Social Media Image Sizes 2026: Complete Cheat Sheet
Every social media platform has specific image dimension requirements. Uploading at the wrong size means your images get cropped, compressed, or displayed poorly. This guide has the exact pixel dimensions for every content type on every major platform.
Quick tool: Use theimgapp's Social Media Resizer to instantly resize images with built-in presets for all platforms.
| Content Type | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square Post | 1080 × 1080 | 1:1 | Classic Instagram format |
| Portrait Post | 1080 × 1350 | 4:5 | Maximum feed real estate on mobile |
| Landscape Post | 1080 × 566 | 1.91:1 | Least engagement — avoid |
| Story / Reel | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 | Full-screen vertical |
| Profile Picture | 320 × 320 | 1:1 | Displays at 110×110 |
| Carousel Slide | 1080 × 1080 | 1:1 or 4:5 | Up to 10 slides per post |
Pro tips:
- Portrait (4:5) posts get 20% more screen space than square in the mobile feed
- Always upload at exactly 1080px width to prevent Instagram re-compression
- Keep story text within the center 1080×1420 area — top/bottom are covered by UI
- Use Split Image tool for carousel panoramas
| Content Type | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post Image | 1200 × 630 | 1.91:1 | Also used for link previews |
| Cover Photo | 820 × 312 | 2.63:1 | Desktop crop differs from mobile |
| Profile Picture | 180 × 180 | 1:1 | Circular display |
| Event Cover | 1920 × 1005 | 1.91:1 | Landscape format |
| Group Cover | 1640 × 856 | 1.91:1 | Similar to event |
| Story | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 | Same as Instagram Story |
Pro tips:
- 1200×630 is the OG (Open Graph) standard — use it for link preview images too
- Cover photos crop differently on mobile (640×360) — keep key content centered
- Facebook compresses images heavily — upload at maximum quality
X (Twitter)
| Content Type | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post Image (single) | 1600 × 900 | 16:9 | Optimal for timeline display |
| Post Image (two) | 700 × 800 | 7:8 | Per image when posting two |
| Header/Banner | 1500 × 500 | 3:1 | Profile header image |
| Profile Picture | 400 × 400 | 1:1 | Circular display |
| Card Image | 1200 × 628 | 1.91:1 | For link cards |
Pro tips:
- Single images display best at 16:9 or 2:1 ratios
- X compresses images aggressively — upload at highest quality
- For infographics, use tall images (they expand when tapped)
- Profile picture overlaps bottom-left of header — avoid content there
| Content Type | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post Image | 1200 × 627 | 1.91:1 | Standard feed post |
| Post Image (square) | 1200 × 1200 | 1:1 | Gets more vertical space |
| Profile Banner | 1584 × 396 | 4:1 | Background image |
| Profile Picture | 400 × 400 | 1:1 | Professional headshot |
| Company Logo | 300 × 300 | 1:1 | Page logo |
| Article Cover | 1200 × 644 | 1.86:1 | LinkedIn articles |
Pro tips:
- Square images (1200×1200) get significantly more real estate in the feed
- Carousel documents (PDF uploads) get 3-5x more engagement than single images
- Professional, clean imagery performs best on LinkedIn
YouTube
| Content Type | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video Thumbnail | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 | Custom thumbnail (max 2MB) |
| Channel Banner | 2560 × 1440 | 16:9 | Safe area: 1546×423 center |
| Channel Icon | 800 × 800 | 1:1 | Circular display |
| Community Post | 1200 × 1200 | 1:1 | Or 16:9 landscape |
Pro tips:
- Thumbnails display as small as 168×94 in suggestions — use LARGE text (3-5 words max)
- Bold contrasting colors and faces dramatically improve CTR
- Channel banner: keep critical content in the center 1546×423 "safe area"
- Maximum thumbnail file size is 2MB (JPEG required)
| Content Type | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Pin | 1000 × 1500 | 2:3 | Recommended format |
| Square Pin | 1000 × 1000 | 1:1 | Less engagement |
| Long Pin | 1000 × 2100 | 1:2.1 | Maximum length |
| Profile Picture | 165 × 165 | 1:1 | Circular display |
| Board Cover | 600 × 600 | 1:1 | Board thumbnail |
Pro tips:
- Vertical 2:3 pins dominate the feed and get significantly more saves
- Include text overlay on pins — Pinterest is a visual search engine
- Rich, vibrant colors outperform muted tones on Pinterest
- Pins can be up to 1000×2100, but may be truncated in the feed
TikTok
| Content Type | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video Cover | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 | Full-screen vertical |
| Profile Picture | 200 × 200 | 1:1 | Circular display |
| Slideshow Image | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 | Photo mode posts |
Pro tips:
- Profile grid crops covers to approximately 3:4 — keep key content centered
- Same dimensions work for TikTok Stories and Slideshows
- Consistent cover design makes your profile grid look professional
General Best Practices
Before Uploading to Any Platform
- Resize to exact dimensions — Do not upload oversized images and let the platform crop them
- Compress images — Most platforms re-compress anyway, but starting with an optimized file produces better results
- Use JPEG for photos at quality 85-92% — platforms re-encode everything
- Use PNG for graphics with text or transparency
- Check safe areas — Platforms crop differently on mobile vs desktop
Tools to Use
All free, browser-based, no signup required:
- Social Media Resizer — All platform presets in one tool
- Aspect Ratio Crop — Crop to exact ratios
- Image Compressor — Optimize before uploading
- Split Image — Create carousel slides
- Profile Picture Maker — Circle crop for profile photos
- OG Image Generator — Create link preview images
Summary
The most important dimensions to remember:
- Instagram Post: 1080 × 1080 (square) or 1080 × 1350 (portrait)
- Instagram Story/Reel: 1080 × 1920
- Facebook Post: 1200 × 630
- X/Twitter Post: 1600 × 900
- YouTube Thumbnail: 1280 × 720
- LinkedIn Post: 1200 × 627
- Pinterest Pin: 1000 × 1500
Bookmark this page and use theimgapp's Social Media Resizer for one-click resizing to any platform's specifications.