When you’re using social media as a major marketing channel to tell your brand story and connect with customers, you don’t want pixelated images sinking your efforts. By taking the extra time to ensure your images are the proper size for the platform you’re posting on, you make your entire social media presence feel more professional.
In this guide, we’ve included the recommended image sizes and aspect ratios for major social media networks for you to reference when you need them. We also created a free, downloadable cheat sheet.
Navigate to one of the below sections:
Why do proper social media image sizes matter?
If you invest time and resources in crafting a social media strategy, you don’t want it all to go to waste with low-quality images. Ensuring you use the recommended image sizes for each platform helps with the following:
- Optimizing photos for each platform to boost engagement
- Future-proofing your content for when image size requirements change
- Displaying the entire image so your messaging isn’t cut off
- Avoiding pixelated or stretched photos
When posting images on social media, remember not to violate copyright laws and only post original content. If it’s not original, make sure it’s a high-quality stock photo that you have the right to use.
Now let’s look at image requirements for each major platform.
Instagram image sizes
Instagram is the platform that popularized the 1:1 or square image format. Today, you can upload horizontally or vertically oriented images as well as square images on Instagram. As a highly visual platform, it’s crucial you get your image and video dimensions correct.
Profile photos
Your profile photo is your avatar on Instagram. Ensure this image is high-quality and that it identifies you or your brand clearly.
Size: 320 x 320 pixels*
*Instagram profile photos display at 110 x 110 pixels so a slightly higher resolution is recommended.
Feed photos
Feed photos appear on your profile and as posts in your followers’ feeds. They can have landscape, portrait, or square orientations. Whichever format you choose, make your image 1080 pixels wide. If your width is above 1080 pixels or below 320 pixels, Instagram resizes it.
Landscape size: 1080 x 566 pixels
Portrait size: 1080 x 1350 pixels
Square size: 1080 x 1080 pixels
Thumbnails
Instagram thumbnails are the square images that make up your profile page. No matter what aspect ratio you upload with, Instagram will display them as square.
Size: 161 x 161 pixels*
*Instagram displays thumbnails at 161 x 161 pixels, but it’s recommended to upload your photos at 1080 pixels wide at a minimum.
Stories
Your Instagram Story is a series of images or videos your followers can see for only 24 hours after uploading. They must have an aspect ratio of 9:16 and if they don’t, the Story will appear with bizarre cropping or blank sections.
Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Carousels
A carousel refers to an Instagram post with a series of images grouped together in one post. These should have the same dimensions as your feed photos.
Landscape size: 1080 x 566 pixels
Portrait size: 1080 x 1350 pixels
Square size: 1080 x 1080 pixels
Reels
Instagram Reels are short videos that don’t disappear after 24 hours like Stories do. They have the same dimension requirements as Stories, including an aspect ratio of 9:16. They are also cropped to 1:1 when they appear in your profile, and to 4:5 when they appear in the feed.
Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Ads
Ads on Instagram should be the same size as feed photos.
Landscape size: 1080 x 566 pixels
Portrait size: 1080 x 1350 pixels
Square size: 1080 x 1080 pixels
Stories ads
Stories ads should have the same dimensions as regular posts for Stories.
Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Twitter image sizes
Tweets with images or videos get more engagement than those without. If you want your images or videos to make an impact on Twitter, be sure to upload them in their recommended sizes.
Profile photos
Your Twitter profile photo appears on your profile page, your tweets, and various other places on Twitter in different sizes. Make sure you upload a square image so that it renders correctly everywhere.
Size: 400 x 400 pixels*
Maximum file size: 2MB
*The image displays at 200 x 200 but a higher resolution is recommended.
Header photos
Your Twitter header photo appears at the top of your profile page and its orientation is horizontal, with a 3:1 aspect ratio. Use the maximum size of the image when possible and remember that it may display differently depending on the user’s browser or monitor.
Size: 1500 x 500 pixels
In-stream photos
When you share a photo on Twitter, it gets resized as an in-stream image and users can see a preview of it. You can upload a GIF, JPG, or PNG file for in-stream photos, and the aspect ratio can be anywhere between 2:1 and 1:1 on desktop and 3:4 and 16:9 on mobile.
Size: 1600 x 900 pixels*
*The minimum size for in-stream photos on Twitter is 600 x 355 pixels.
Max file size: 5MB on mobile and 15MB on the web
Card image
When you include a link in your tweet, Twitter creates a card with an image for it. You don’t have much control over the size of the image here, as Twitter pulls it from the URL. Test it before posting with Twitter’s card validator tool.
Size: 120 x 120 pixels
Max file size: 1MB
Ads
Twitter has several types of ads so let’s go through each one’s recommended sizes.
- Single and multi-image tweets: 600 x 355 pixels minimum but larger is recommended
- Website card image: 800 x 418 pixels (1.9:1 aspect ratio); 800 x 800 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio); 20MB max file size
- App card image: 800 x 418 pixels (1.9:1 aspect ratio); 800 x 800 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio); 3MB max file size
- Carousels: 800 x 418 pixels (1.9:1 aspect ratio); 800 x 800 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio); 20MB max file size for 2-6 image cards
- Direct message card: 800 x 418 pixels (1.9:1 aspect ratio); 3MB max file size
- Conversation card: 800 x 418 pixels (1.9:1 aspect ratio); 3MB max file size
Facebook image sizes
As Facebook changes settings for image dimensions often, you should always upload the highest resolution possible of all your images on Facebook.
Profile photos
Facebook profile photos display at 170 x 170 pixels on desktop but at 128 x 128 pixels on mobile.
Size: 170 x 170 pixels
Cover photos
Use a JPG or PNG file for your cover photo; if you’re putting a logo as your cover photo, use PNG. Also, avoid repositioning your photo once you’ve uploaded it.
Size: 851 x 315 pixels*
*Cover photos display at 820 x 312 pixels on a desktop and at 640 x 360 pixels on mobile.
Posts and timeline photos
When you upload photos to the timeline, Facebook resizes them to 500 pixels wide with a 1.9:1 aspect ratio. If you upload more than one photo using the carousel, use 1200 x 1200.
Size: 1200 x 630 pixels
Event cover photos
Facebook lets you add a cover photo when you create an event page. Make sure you upload the right size because the size cannot be edited after you’ve added it.
Size: 1200 x 628 pixels
Panorama/360 photos
If you want to upload a panorama or 360 photos, Facebook will recognize it as such using the photo’s metadata. Don’t make these photos bigger than 45MB for JPEGs or 60MB for PNGs.
Size: 30,000 pixels in any dimension
Stories
Stories appear in a 9:16 aspect ratio on smartphones and you shouldn’t add an image that is less than 500 pixels wide.
Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Ads
Check out the guidelines for all types of Facebook ads below:
- Feed ads: 1080 x 1080 pixels; 30MB maximum file size
- Right column ads: 1080 x 1080 pixels; these are desktop-only ads
- Instant articles: 1080 x 1080 pixels; 30MB maximum file size
- Marketplace ads: 1080 x 1080 pixels; 30MB maximum file size
- Search: 1080 x 1080 pixels; 30MB maximum file size
- Sponsored messages: 1080 x 1080 pixels; 30MB maximum file size
- Messenger inbox ads: 1080 x 1080 pixels; 30MB maximum file size
- Messenger stories ads: 1080 x 1080 pixels
LinkedIn image sizes
Adding images to your LinkedIn posts can help make them more engaging. Ensure you add images in the right sizes and formats.
Profile photos
LinkedIn profile photos appear as 400 x 400 pixels, but you should upload a larger size if you can.
Maximum size: 7680 x 4320 pixels
Maximum file size: 8MB
Profile cover photos
The cover photo on your profile is cropped differently on desktop and mobile so check both before saving.
Size: 1584 x 396 pixels
Maximum file size: 8MB
Sharing a link in an update
When you paste a link into your update box, LinkedIn will generate a thumbnail. You can replace it with your own image, and ensure it’s the proper size.
Size: 1200 x 627 pixels
Ads
The various types of ads on LinkedIn have their own image requirements.
- Company logo: 100 x 100 pixels
- Spotlight ads logo: 100 x 100 pixels
- Spotlight ads background image: 300 x 250 pixels
- Sponsored content image: 1200 x 627 pixels
- Sponsored content carousel image: 1080 x 1080 pixels
TikTok image sizes
TikTok is one of the fastest growing social networking apps around and a great opportunity to connect with your audience if you have high-quality, properly-sized content.
Profile photos
Aim to upload a higher resolution photo in case the standards change in the future.
Size: 20 x 20 pixels
Videos
TikTok videos should be square (1:1) or in 9:16.
Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
In-feed ad videos
Ad videos on TikTok should meet the same size requirements as regular videos, with either 1:1, 9:16, or 16:9 aspect ratio.
Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Pinterest image sizes
As a visual-focused platform (perhaps even more so than Instagram), getting image sizes right on Pinterest is paramount. Most aspect ratios are vertical rather than horizontal as well.
Profile photos
Your Pinterest profile photo will appear as a circle.
Size: 165 x 165 pixels
Profile cover photos
Use a landscape photo for your Pinterest cover photo (aspect ratio of 16:9).
Size: 800 x 450 pixels (minimum)
Pins
Pins should either be 2:3 or square (1:1). Images for pins can’t exceed 20MB either. Any images that have a different aspect ratio will be cropped from the bottom.
Size (2:3): 1000 x 1500 pixels
Size (square): 1000 x 1000 pixels
Story pins
For story pins, stick to a 9:16 aspect ratio and 20MB max file size.
Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Collections pins
A collection pin consists of a primary hero image and three supporting images that appear just below it. All images must have the same aspect ratio. This pin is only available on mobile.
Size (2:3): 1000 x 1500 pixels
Size: (square): 1000 x 1000 pixels
Ads and carousels
For app install ads, carousel ads, and shopping ads, stick to the same dimensions as standard pins.
Size (2:3): 1000 x 1500 pixels
Size: (square): 1000 x 1000 pixels
Snapchat image sizes
Snapchat was the first platform to introduce disappearing images and 24-hour Stories. The app remains a popular way for brands to connect with audiences, so make sure your images are sized properly.
Shared images and ads
Users mostly access Snapchat on their smartphones, so always stick to a 9:16 ratio for all types of Snapchat images, including ads.
Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Max file size: 5MB
Geofilters
Geofilters let users add location-specific filters to their Stories and shared images. You can create a custom geofilter for your brand or special event.
Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Max file size: 5MB
Stories
Like on most platforms, Stories on Snapchat disappear after 24 hours. They should have the same aspect ratio and dimensions as other images on Snapchat.
Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Max file size: 34MB
YouTube image sizes
In addition to ensuring your videos are high-quality and meet YouTube’s standards, you also need to upload images for your profile page and video thumbnails that are sized properly.
Profile photos
Profile photos on YouTube render at 98 x 98 pixels, but you should upload a higher resolution image than that. Center your photo and use either JPEG, GIF, BMP, or PNG (but not animated GIFs).
Size: 800 x 800
Banners
Your channel page says a lot about who you are so upload a banner image that fits properly. The aspect ratio should be 16:9.
Size: 2048 x 1152 pixels*
Max file size: 6MB
*If you use text and logos the minimum area for these elements without being cut off should be 1235 x 338 pixels.
Videos
Standard videos on YouTube should have an aspect ratio of 16:9.
Size: 1280 x 720 pixels*
*If you are renting or selling videos, YouTube recommends a higher resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels.
Thumbnails
An enticing, well-sized thumbnail is one of the biggest factors to get users to click on your videos.
Size: 1280 x 720 pixels
Social media image sizes cheat sheet
Download our free social media images cheat sheet so you always have these sizes handy when you need them. And don’t forget to check back here occasionally for updates on image sizes!
