Recommended Image Specifications for Common Social Media Platforms
In today’s digital age, visuals are everything. High-quality images can make or break your social media presence. Whether you’re a brand, a content creator, or just someone who loves sharing online, ensuring your images are optimized for each platform is crucial. Here’s a guide to the recommended image specifications for some of the most popular social media platforms in 2024.
1. Facebook
Facebook remains one of the top platforms for both personal and business use. From profile pictures to ads, knowing the right dimensions is key to looking professional.
- Profile Picture: 180 x 180 pixels (Displays at 170 x 170 on desktop, 128 x 128 on smartphones)
- Cover Photo: 820 x 312 pixels (Displays at 820 x 312 on desktops and 640 x 360 on smartphones)
- Shared Image: 1200 x 630 pixels
- Event Cover Photo: 1200 x 628 pixels
- Facebook Ad Images:
- Feed ads: 1080 x 1080 pixels (or 1200 x 628 pixels for landscape)
- Stories: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Video Ads: 1280 x 720 pixels
Tip: Keep important text or design elements within the safe zone, avoiding the edges of the image to prevent cropping.
2. Instagram
Instagram is a visual-first platform, making image quality and sizing even more critical. It supports both square and rectangular formats, but each has its own ideal specifications.
- Profile Picture: 320 x 320 pixels
- Post Image (Square): 1080 x 1080 pixels
- Post Image (Landscape): 1080 x 566 pixels
- Post Image (Portrait): 1080 x 1350 pixels
- Instagram Stories: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Reels and IGTV Cover: 420 x 654 pixels
- Carousel Post Images: Same as single post specifications depending on the format
Tip: Instagram compresses images over 1080 pixels, so uploading at this resolution will prevent quality loss.
3. Twitter (Now X)
Twitter, or X, has transformed into a platform that prioritizes a mix of written content and visual engagement. The right image sizes ensure your posts don’t get cut off and maintain their impact.
- Profile Picture: 400 x 400 pixels
- Header Image: 1500 x 500 pixels
- In-Stream Photo (Single): 1200 x 675 pixels
- In-Stream Photo (Multi-Image Post):
- Two images: 700 x 800 pixels each
- Three images: One image 700 x 800 pixels, two images 1200 x 675 pixels
- Four images: 1200 x 675 pixels each
- Twitter Ads Images: 600 x 335 pixels (minimum)
Tip: Twitter crops multiple images differently, so always preview your posts to ensure important parts aren’t cropped out.
4. LinkedIn
LinkedIn focuses on professional networking but also places a high value on visuals, especially for personal branding and company pages.
- Profile Picture: 400 x 400 pixels (minimum), recommended 800 x 800 pixels
- Background Photo: 1584 x 396 pixels
- Company Logo: 300 x 300 pixels
- Company Page Cover Photo: 1128 x 191 pixels
- Shared Image or Link Post: 1200 x 627 pixels
- LinkedIn Stories: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Tip: When sharing posts, ensure the image is at least 552 pixels wide for the best appearance.
5. Pinterest
Pinterest is all about discovery through visuals. Whether it’s an image pin, a carousel, or a video, the right dimensions ensure your content stands out in a highly competitive space.
- Profile Picture: 165 x 165 pixels
- Pin Image (Standard): 1000 x 1500 pixels
- Square Pin: 1000 x 1000 pixels
- Pinterest Stories Pin: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Pinterest Collections Pin: 1000 x 1500 pixels
Tip: The ideal aspect ratio for pins is 2:3 to avoid cropping or distortion. Tall images tend to perform better on Pinterest.
6. TikTok
TikTok thrives on short-form videos, but even your profile image and thumbnails need to be the right size to look professional.
- Profile Picture: 200 x 200 pixels
- Video Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Video Ad Image Thumbnails: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Tip: For TikTok videos, avoid placing key text or elements too close to the edges, as they may get cut off by buttons and icons.
7. YouTube
YouTube is a video-first platform, but ensuring your thumbnails and channel visuals are optimized can help boost your visibility and click-through rates.
- Profile Picture: 800 x 800 pixels
- Channel Cover Photo: 2560 x 1440 pixels (minimum safe area for text and logos: 1546 x 423 pixels)
- Video Thumbnail: 1280 x 720 pixels
- YouTube Shorts: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Tip: Make your video thumbnails pop by using bright colors, bold text, and an eye-catching design.
8. Snapchat
Snapchat focuses heavily on short-form content, and it’s important to get your visuals just right to maximize engagement.
- Snapchat Geofilter: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Snapchat Ads (Snap Ads): 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Snapchat Story Image or Video: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Tip: Use a high-contrast color scheme to make your content stand out, and ensure your images or videos align with the platform’s vertical format.
Conclusion
Ensuring your images are optimized for the specific dimensions of each social media platform will help enhance the overall user experience, increase engagement, and prevent any awkward cropping or distortion. As platforms continue to evolve, staying up-to-date with the latest specifications ensures your content always looks its best.