Instagram Highlight Cover Templates

Instagram Highlight Cover Templates: Make Your Profile Stand Out

Introduction: Why Instagram Highlight Covers Matter

Instagram is more than just photos and videos. It’s a place to express yourself, connect with others, and share your story. However, with millions of users, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd. Therefore, making your profile unique and easy to navigate is important.

One simple way to do this is by using Instagram Highlight Cover Templates. These small images can transform your profile from ordinary to eye-catching. In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about highlight cover templates—from what they are to how to use them like a pro.

What Are Instagram Highlight Cover Templates?

Instagram Highlight Cover Templates are special images you use as covers for your Instagram Highlights. Highlights are collections of your best Stories saved on your profile. By default, Instagram picks a random frame from your Story as the cover. However, you can change this to a custom image.

Why Use Custom Highlight Covers?

They make your profile look organized.
They help followers find content quickly.
They show off your style or brand.
They make your Instagram look more professional.

For example, if you have a highlight called “Travel,” you can use a plane icon as the cover. If you have a “Recipes” highlight, a chef’s hat icon works well. Therefore, custom covers help people know what to expect before they even tap.

The Benefits of Using Instagram Highlight Cover Templates

1. First Impressions Matter

When someone visits your profile, your highlight covers are one of the first things they see. Therefore, neat and colorful covers can make your profile more inviting.

2. Easy Navigation

Clear covers help people find what they want faster. For example, a shopping bag icon tells visitors where to find your shopping tips.

3. Showcase Your Personality

You can choose icons, colors, and styles that match your vibe. Whether you’re fun, serious, artsy, or sporty, your covers can show it.

4. Build Your Brand

If you have a business or personal brand, matching highlight covers make you look more professional. Consistency builds trust.

5. Stand Out from the Crowd

Most people use Instagram’s default covers. However, custom covers help you stand out and get noticed.

How to Create Instagram Highlight Cover Templates

Creating your own highlight covers is easy. You don’t need to be a designer. You just need the right tools and a bit of creativity.

Step 1: Choose a Design Tool

There are many free and easy-to-use tools online. Some popular ones include:

Canva
Adobe Express
Fotor
Snappa
PicsArt
Crello (now VistaCreate)

These tools offer thousands of templates. Therefore, you don’t need to start from scratch.

Step 2: Pick a Template

Open your chosen tool and search for “Instagram Highlight Cover.” You’ll see many options, such as:

Food icons
Travel symbols
Fashion images
Simple text covers

Pick a template that matches your highlight’s theme. For example, use a paw print for pet stories or a dumbbell for fitness.

Step 3: Customize Your Template

Once you choose a template, you can change:

Colors: Match your brand or favorite shades.
Icons: Pick images that fit your highlight.
Text: Add short words or initials.
Backgrounds: Use solid colors, gradients, or patterns.

For example, you can use your school colors or add a personal logo. This makes your covers unique.

Step 4: Download Your Design

When you’re happy with your cover, download it as a PNG or JPG. Make sure it’s high quality and fits a square or circle, since Instagram crops covers into circles.

Step 5: Add the Cover to Your Instagram Profile

Here’s how to upload your cover:

Go to your Instagram profile.
Tap and hold the highlight you want to edit.
Tap “Edit Highlight.”
Tap “Edit Cover.”
Select your new image from your gallery.
Adjust the size and position if needed.
Tap “Done.”

Now, your new cover is live!

Best Practices for Eye-Catching Highlight Covers

1. Keep It Simple

Simple designs are easier to recognize. Therefore, avoid too many details or small text. Use bold icons and clear colors.

2. Use High-Quality Images

Blurry covers look unprofessional. Always use high-resolution images for the best effect.

3. Stay Consistent

Use the same style, color scheme, and font for all your covers. This creates a clean and organized look. For example, use the same background color for all covers and only change the icon.

4. Match Your Brand

If you have a business or personal brand, use your brand colors and logo. This helps people remember you and builds trust.

5. Make It Easy to Understand

Choose icons or images that clearly show what the highlight is about. For example, use a shopping bag for shopping tips or a book for reading lists.

Types of Instagram Highlight Cover Templates

Popular Categories

Here are some common highlight cover ideas:

Travel: Airplane, map, suitcase
Food: Pizza slice, fork, cupcake
Fashion: Dress, shoes, hanger
Fitness: Dumbbell, running shoe, heart
Beauty: Lipstick, mirror, brush
Pets: Paw print, bone, cat face
Events: Calendar, party hat, balloon
Quotes: Speech bubble, quotation marks
Tutorials: Lightbulb, book, checklist

Special Templates

Some templates are made for special occasions:

Birthdays: Cake, candles, balloons
Holidays: Christmas tree, pumpkin, fireworks
Announcements: Megaphone, bell, exclamation mark

You can find these in most design tools or create your own for a personal touch.

Step-by-Step Example: Creating a Highlight Cover in Canva

1. Sign Up or Log In

Visit Canva’s website and create a free account if you don’t have one.

2. Search for Templates

Type “Instagram Highlight Cover” in the search bar. You’ll see many templates to choose from.

3. Select and Customize

Pick a template you like. Change the icon, colors, and text to match your needs. For example, change a pink heart to a blue star if that fits your brand better.

4. Download

Click “Download” and save the image to your device.

5. Upload to Instagram

Add the cover to your highlight by following the steps in the previous section.

Tips for Designing Your Own Highlight Cover

Use the Right Size

Instagram highlight covers should be at least 1080 x 1920 pixels. This ensures your cover looks sharp on all devices.

Center Your Icon

Keep your icon or main image in the center. Therefore, it won’t get cut off when Instagram crops it into a circle.

Test Before Posting

Upload the cover to a test highlight first. This helps you see how it looks on your profile and make changes if needed.

Where to Find Free Instagram Highlight Cover Templates

Canva

Canva offers thousands of free and paid templates. You can search by category and customize each design easily.

Adobe Express

Adobe Express has a large library of templates. You can also upload your own images and logos.

Fotor

Fotor provides free templates for every theme, from food to travel to pets. You can edit them online in minutes.

Snappa

Snappa lets you create highlight covers from scratch or use their templates. It’s great for quick, simple designs.

Other Resources

Pinterest: Search for “Instagram Highlight Cover Templates” for inspiration.
Etsy: Buy unique, ready-to-use covers from designers.
Creative Market: Find premium templates for a professional look.

Instagram Highlight Cover Inspiration

Real Examples from Top Accounts

Many popular brands and influencers use custom highlight covers. For example:

@refinery29: Bold icons and colors for each category.
@netflix: Simple, branded icons for shows and genres.
@sephora: Beauty icons that match their product lines.
@natgeo: Nature-themed covers for travel and wildlife highlights.

Ideas for Your Own Covers

Use your favorite colors for a personal touch.
Add your initials or logo for branding.
Create seasonal covers for holidays or events.
Use emojis as inspiration for simple icons.

Advanced Tips: Taking Your Covers to the Next Level

Animate Your Covers

Some tools let you add simple animations. For example, a twinkling star or spinning globe. However, Instagram only supports static images for covers, so use animations for Stories instead.

Use Gradients and Patterns

Solid colors are great, but gradients and patterns can make your covers pop. For example, a sunset gradient for travel highlights or a polka dot pattern for fun stories.

Mix and Match Styles

Try combining different icon styles, like line art and solid shapes. This adds variety without losing consistency.

Get Feedback

Ask friends or followers which covers they like best. Sometimes, a second opinion helps you choose the most appealing design.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do I need to be a designer to create highlight covers?

No, you don’t! Tools like Canva and Fotor make it easy for anyone to create beautiful covers.

2. Can I change my highlight covers anytime?

Yes, you can update your covers as often as you like.

3. What size should my highlight covers be?

Use images that are at least 1080 x 1920 pixels. Instagram will crop them into a circle.

4. Can I use my own photos as covers?

Absolutely! You can use any image from your gallery, but simple icons often look best.

5. Are there copyright issues with using icons or templates?

If you use templates from trusted sites like Canva or Adobe Express, you’re usually safe. However, always check the license if you download images from other sources.

Step-by-Step: Adding a Highlight Cover Without Posting to Your Story

Some people want to add a custom cover without sharing it as a Story. Here’s how:

Go to your Instagram profile.
Tap the highlight you want to edit.
Tap the three dots (“More”) at the bottom right.
Tap “Edit Highlight.”
Tap “Edit Cover.”
Choose an image from your gallery (you don’t need to post it to your Story).
Adjust and tap “Done.”

Therefore, you can keep your profile looking fresh without posting extra Stories.

How Businesses Use Instagram Highlight Covers

Showcase Products

Many brands use highlights to show off products. For example, a clothing store might have covers for “New Arrivals,” “Sales,” and “Customer Reviews.”

Share Tutorials

Businesses often use highlights for how-to guides. For instance, a makeup brand might have covers for “Tutorials,” “Tips,” and “Looks.”

Answer FAQs

A highlight with a question mark icon can hold answers to common questions. This saves time for both you and your followers.

Promote Events

Event covers can highlight upcoming sales, launches, or special days.

Instagram Highlight Covers for Personal Profiles

Share Your Hobbies

Use covers for your favorite activities, like “Travel,” “Art,” or “Sports.”

Save Memories

Create covers for important events, like “Graduation,” “Birthday,” or “Family.”

Organize Your Stories

Keep your profile neat by sorting stories into clear categories. For example, “Pets,” “Friends,” “School,” or “Adventures.”

Step-by-Step: Designing a Highlight Cover from Scratch

If you want to create your own cover without a template, follow these steps:

Open your design tool (like Canva or Fotor).
Set the canvas size to 1080 x 1920 pixels.
Pick a background color or pattern.
Add a simple icon or image in the center.
Add text if needed (keep it short).
Download the image as a PNG or JPG.
Upload it to your Instagram highlight.

This process lets you create a truly unique look.

Mistakes to Avoid with Highlight Covers

Using Too Much Detail

Small icons work best. Too many details can get lost when the cover is shrunk down.

Inconsistent Styles

Mixing too many colors or fonts can make your profile look messy. Therefore, stick to a consistent style.

Low-Quality Images

Blurry or pixelated covers look unprofessional. Always use high-resolution images.

Forgetting to Center the Icon

If your icon isn’t centered, it might get cut off. Always check the preview before saving.

Instagram Highlight Cover Trends in 2025

Minimalist Icons

Simple, clean icons are very popular. For example, a single line drawing or a bold shape.

Pastel Colors

Soft, pastel backgrounds are trending. They look modern and calming.

Hand-Drawn Elements

Covers that look hand-drawn add a personal touch. For example, doodles or sketches.

Animated Stories

While covers can’t be animated, many people use matching animated Stories for extra flair.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Highlight Covers

Update Regularly

Change your covers for holidays, seasons, or special events. This keeps your profile fresh.

Use Highlights for Promotions

If you’re running a sale or giveaway, create a special cover for it.

Link to Your Website or Shop

Business accounts can add links to Stories. Use highlights to drive traffic to your website or shop.

Instagram Highlight Cover Templates for Students

Organize School Life

Use covers for “Homework,” “Projects,” “Clubs,” and “Events.”

Share Achievements

Create covers for “Awards,” “Certificates,” or “Sports Wins.”

Connect with Friends

Use fun icons for “Besties,” “Memes,” or “Trips.”

Instagram Highlight Cover Templates for Creators

Show Off Your Work

Artists can use covers for “Sketches,” “Paintings,” and “Commissions.”

Share Tips

Creators can have covers for “Tutorials,” “Behind the Scenes,” or “Resources.”

Build Community

Use covers for “Q&A,” “Polls,” or “Challenges.”

Instagram Highlight Cover Templates for Businesses

Organize Your Services

Covers for “Services,” “Pricing,” “Testimonials,” and “Portfolio” help clients find what they need.

Answer Questions

A FAQ highlight saves time for both you and your customers.

Share News

Use a “News” or “Updates” cover for the latest announcements.

How to Promote Your Instagram Highlights

Mention in Stories

Tell your followers when you add a new highlight. For example, “Check out my new Travel highlight!”

Use Hashtags

Add relevant hashtags to your Stories before saving them to highlights.

Cross-Promote

Share your highlights on other platforms, like Facebook or Twitter.

How to Measure the Impact of Your Highlight Covers

Track Views

Instagram shows how many people view each highlight. Therefore, you can see which topics are most popular.

Get Feedback

Ask your followers which covers they like best. Use polls or question stickers in Stories.

Adjust Based on Results

If a cover isn’t getting much attention, try a new design or icon.

Final Checklist: Creating Perfect Highlight Covers

Use high-quality images
Keep icons simple and bold
Stick to a consistent color scheme
Center your icon or image
Test your cover before posting
Update covers regularly

Conclusion: Start Creating Your Instagram Highlight Covers Today!

Instagram Highlight Cover Templates are a simple way to make your profile look amazing. They help you organize your stories, show off your style, and connect with your audience. Whether you’re a student, creator, or business owner, custom covers can help you stand out.

You don’t need to be a designer. With free tools and ready-made templates, anyone can create beautiful highlight covers in minutes. Therefore, start experimenting today and see how much better your profile can look!

Contact Us for More Services or Custom Designs

Want professional Instagram Highlight Cover Templates or help with your social media branding? Contact us today! Our team of experts can create custom designs that match your style and goals. We also offer consulting, branding, and social media management services. Let’s make your Instagram profile shine!

Ready to transform your Instagram? Contact us now and take the first step toward a stunning, organized profile!

If you need more tips or want to discuss your project, our team is here to help. Contact us for all your Instagram and social media needs!