Social media has become essential not only as a personal tool for leisure, entertainment, and staying in touch with hundreds of people, but also in the professional world. The communication power these platforms offer for businesses, the ability to run highly targeted advertising campaigns thanks to the vast amount of user data they hold, and the potential to reach anywhere in the world through them make social media indispensable in the communication and marketing strategy of any project.
That is why I decided to create the guide below for you on the recommended sizes for the main images across different social networks, so you can maintain a polished, professional profile without ending up with cropped or pixelated images.
Social Media Image Sizes [2020 Guide]
One of the most important aspects we need to keep in mind in our social media strategy is making good use of the images each platform allows us to use. Your profile photo, cover image, and any other visuals you use across your social channels are just as important as the content itself, because in addition to conveying professionalism, when properly optimized they can even influence the conversion potential and engagement levels of your posts.
It is very common to see profile photos appear cropped, or Facebook cover images and YouTube channel art that look correct on desktop but appear distorted when viewed on mobile.
That is why today I’m bringing you a complete post on social media image sizes, including all the dimensions recommended by each platform so you can optimize your main visuals and ensure they display correctly across different devices.
Facebook Image Sizes
Facebook is one of the social networks that makes the most updates when it comes to image sizes, so you should keep a close eye on the recommendations below. If you upload your images in the highest quality possible and in the formats recommended by the platform, you will always get the best results.
Facebook Profile Photo Size
Your Facebook page profile photo will appear at different sizes depending on the device:
- Desktop: 170 x 170 pixels
- Smartphone: 128 x 128 pixels
- Feature phones: 36 x 36 pixels
Tips:
- upload your profile image at 180 x 180 pixels to make sure it displays correctly on all devices
- use PNG instead of JPG whenever possible to ensure higher quality on any device
Facebook Cover Photo Size
Your Facebook page cover photo is an important element because it takes up much of the visual focus of the page for a first-time visitor. That is why, in addition to making good use of that space, you should also keep in mind the correct dimensions for uploading your image:
- Desktop: 820 x 312 pixels
- Smartphone: 640 x 360 pixels
Tips:
- upload your image at 851 pixels wide by 315 pixels high, since these are the platform’s own recommended dimensions for best results
- try to use PNG format and keep the file size under 100 KB
Facebook Post Image Sizes
If you are creating a Facebook post that includes an external link directing users to a website, blog, video, or any other content outside the platform, the recommended image sizes are as follows:
- Recommended size for link images: 1200 x 628 pixels
- Minimum required size: 600 x 315 pixels
If, on the other hand, the post does not include any links and is simply an image accompanying the post, the recommended sizes are:
- Square post image size: 1200 x 1200 pixels
- Horizontal post image size: 1200 x 900 pixels
Facebook Event Image Size
If you are publishing an event on your Facebook page, keep in mind that the image you use in the event header should meet the following recommendations:
- Recommended event image size: 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
Tips:
- remember that if your image is smaller than 1920 pixels, Facebook will automatically stretch it, which will likely distort it and make it display poorly. Likewise, if it is larger than that, it will be automatically cropped on both sides.
Facebook Ad Image Sizes
Facebook advertising has become increasingly important thanks to the platform’s advanced targeting capabilities. That is why one of the key factors to consider is taking care of your ad creatives, which starts with optimizing both the content and the image sizes. These are the recommended dimensions:
- Recommended image size for News Feed ads: 1200 x 628 pixels
- Recommended image size for Right Column ads: 1200 x 628 pixels
- Recommended image size for Instant Article ads: 1200 x 628 pixels
- Recommended image size for Facebook Marketplace ads: 1200 x 1200 pixels
- Aspect ratio in all cases: from 9:16 to 16:9
Tips:
- remember that Facebook penalizes images where more than 20% of the content is text, so try to minimize the text in your image to just a short claim or phrase that captures the user’s attention
- it also recommends uploading your image at the highest resolution possible, keeping in mind that the recommended formats are JPG and PNG; JPG uploads faster, while PNG helps prevent pixelation on certain devices
Image Sizes for Facebook Carousel Ads
Facebook carousel ads allow you to display two or more images within the same ad, including video, so that each element can have its own independent link leading users to different products.
In this case, the dimensions to keep in mind are:
- Recommended image size: 1080 x 1080 pixels
- Aspect ratio: 1:1
Tips:
- remember that the minimum number of images in a carousel is 2 and the maximum is 10
- upload your images in JPG or PNG format, and make sure none of them exceeds 30 MB
- if you use video as one of the carousel elements, keep it under 15 seconds long to optimize audience retention
Recommended Image Sizes for Facebook Stories
After breaking down the recommended sizes for each type of Facebook image, here is a summary of all the dimensions so you can see them at a glance:
- Profile photo: 170 x 170 pixels
- Cover image: 820 x 312 pixels
- Post with link: 1200 x 628
- Square post: 1200 x 1200 pixels
- Horizontal post: 1200 x 900 pixels
- Event image: 1920 x 1080
- Facebook ads: 1200 x 628 pixels
- Carousel ad images: 1080 x 1080
- Facebook Stories: 1080 x 1920
Instagram Image Sizes
Instagram has been one of the social networks with the biggest impact in recent years thanks to its ongoing reinventions, which make it possible to get a great deal out of your profile, especially if it belongs to a brand or company. That is why it is worth paying close attention to how you use this platform, starting with content quality and making sure the size of every post is correct.
Take a look below at the recommended sizes for the most common types of Instagram images.
Instagram Profile Photo Size
Your Instagram profile image is a very important part of your personal or brand profile, so I recommend paying close attention to the ideal size recommendations:
- Minimum recommended size: 110 x 110 pixels
- Recommended resolution: 180 x 180 pixels
- Saved size: 320 x 320 pixels
Tips:
- remember that your Instagram profile photo is displayed as a circle, so make sure all the important elements are centered to avoid getting cropped
Instagram Feed Image Sizes
Another key part of your Instagram profile is the images you upload to your profile itself and that make up your feed. Below are the recommended sizes for the images you share with your followers:
- Recommended portrait size: 1080 x 1350 pixels
- Recommended square size: 1080 x 1080 pixels
- Recommended landscape size: 1080 x 566 pixels
- Aspect ratio: 1.91:1 to 4:5
Tips:
- upload your images with a minimum width of 1080 pixels so Instagram does not automatically resize them
- do not upload images wider than that or they may be cropped automatically
- pay attention to the aspect ratio of your photo so it does not get cropped
Instagram Thumbnail Image Sizes
- Recommended size: 1080 pixels wide
- Thumbnail display size: 161 x 161 pixels
Instagram Story Image Sizes
Instagram Stories have become an essential part of the social media strategy of most brands, which is why it is very important to keep the following recommendations in mind when it comes to image size:
- Recommended image size for Stories: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Tips:
- since the quality of the image display depends largely on the device the user is using to access the platform, upload your images at the highest resolution possible
leave a safe area at the top and bottom of around 250 pixels where you should not place any important image elements so they do not get covered by interface elements
remember the rule that says posts with more than 20% of the image occupied by text will have lower relevance, so limit text to a short phrase that makes an impact on your audience
Image Sizes for Instagram Story Ads
Another feature offered by Instagram Stories is the ability to run ads. In this case, keep the following in mind:
- Recommended image size for Instagram Story ads: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Minimum required size: 600 x 1067 pixels
Tips:
- upload your images at a size under 30 MB
- maintain a 9:16 aspect ratio
Instagram Ad Image Sizes
Just like with Facebook, Instagram ads have gained major importance in recent years thanks to the huge number of users who actively use the platform and the targeting capabilities available when running campaigns aimed at highly specific audiences. The image sizes for Instagram ads are as follows:
Square ad format: 1080 x 1080 pixels
Landscape format: 1080 x 566 pixels
Other Recommended Instagram Sizes
In addition to all the recommendations listed above, there are a few other guidelines you should keep in mind in order to create your Instagram posts correctly. Here they are:
- Recommended video size for the Instagram timeline: 640 x 640 pixels
- Recommended video size for Instagram Stories: 750 x 1334 pixels
- Video format for Instagram TV (IGTV):
- Vertical format: between 4:5 and 9:16
- Horizontal format: between 5:4 and 16:9
- IGTV cover image: 420 x 654 px
Summary of Instagram Image Sizes
- Profile photo: 110 x 110 pixels
- Portrait feed image: 1080 x 1350 pixels
- Square feed image: 1080 x 1080 pixels
- Landscape feed image: 1080 x 566 pixels
- Thumbnail image size: 161 x 161 pixels
- Story image: 1080 x 1920
- Square Instagram ads: 1080 x 1080 pixels
- Landscape Instagram ads: 1080 x 566 pixels
- IGTV cover image: 420 x 654 pixels
YouTube Image Sizes
The largest social network for audiovisual content is without a doubt YouTube. So, just as with the previous social networks, it is important to take care of your channel’s appearance in order to convey professionalism to your audience. In this section, you will find the main recommendations on image sizes so you can keep your YouTube channel optimized.
YouTube Channel Profile Photo Size
- Recommended YouTube profile photo size: 800 x 800 pixels
Tip: remember that the YouTube profile photo format is circular, so make sure to center your image properly so it does not get cropped
YouTube Channel Cover Photo Size
- Recommended channel cover image size: 2560 x 1440
- Minimum upload size: 2048 x 1152
Tips:
- maintain a minimum safe area of 1546 x 423 pixels to ensure your content does not appear cropped
- try to keep your file size below 6 MB
YouTube Video Size
Recommended video size: 1280 x 720 pixels
Tip: try to follow this recommendation as closely as possible, since it will significantly affect YouTube’s HD video criteria. In addition to affecting the quality in which your video is displayed, it also acts as a relevance factor when it comes to ranking your video on YouTube itself
- Profile photo: 800 x 800 pixels
- Cover photo: 2560 x 1440 pixels
- Video size: 1280 x 720 pixels
LinkedIn Image Sizes
LinkedIn is the largest professional network in the world, and having your personal profile or business page properly optimized is extremely important if you want to achieve your goals related to personal branding or attracting potential clients for your products or services.
If you optimize your profile according to the recommendations below for each image size, I’m sure you’ll get the best results in terms of presenting a polished and professional appearance.
LinkedIn Profile Photo Size
Minimum recommended LinkedIn profile photo size for a personal profile: 400 x 400 pixels
Minimum recommended LinkedIn profile photo size for a company page: 300 x 300 pixels
Maximum allowed file size: 8 MB
LinkedIn Cover Photo Size
Recommended LinkedIn cover image size for a personal profile: 1584 x 396 pixels
Recommended LinkedIn cover image size for a company page: 1536 x 768 pixels
Image Sizes for LinkedIn Posts
Recommended image size for LinkedIn posts with blog links or similar: 520 x 272 pixels
Recommended image size for LinkedIn posts without links: 520 x 320
Image Sizes for LinkedIn Ads
Recommended company logo size for LinkedIn ads: 100 x 100 pixels
Custom background image size for Spotlight ads: 300 x 250 pixels
Recommended image size for sponsored content: 1200 x 627 pixels
Personal profile photo: 400 x 400 pixels
Company profile photo: 300 x 300 pixels
Personal profile cover image: 1584 x 396 pixels
Company profile cover image: 1536 x 768 pixels
Images for posts with links: 520 x 272 pixels
Image for posts without links: 520 x 320 pixels
Company logo image for ads: 100 x 100 pixels
Background image for Spotlight ads: 300 x 250 pixels
Sponsored content images: 1200 x 627 pixels
TikTok Image Sizes
TikTok has become one of the social networks of the moment thanks to its rapid growth, which led it to become one of the ten most downloaded apps in Spain at the beginning of 2020, ranking ahead of Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Snapchat in number of downloads, as well as its ability to let users share short clips with numerous effects, filters, and music tracks, among other features.
Here are a few recommendations so you can optimize your TikTok profile while keeping ideal image sizes in mind.
TikTok Profile Photo Size
Minimum TikTok profile image size: 100 x 100 pixels
Recommended TikTok profile image size: 200 x 200 pixels
TikTok Video Size
Ideal TikTok video size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Recommended aspect ratio: 1:1 or 4:5
In addition to image size, there are many other aspects you should pay attention to in order to get the most out of your social media profiles and present a professional image to your followers. In upcoming posts, I’ll continue adding more tips related to each social network, but for now, get to work and review the images across all your platforms. Once you optimize their size and quality, I’m sure you’ll notice the difference!
