Social Media Image Sizes | A Complete Up-To-Date Guide

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social image size

Images are super important on all social media platforms. This is because they convey vital information, increase engagement and help to attract more attention to the page. Social media images are also very useful in marketing a brand especially when they are correctly sized. A simple example is the YouTube play icon, wherever you see this, you think YouTube.

Further, they can be used for entertainment and they help improve SEO. There are so many benefits to using images, which is why it is important to get the right social media image size. By following the right size guidelines, you will give your image post the professional look it needs.

In this guide, therefore, we will be giving you the updated image dimensions of different social platforms. Of course, image sizes are reviewed regularly. But that shouldn’t bother you, we will always keep this article up-to-date.

Contents:

Facebook Image Sizes

Facebook is by far the most popular social media network in the world.

The platform is known for constantly updating its design interface. So for your images to remain appealing, you need to keep updating your file format. Here are the dimensions for the different image types on Facebook.

Profile Photo Size – 180 x 180

This is probably the most essential image on your Facebook page. When you make a post, send a message, make a comment, anything you do, this is the image that’ll be displayed. It basically represents you in all your activities on Facebook.

Here are the recommended guidelines to follow:

  • The recommended size is 180 x 180 pixels.
  • On a desktop, the image will display as 170 x 170 pixels.
  • On a smartphone, it will be displayed as 128 x 128 pixels.

Cover Photo Size – 820 x 312

Social Media Image Sizes - Facebook cover photo

The Facebook cover image is larger than your profile picture. It will only be seen when someone goes to your Facebook page. This does not mean it is irrelevant. On the other hand, it should be clear and must convey your brand message. You can add an image of your company logo or a more creative picture.

These are the size guidelines applicable to cover photos.

  • Recommended size is: 820 x 312 pixels
  • Minimum size: 400 x 150 pixels
  • Displays on a desktop as: 820 x 312 pixels
  • Displays on smartphones as: 640 x 360 pixels

Anything less will make the image look stretched.

Shared Images – 1200 x 630

These are the images that generate engagement on your timeline. Usually, Facebook resizes your pictures to fit the aspect ratio of 1.91:1. However, for best results, upload an image of over 1200 x 630 pixels.

Facebook Event Cover Photo – 1200 x 626

The recommended size for an event image is 1200 x 628 pixels (that’s a ratio of 1.91:1). However, to ensure that the image displays correctly on retina screens, which are pixel-dense, you can use 1920 x 1080 pixels.

Its minimum dimension is: 470 x 174.

Shared Link Image Size – 1200 x 628

When a link is shared, an image together with the content’s description will be displayed. Having the right size will prevent your image from being cropped or stretched out when Facebook resizes it.

  • The recommended size is 1200 x 628 pixels
  • For square photos, the minimum sizes are:
    • 154 x 154 pixels in your feed
    • 116 x 116 pixels on page
  • The minimum sizes for rectangular photos are:
    • 470 x 246 pixels in feed
    • 484 x 252 pixel on page
  • Aspect ratio is 1.9:1.

Facebook Stories – 1080 x 1920

These images are found at the top of your feed or your profile picture itself. Unlike other images, Facebook stories take up a large portion of a phone screen. That’s an aspect ratio of 9:16. Follow these guidelines when uploading a Facebook story.

Size Guidelines:

  • Recommended size is 1080 x 1920 pixels
  • Use an image with a width larger than 500 pixels.

Instagram Image Sizes

Unlike Facebook where you can create a post without pictures, Instagram is mostly images. So having the right size for Instagram photos is crucial. So here are the size guidelines to follow.

Profile Photo – 180 x 180

By now we know that profile pictures serve as an avatar. Whatever you do on your page, it will be seen because it shows the individual or company who owns the account.

An image size of 110 x 110 pixels is fine, but taking into consideration desktop users, a larger image will be best. Therefore, an image of 180 x 180 pixels is recommended.

Note that Instagram profile pictures are displayed as a circle. Therefore, some parts of the image will be cropped out. So when setting your picture, position the important part at the center.

Instagram Posts – 1080 x 1080

Instagram resizes images uploaded on a feed. So if you upload a photo that’s more than the required pixels, it will be cropped out. If it’s less than, it will be stretched. So here are the rules to follow:

  • Upload a picture of 1080 x 1080 pixels
  • Instagram will scale it down to 612 x 612 pixels
  • On someone else’s profile page, it’ll appear as a 161 x 161 photo thumbnail.

Stories – 1080 x 1920

These are the short image slides or videos that you find at the top of a feed. Since its launch in 2016, it has been a very useful feature for users. You can entertain your followers or even promote your brand with it. These are the recommended resolutions to give you the best images:

  • 1080 x 1920 pixels
  • This is an aspect ratio of 9:16

These resolutions also apply to Instagram story ads.

Instagram Ads

Ads are used to promote your brands on user’s feeds for more audience.

Here are the ads image sizes for Instagram:

  • For rectangular photos: 1080 x 566 pixels
  • Square photos: 1080 x 1080 pixels
  • Aspect ratio is between 1.91:1 and 4:5

Twitter Social Media Image Sizes

This is a popular social platform where people send or receive short posts called tweets. Images are also highly used, and they receive more engagements than text-only posts. So let’s take a look at their dimensions.

Profile Photo – 400 x 400

Since this will be your identity on the platform, it needs to be attractive. Even more so if you’re running a business online.

Size Guidelines:

  • 400 x 400 pixels
  • Maximum file size: 2MB
  • Aspect ratio of 1:1.

Header Photo – 1500 x 500

This is just like the cover image on Facebook. It is displayed as a banner image on your profile page and is much larger than your profile photo. This image thus gives you more opportunity to advertise your brand or entertain your followers.

Size Guidelines:

  • 1500 x 500 pixels
  • This is an aspect ratio of 3:1.

In-Stream Photos – 1024 x 512

These are images that are uploaded with tweets. The size guidelines for these pictures are:

  • Maximum: 1024 x 512 pixels
  • Minimum: 440 x 220 pixels
  • File format: PNG, JPG and GIF
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9.

LinkedIn Image Sizes

This social platform was designed for business professionals. Users can put up their CV, promote their brand, and also recruit more partners. So let’s look at the recommended sizes for the different image types.

Profile Photo – 400 x 400

Since you are basically showcasing your professional skills here, your picture should not look sloppy. This image appears on your profile, your LinkedIn posts, and pretty much everywhere else you interact on the platform.

The recommended dimension is 400 x 400 pixels.

Background Image – 1584 x 396

Similar to cover photos, the background image is larger than the profile photo. It gives you the opportunity to further display your brand. So for best results, upload an image of 1584 x 396 pixels. That’s an aspect ratio of 4:1.

 

Note: Images appear differently on mobile and desktop. So before you decide on a particular picture, preview it on both devices to make sure no important part is cropped out.

Company Page

On your company profile page, it is only natural to display your brand’s logo on the platform. So when your company is searched for, this image will be shown. Here are the dimensions:

  • Logo image: minimum of 300 x 300 pixels, maximum of 400 x 400 pixels
  • Company cover image: 1128 x 191 pixels
  • File types: JPG or PNG file
  • Square logo: 60 x 60 pixels

LinkedIn Life Tab

Here, a user can disclose more of what the company is about, thus giving possible future clients and job seekers an inside view.

  • Hero image size: 1128 x 376 pixels
  • Photo sizes: 900 x 600 pixels
  • Custom module: 502 x 282 pixels

Images For Ads

  • Company logo and Spotlight logo: 100 x 100 pixels
  • Spotlight background image: 300 x 250 pixels
  • Sponsored content: 1200 x 627 pixels (1.91:1 aspect ratio)

Pinterest Image Sizes

Another popular social site is Pinterest. It is such an amazing platform for driving referral traffic to your site.

The platform works by helping individuals find creative ideas for their hobbies using pins. These pins can be images, videos or products. So, we can safely say that Pinterest deals largely on visual content. When setting up a Pinterest profile page, follow these guidelines:

Profile photo 165 x 165

A profile size of 165 x 165 pixels is recommended. Note that it will be displayed as a circle.

Cover Photo – 800 x 450

For your cover photo, use these dimensions:

  • Minimum size: 800 x 450 pixels
  • That’s an aspect ratio of 16:9

Pin Sizes

  • 236 pixels in width x an adjustable height
  • Aspect ratio: 2:3
  • Maximum file size: 20MB
  • File format: PNG or JPG

Board Preview Image

  • 222 x 150 pixels

Story Pin Sizes

  • 1080 x 1920 pixels
  • Aspect ratio: 9:16
  • Maximum file: 20mb

YouTube Social Media Image Sizes

YouTube is a great platform for uploading and watching videos, as well as sharing video content. It has over 30 million users visiting the platform daily. So with the right image and video sizes, and the right strategies, you can catch the attention of thousands or even millions of users.

Channel Icon – 800 x 800 pixels

This is your profile picture. It appears next to every comment you make on YouTube. So keep it simple, eye-catching, and brand-relevant. An image size  of 800 x 800 pixels is recommended.

Channel cover – 2560 x 1440

A user only sees this when browsing through your channel page. Even then, a clear and perfectly-sized cover image can earn you more subscribers.

The recommended cover photo size is 2560 x 1440 pixels. Here are a few other guidelines for your channel cover image:

  • Maximum file size: 4mb
  • Image types: JPG, GIF, BMP, and PNG
  • Safe area for mobile and web (without logo and text cropping) – 1546 X 423 pixels

Video Uploads

All video uploads must maintain a 16:9 ratio. With the fixed ratio, you can upload your videos in these resolutions:

  • 4K: 3840 x 2160 pixels
  • 2K: 2560 x 1440 pixels
  • 1080p (HD): 1920 x 1080 pixels
  • 720p (HD): 1280 x 720 pixels
  • 480p: 854 x 480 pixels
  • 360p: 640 x 360 pixels
  • 240p: 426 x 240 pixels
  • 144p: 256 x 144 pixels

YouTube allows you to upload file size of up to 128GB. But this will be possible if your browser is up-to-date.

Conclusion – Social Media Image Sizes

Images rule the entire social media space. If you must have a solid social media following, optimize your images well. They are most likely the first thing a user notices about you.

In this guide to social media image sizing, we have given you the various image dimensions used in popular social platforms. Getting your pictures to look its best should be a walk in the park. Like we mentioned earlier, changes are inevitable, so we will keep updating this article to keep you up to speed.

For further assistance or suggestions, kindly leave a comment below or contact us.

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 This post was written by Sam Mulaim

Hello! I’m Sam - the founder and CEO of FixRunner WordPress support. When I started FixRunner one of my goals was to help people run a successful website and overcome WordPress issues. I don’t have much time these days to write new posts but when I do I enjoy it very much.

Last edited by: FixRunner Team