A note before you start
Platforms change their layouts from time to time. Treat these numbers as well-known starting points and check the platform if something looks off. Whatever the size, the golden rule is the same: keep the important part of the picture in the middle.
- Feed post, portrait: 1080 by 1350 pixels (4:5), which takes the most screen space.
- Feed post, square: 1080 by 1080 pixels.
- Stories and Reels: 1080 by 1920 pixels (9:16). Keep text away from the top and bottom.
- Profile picture: square, shown as a circle.
Try the Instagram image resizer, which shows how the profile grid crops a post.
- Cover photo: about 820 by 312 pixels on a computer. Phones show a taller crop, so keep the subject centred.
- Profile picture: square, shown as a circle, and it overlaps the cover.
Use the Facebook cover resizer to see what stays visible.
- Profile photo: square, at least 400 by 400 pixels.
- Personal banner: 1584 by 396 pixels. Your photo covers the lower left.
- Company page banner: a wide, short image.
The LinkedIn image resizer shows the area your photo covers.
X (Twitter)
- Header: 1500 by 500 pixels.
- Profile picture: about 400 by 400 pixels, shown in a circle.
- Posts: landscape images in a 16:9 shape usually display well.
See the X image resizer.
YouTube thumbnails
- Size: 1280 by 720 pixels (16:9).
- File size: under 2 MB.
- Format: JPG or PNG.
Keep the title short and bold, and leave the bottom right corner free, where YouTube shows the video length. The YouTube thumbnail maker checks the file size for you.
WhatsApp profile pictures
WhatsApp shows your picture inside a circle, so use a square image of at least 500 pixels with your subject in the centre. The WhatsApp DP maker lets you see the circle, or fit the whole photo with no cropping.
Understanding safe areas
Every platform places things on top of your image: a profile picture over a banner, a title bar over a video, or a circle mask over a photo. The safe area is the part that always remains visible. Put faces, logos and important words in the centre and let only background elements run to the edges. If you make one picture for several platforms, design for the tightest crop and the others will look fine too.
General tips
- Upload at a larger size than the display size so the picture stays sharp on high-resolution screens.
- Keep text and faces away from the edges.
- Save photos as JPG and graphics with text as PNG.
- Keep the file small enough to upload quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Why do platforms change image sizes?
Layouts and screen sizes evolve, so recommendations are updated now and then. A larger, sharp image with the subject centred keeps working through most changes.
Should I upload bigger than the recommended size?
A somewhat larger image keeps things sharp on high-resolution screens, but very large files can be compressed heavily or rejected.
JPG or PNG for social media?
JPG for photos. PNG for graphics with text or sharp edges. Platforms may re-compress both.