage add-on (paid social) | On the Reel fee | On the still fee | On the carousel fee |
| Working price vs Reel = 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.35–0.55 | 0.6–0.85 |
| Put in which package | Middle and top | Add-on or starter | Own line or top |
Example: Reel $800 → static $280–$440, carousel $480–$680, before usage.
| SKU on $800 Reel = 1.0 | Multiplier | Price before usage |
|---|---|---|
| Reel (hero) | 1.0 | $800 |
| Static feed still | 0.40 | $320 |
| Carousel 5–7 cards | 0.70 | $560 |
| Reel + static still | 1.0 + 0.40 | $1,120 |
| Cross-post native TikTok | +0.25 of Reel | +$200 |
Paid usage % applies to whichever asset they advertise. A cheap static + unpaid ads is the worst combo.
Need a slide-count ladder and worked carousel quote? See how much to charge for an Instagram carousel.
How to set the 1.0
Take median views on Reels over the last 30 days, not the best Reel of the year. A starting band many creators use is 1–2% of that median as the Reel fee before usage — then sanity-check against hours of work. A 20,000-view median is roughly $200–$400 as a floor, not a ceiling. Niche, on-camera time, and scripting push it up. A static should not sit at 90% of the Reel unless you are a photographer whose stills are the product.
If the brand says “we only need a post for the grid”, ask whether they will run it as an ad. A cheap static plus unpaid paid usage is the worst combo on this page. Sell the still at 0.4× and paid usage on that still as its own percentage.
Packages that do not collapse the two
Starter
1 static or 1 short Reel, not “Instagram post TBD”. If they have not chosen, they pay the Reel price and can take a static instead — never the reverse without a credit.
Growth (default)
1 Reel. Stories are a separate add-on. Do not throw in a feed still “for the grid” unless it is already in the line.
Campaign
2 Reels or 1 Reel + 1 carousel. Still no blended “content piece” language. Usage toggles apply per asset.
Cross-posting the same Reel to TikTok is a third format if they want a native TikTok caption and cover. That is not “the Instagram Reel, also on TikTok” at zero dollars. Add 20–30% for a native second platform, or sell a TikTok package.
Related guides
Platform rates & formats
Reel vs feed pricing questions
+Why do Reels usually cost more than feed posts?
Production time, sound design, and the fact that brands buy Reels for reach they no longer get from a static. In 2026 many small accounts (under ~10k) see Reels only modestly above statics — often ~1.2–1.5×, not a guaranteed 3–5×. If your median Reel views materially beat your statics, the Reel price should not sit $50 above the static.
+Should I still offer a static feed post in 2026?
Yes, as a cheaper grid presence or a carousel education piece — not as the hero of the middle package. Brands that insist on “just a post” are often buying a screenshot for ads; sell usage separately.
+How do I price a Reel that also goes on the feed grid?
The Reel is one product. Sharing it to the feed is usually included. Asking for a separate static still plus the Reel is two products. Do not gift a designed carousel because the Reel already exists.
+Does a carousel count as a feed post or a separate product?
A 5–10 card carousel with original graphics is closer to a mini landing page than a single still (Instagram allows up to 20 items). Price it between a static and a Reel, or as its own line. A single still is the static row.
+Which format should I put in my middle package?
The format you actually want to shoot every week. Most creators put a Reel in the middle tier and a Reel + Stories in the top. A static-only middle tier trains brands to underbuy.
+How much is static vs carousel when my Reel is $800?
Static ~0.4× = $320; carousel ~0.7× = $560 — before paid usage. Do not sell a $50 “grid post” if they will screenshot it into Ads Manager.
List Reel and feed as separate packages
A live rate card can sell a Reel package and a static add-on without a 20-message debate. Stats stay on a 30-day window so you are not quoting a lucky Reel. Free for creators.