Ultimate Guide to Social Media Image Sizes: Cheat Sheet

Getting social media right means making your content look great. This guide gives you the exact image sizes for Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Whether you're promoting a business or sharing your creativity, these dimensions for social media posts will help your visuals look polished and professional on every platform.

Getting social media image sizes right is crucial for making your social media posting size look good and engaging. Here’s why it matters:

• Clear Display: Correct dimensions for social media posts ensure your images look sharp on any device.

• Professional Image: Well-sized images enhance your profile’s credibility.

• Better Engagement: Properly sized social media images attract more attention and interaction.

Now, let's have a look at some of the popular social media posting sizes of different platforms and their recommended image sizes.

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Instagram is known for its vibrant community and engaging visual storytelling. Whether you're new or experienced, understanding the right image sizes is essential for your profile and posts to shine. Here’s a simple guide to Instagram's image dimensions:

Profile Picture

• Recommended Dimensions: 110 x 110 pixels
• Aspect Ratio: 1:1

Square Photo

• Minimum Dimensions: 1080 x 1080 pixels
• Maximum Dimensions: 2048 x 2048 pixels
• Aspect Ratio: 1:1

Landscape Photo

• Minimum Dimensions: 1080 x 566 pixels
• Maximum Dimensions: 1350 x 1080 pixels
• Aspect Ratio: 1.91:1 to 16:9

Portrait Photo

• Minimum Dimensions: 1080 x 1350 pixels
• Maximum Dimensions: 1080 x 1350 pixels
• Aspect Ratio: 4:5

Instagram Stories

• Recommended Dimensions: 1080 x 1920 pixels
• Aspect Ratio: 9:16

Feed Ads

• Recommended Dimensions: 1080 x 1080 pixels (square) or 1200 x 628 pixels (landscape)
• Aspect Ratio: 1:1 (square) or 1.91:1 (landscape)
• Maximum File Size: 30MB
• Supported Formats: JPG, PNG, or GIF

Stories Ads

• Recommended Dimensions: 1080 x 1920 pixels
• Aspect Ratio: 9:16
• Maximum File Size: 30MB
• Supported Formats: JPG, PNG, or GIF

Carousel Ads

• Image Size: 1080 x 1080 pixels (recommended)
• Maximum File Size: 30MB per image
• Supported Formats: JPG, PNG, or GIF

Video Ads

• Recommended Dimensions: 1080 x 1080 pixels (square) or 1200 x 628 pixels (landscape)
• Aspect Ratio: 1:1 (square) or 1.91:1 (landscape)
• Maximum File Size: 4GB
• Supported Formats: MP4 or MOV

Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms globally, with over 2.89 billion active users daily. Ensuring your social media images look great on Facebook involves using the right dimensions for various purposes. Here's a simple breakdown of the main categories:

Profile Picture

• Dimensions: 180 x 180 pixels (recommended)
• Displayed as 170 x 170 pixels on desktop and 128 x 128 pixels on mobile. Used as the main image for profiles and pages.

Cover Photo

• Dimensions: 820 x 312 pixels (recommended)
• Minimum size: 400 x 150 pixels. Spans the top of profiles or pages, ideal for branding.

Facebook Post Size 

• Dimensions: 1200 x 630 pixels (recommended)
• Minimum size: 600 x 315 pixels. Used for photos and graphics in posts to ensure clarity and attractiveness.

Link and Shared Image

• Dimensions: 1200 x 630 pixels (recommended)
• Images shared via links or posts use these dimensions, appearing prominently in feeds.

Event Cover Photo

• Dimensions: 1920 x 1080 pixels (recommended)
• Used for event covers to maintain quality across desktop and mobile.

Group Cover Photo

• Dimensions: 1640 x 856 pixels (recommended)
• Provides an eye-catching banner for Facebook group pages.

Feed Ads

• Size: 1200 x 628 pixels (recommended)
• Minimum Size: 600 x 600 pixels

Stories Ads

• Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels (recommended)
• Use: Full-screen ads between users' stories

Right Column Ads

• Size: 1200 x 1200 pixels (recommended)
• Display: In the right-hand column on desktop

Carousel Ads

• Size: 1080 x 1080 pixels (recommended)
• Use: For consistent and high-quality images or videos in the carousel

LinkedIn is a professional networking platform where professionals and businesses connect to build careers and professional relationships. Optimizing your profile and posts with correct image dimensions is key to making a positive impression. Here’s a clear guide to the image sizes used on LinkedIn:

Profile Picture

• Recommended Dimensions: 400 x 400 pixels
• Maximum File Size: 8MB
• Aspect Ratio: 1:1

Background Photo

• Recommended Dimensions: 1584 x 396 pixels
• Maximum File Size: 4MB
• Aspect Ratio: 4:1

Banner Image (Cover Photo)

• Recommended Dimensions: 1584 x 396 pixels
• Maximum File Size: 4MB
• Aspect Ratio: 4:1

Post Image

• Recommended Dimensions: 1200 x 627 pixels
• Maximum File Size: 5MB
• Aspect Ratio: 1.91:1

Sponsored Content

• Recommended Dimensions: 1200 x 627 pixels
• Maximum File Size: 5MB
• Aspect Ratio: 1.91:1
• Supported Formats: JPG, PNG, or GIF

Sponsored InMail

• Recommended Dimensions: 300 x 250 pixels (banner)
• Maximum File Size: 2MB
• Supported Formats: JPG, PNG, or GIF

Text Ads

• Image Size: 100 x 100 pixels
• Maximum File Size: 2MB
• Supported Formats: JPG, PNG, or GIF

Video Ads

• Recommended Dimensions: 1920 x 1080 pixels
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9
• Maximum File Size: 200MB
• Supported Formats: MP4

Formerly known as Twitter, X is a popular platform known for real-time information sharing. Knowing the right image sizes is important for making your profile and posts look their best. Here’s a simple guide to the image dimensions used on X:

Profile Picture

• Recommended Dimensions: 400 x 400 pixels
• Maximum File Size: 2MB
• Aspect Ratio: 1:1

Header Photo (Cover Photo)

• Recommended Dimensions: 1500 x 500 pixels
• Maximum File Size: 5MB
• Aspect Ratio: 3:1

Tweet Image

• Minimum Dimensions: 440 x 220 pixels (2:1 ratio)
• Maximum Dimensions: 1024 x 512 pixels
• Supported Formats: JPG, PNG, or GIF

Card Image

• Recommended Dimensions: 1200 x 628 pixels
• Supported Formats: JPG, PNG, or GIF

Single Image Ads

• Recommended Dimensions: 1200 x 675 pixels
• Maximum File Size: 5MB

Carousel Ads

• Image Size: 800 x 800 pixels (recommended)
• Maximum File Size: 5MB per image

Video Ads

• Recommended Dimensions: 1200 x 1200 pixels (square) or 1920 x 1080 pixels (landscape)
• Maximum File Size: 1GB
• Supported Formats: MP4 or MOV

YouTube is a popular platform known for its diverse range of video content, from entertainment to educational videos. Getting the right image dimensions for your channel and videos is crucial for making them stand out. Here’s a simple guide to the image sizes used on YouTube:

Channel Profile Picture

• Recommended Dimensions: 800 x 800 pixels
• Aspect Ratio: 1:1

Channel Banner (Cover Photo)

• Recommended Dimensions: 2560 x 1440 pixels
• Safe Area for Text and Logos: 1546 x 423 pixels

Video Thumbnail

• Recommended Dimensions: 1280 x 720 pixels
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9
• Minimum Width: 640 pixels

Video Uploads

• Recommended Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels (Full HD)
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9

Live Stream Thumbnail

• Recommended Dimensions: 1280 x 720 pixels
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9

Display Ads

• Recommended Dimensions: 300 x 250 pixels or 728 x 90 pixels
• Maximum File Size: 150KB
• Supported Formats: JPG, PNG, or GIF

Video Ads

• In-Stream Ads: 1920 x 1080 pixels (Full HD)
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9
• Maximum File Size: 1GB
• Supported Formats: MP4, MOV

Overlay Ads

• Recommended Dimensions: 480 x 70 pixels
• Maximum File Size: 150KB
• Supported Formats: JPG, PNG, or GIF

Bumper Ads

• Recommended Dimensions: 1920 x 1080 pixels
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9
• Maximum File Size: 1GB
• Supported Formats: MP4, MOV

Using the correct image sizes is crucial for maintaining a professional and engaging presence on social media. Here’s how to ensure your images meet each platform's requirements:

Check Official Guidelines

Visit the help centres of each platform regularly for the latest size recommendations.

Use Image Editing Tools

Tools like Adobe Photoshop, Canva, and PicMonkey offer templates and resizing options tailored for different platforms.

Online Resizers

Utilize online image resizers with pre-set dimensions for various social media platforms.

Social Media Management Tools

Use platforms like Hootsuite, Buffer, and Sprout Social, which often include features to resize and optimize images automatically.

Double-Check

Always preview your images on the platform before posting to ensure they appear correctly and make any necessary adjustments.

Using the wrong image sizes on social media can have several negative effects. Your images may appear blurry or pixelated, reducing their visual appeal. Platforms might automatically crop your images, cutting off important parts and making them look unprofessional. Additionally, incorrectly sized images can appear stretched or distorted, affecting the overall look of your profile.

Low-quality images can deter users from engaging with your content, leading to fewer likes, shares, and comments. Consistently using the wrong image sizes can also make your brand seem less credible and professional. By using the recommended image sizes, you ensure your visuals are clear, professional, and engaging, which enhances your social media presence.

Yes, there are several tools available to help you resize images for social media:

Canva

Canva offers templates with pre-set dimensions for various social media platforms, making it easy to resize images.

Adobe Photoshop

Photoshop provides advanced editing options, including resizing images to specific dimensions for social media.

PicMonkey

PicMonkey is user-friendly and offers resizing options tailored for different social media platforms.

Online Image Resizers

Websites like ResizeImage.net and Simple Image Resizer allow you to quickly resize images to fit social media requirements.

Social Media Management Tools

Tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, and Sprout Social often include features that automatically resize and optimize images for different platforms.

GIMP

GIMP is a free, open-source image editor that offers robust resizing options for social media images.

In conclusion, knowing the right social media image sizes for different social media platforms is key to looking professional and engaging online. By following the recommended dimensions for Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, your visuals will be clear and impactful. 

Use this guide as your go-to resource to make your social media posts stand out. Keep this cheat sheet handy to increase your social media presence with ease.