When the customers started to ask me to deal with their social media, I found that the picture part would be easy. Create a clean graphic, load it over platforms and the tools would automatically adjust everything.
Boy, I was wrong.
Between crazy headers, stretched thumbnail views and text that had disappeared on the cell phone, it didn’t take long for it to realize that each platform plays according to its own rules – and they often change. I spent far too much time to change for things, change me and apologize for things that are targeting as soon as they went live.
Now I have a current list of current social media images and create templates for the most common sizes for social media that my customers need. It helps me to move faster, to avoid rates and to make everything look professional from feed to the display to history.
This guideline drives all of this together – practical tips, practical tips, ad dimensions and tools that I use to make the process more smoothly. I have worked with dozens of brands for organic and paid social strategy, and image greats is one of the first things I train to keep the teams.
Table of contents
Why should you take care of social media image sizes
I treated the image size like a subsequent thought. If the content were strong, the picture would wear it, right? After managing dozens of campaigns and cleaning up more than a few formatting problems, I play a much larger role in performance than I expected.
I now pay attention to the following.
The commitment depends on the visual quality.
I tested articles with exactly the same copy and the same design, but different image sizes, and the difference in the click rate could not be ignored. A version looked sharp and good. The other was awkward and lost part of the message.
This drop in performance was difficult to ignore – and I am not the only one who noticed it.
Accordingly Drift Kings Medias 2025 Global Social Media Trends reportInstagram, Facebook and YouTube are the top platforms for commitment and lead quality, and each of them is powered by visuals. If your pictures are incorrectly aligned, outside the brand or with low casseroles, you lack the possibilities before your audience even reads the caption.
Ads are rejected or below average.
One of the first paid campaigns that I carried through META was rejected for something that I did not caught: a picture that did not meet the request to the minimum width. No warning, no adjustment – just to silence. I didn’t even notice that it hadn’t run until I checked the analysis a few days later.
LinkedIn can be just as strict. I saw how image advertisements are reducing their reach because the size was not entirely correct or the aspect ratio has thrown the preview. If you have ever seen a powerful campaign stand for no apparent reason, the image formatting is one of the first things you should check.
Your brand looks inconsistent.
Cut off logos. Wrongly oriented pictures. Graphics that look perfect on the desktop but fall apart on the cell phone. I was there and her customers too.
These inconsistencies add up. You make your brand feel disruptive, even if the message is correct. After I started platform -specific dimensions, our graphics finally felt consistent on each screen. No missing margins. No templates outside the brand. Only clean, reliable content that felt intended in every channel.
And that is important, because pictures are often the first impression that your audience gets.
Learn more about what the attention of people on social media attracts with our guide to the most effective types of content on social media.
Social media image sizes AT-A glare
Social media image sizes according to platform
I used to try to get away with a uniform approach. I would design, change the size for two or three channels and call it a day. It never worked the way I hoped for it.
Each platform treats visuals differently – some aggressive, some downloaded low loads and others prioritize completely different side conditions. Now I work from a detailed technical sheet and build everything into account these dimensions.
Here is the breakdown that I can provide with a bookmark.
Facebook image sizes
- Profile: 320 x 320 px
- Cover: 851 x 315 px
- Food post: 1080 x 1350 px
- Stories: 1080 x 1920 px
- Ads formats:
- Feed: 1080 x 1080 px
- Link ad: 1200 x 628 px
- History Advertisement: 1440 x 2560 PX
- Link preview: 1200 x 630 PX
I saw most of the problems with cover photos here – what looks good on the desktop can be strangely tailored on the cell phone. If in doubt, center your focus and keep important details away from the edges.
Further tips for optimizing your Facebook visuals. Take a look at our guide to Facebook marketing Or explore the best practices from Drift Kings Medias Facebook ads.
Instagram image sizes
- Profile: 320 x 320 px
- Square Post: 1080 x 1080 px
- Portrait: 1080 x 1350 px
- Landscape: 1080 x 566 px
- Stories and roles: 1080 x 1920 px
- Raster miniature view: 161 x 161 px
- Role cover: 420 x 654 px
- Ads formats: Same dimensions as organic contributions
For Instagram I concentrate on the vertical format because most of the feeder is optimized for visuals that are 4: 5 or larger. Square is still working, but portrait images tend to work better in terms of range and commitment.
If Instagram is an important channel for your team, Drift Kings Media -free Instagram template Can help you build a coherent network and maintain consistent brand visuals.
Twitter (x) image sizes
- Profile: 400 x 400 px
- Header: 1500 x 500 px
- Food post:
- Landscape: 1600 x 900 px
- Portrait: 1080 x 1350 px
- Link preview: 1200 x 630 PX
- Ads formats:
- Individual image: 1200 x 628 px
- Quadrat: 800 x 800 px
- Carousel: 800 x 418 PX
I was very lucky with landscapes on X, but recently I started testing more portrait plants. The mobile preview room has shifted and portrait images receive more screen properties if they are carried out correctly.
TIKTOK image sizes
- Profile: 200 x 200 px
- Feed, stories, carousel: 1080 x 1920 px
- Advertising options:
- Vertical (min): 540 x 960 px
- Carousel: 1200 x 628 px (landscape)
Most pictures are full screen here. That’s why I treat Tikkok like a vertical platform. Even the ads must match this format to avoid unpleasant black bars.
LinkedIn image sizes
- Profile: 400 x 400 px
- Cover pictures:
- Personally: 1584 x 396 px
- Company: 1128 x 191 PX
- Food post: 1200 x 627 px
- “Life” tab:
- Held: 1128 x 376 px
- Gallery: 900 x 600 px
- Carousel: 1080 x 1080 px
- Sponsored content: 1200 x 627 px
For LinkedIn, brand -poly affairs. I check everything-especially on company pages, because even a slight misalignment in a professional feed is noticeable.
In order to optimize LinkedIn for lead genes or brand structure deeper, I recommend lifting spots linkedIn publishing tips and Postflows after the creation.
Pinterest image sizes
- Profile: 165 x 165 px
- Cover: 800 x 450 px
- Standard pen: 1000 x 1500 px (2: 3 -page ratio)
- Carousel or advertisement: 1000 x 1000 or 1000 x 1500 px
- Story pins: 1080 x 1920 px
Pinterest is strongly leaning into vertical. When I stick to pens 2: 3, I avoid unpleasant automatic cutouts, especially in the mobile feed.
Pinterest can drive a surprising amount of recommendations if pictures are made correctly. This hub -spot overview of the best practices in the picture contributed to how I think about vertical graphics via platforms, not just on Pinterest.
YouTube image sizes
- Profile: 800 x 800 px
- Banner: 2560 x 1440 px
- Safe zone: middle content within 1546 x 423 px
- Thumbnails: 1280 x 720 px
- Podcast Thumbnail: 1280 x 1280 px
YouTube’s banner size can be difficult. What looks good on a desktop may be cut on a television or a mobile device. I test preamplies on all devices before I’m done.
Files image sizes
- Profile: 320 x 320 px
- Food post: 1440 x 1920 PX
- Link preview: 1200 x 600 px
- Carousel: Up to 20 pictures
Threads content is often crossed by Instagram, so I use the same image dimensions and safe zone rules. The portrait orientation is usually best displayed.
Snapchat image sizes
- Profile: 320 x 320 px
- Geofilter: 1080 x 1920 px
- Show: 1080 x 1920 px
- Banner: 375 x 278 px
With Snapchat everything is created for the phone screen. I just keep designs near the upper and lower edges.
Google Business Profile Image Sizes
- Logo: 720 x 720 px
- Profile: Between 250 and 750 x 750 px
- Cover: 1024 x 576 px
- Video: 1280 x 720 px (max. 30 seconds, 75 MB file size)
These graphics appear in card, search and business lists, so that I like the signs treated in the front door like the signage in the front door, high-resolution and brand-not.
Bluesky image sizes
- Profile: 400 x 400 px
- Banner: 1500 x 500 px
- Food picture: 1200 x 627 px
- Post Image: 1080 x 1080 or 627 x 1200 px
The platform enables a certain flexibility, but adhering to standard conditions (1: 1 or 4: 5) keeps things crispy in different screens.
Tumblr image sizes
- Profile: 128 x 128 px
- Banner: 3000 x 1055 px
- Post Image: 500 x 750 px
- Show: 1280 x 1920 px
Tumblr still prefers vertical pictures and contributions that are graphically forward. I saw stronger results when the graphic is illuminated on text and optimized for mobile scrolling. It is worth testing vertical formats here – Legacy platforms also have loyal communities.
Image sizes for paid social ads
Advertisements can differ slightly from organic posts, even if they appear similar in the feed. I learned to check image dimensions before I started a campaign. It helps to avoid rejections, scaling problems and blurry graphics that are eaten in performance.
I stop the following in creativity for paid social issues.
Facebook and Instagram (Meta)
Common ad formats:
- Feed: 1080 x 1080 PX (1: 1)
- Link ads: 1200 x 628 PX (1.91: 1)
- Stories and roles: 1080 x 1920 px (9:16)
- Carousel: 1080 x 1080 px (1: 1)
To note specifications:
- Max file size: 30 MB
- Accepted formats: JPG or PNG
- Safe zone for stories: Avoid the key content in the top 250 px and 340 px in the upper 250 pxes and lower 340 px.
- Facebook recommends that 14% upholstery at the top and 20% on the floor for stories/roles
Twitter (x)
Common ad formats:
- Individual image: 1200 x 628 PX (1.91: 1)
- Quadrat: 800 x 800 px (1: 1)
- Carousel: 800 x 418 PX (1.91: 1) or 800 x 800 px (1: 1)
To note specifications:
- Max file size: 5 MB (pictures) or 15 MB (gifs on the desktop)
- Accepted formats: JPG, PNG, GIF
- Recommended to avoid that text is placed too close to the edges – can vary the cropping with regard to mobile devices and web
Common ad formats:
- Sponsored content: 1200 x 627 px (1.91: 1)
- Carousel ads: 1080 x 1080 px (1: 1)
- Vertical ads (mobile): 720 x 900 px (4: 5)
To note specifications:
- Max file size: 5 MB
- Accepted formats: JPG, PNG, not animated GIF
- Minimum width: 200 px
- Linkedin crops pictures on mobile vs. desktop different, so center the most important visuals and copy
Tiktok
Common ad formats:
- Full screen in feed video: 1080 x 1920 px (9:16)
- Carousel: 1200 x 628 PX (landscape), 640 x 640 px (square)
To note specifications:
- Min image size: 540 x 960 px
- Max file size: 500 kb (pictures), 500 MB (video)
- Format: JPG, PNG for pictures
- Safe zones: Let yourself be ~ 150 px upholstery at the top and below to avoid UI -Ooverlays
Common ad formats:
- Standard pen: 1000 x 1500 PX (2: 3)
- Carousel: 1000 x 1000 px or 1000 x 1500 px
- Shopping indicator: The same specifications as standard pins
To note specifications:
- Max file size: 20 MB
- Accepted formats: JPG, PNG
- Avoid placing text near the upper 270 PX or 790 PX below. These areas are often cut into feed
- Abbey larger than 2: 3 can be run down into the algorithm
YouTube
Common ad formats:
- Preview: 1280 x 720 px (16: 9)
- Accompanying banner (only desktop): 300 x 60 px
- In-video-overlay: 480 x 70 px
To note specifications:
- Max file size: 2 MB (miniature views)
- Format: JPG, PNG, GIF
- YouTube recommends keeping thumbnails below 2 MB with minimal text
- Keep the topic centered – the cropping can vary depending on the screen size and device
Here is a brief guide from Drift Kings Media on the image requirements for social contributions.
Tools and templates for social media assets
I used everything from Photoshop to painting in a pinch, but over time I have created a start -up point tools that format the size, design and new. These are the tools that I come back to again and again, especially if I have to reorganize the size change or the format of the social media sizes quickly and consistently.
canvas
If I build something from scratch or need a quick size change, Canva is the first place where I go. Your templates are already optimized on the platform, and the drag & drop editor simply makes it easier to maintain brand consistency. I particularly like the opportunity to create custom folders for every customer or campaign.
- Built-in templates for feed posts, stories, ads, banners and more
- Size the size of the instrument to reform a design over platforms
- Free and Pro version available
Pixlr
If I have to clean up a picture or quickly excite something, I use Pixlr. It is a lightweight browser-based tool with just enough photo editing functions to do the work without feeling overwhelming.
- Good for quick changes, harvests or overlays
- Supports layer, transparency and filter
- To use free of charge, with advanced functions behind a paywall
Adobe Express
Adobe Express is great when I need more design flexibility without jumping in Photoshop. It is quick, web -based and has a growing collection of preceding templates for all important platforms.
- Ideal for brand campaigns or content that are required Polish
- Easy to use animations and video functions
- Supports JPG, PNG and transparent backgrounds
Adobe Express also makes it easy to format videos for different platforms, which is becoming more and more important because the social feeds approach short-term video videos. If you keep an eye on where the video leads this year, The Social Media Video -Trends report from HubSpot offers a helpful view of the execution and why.
Drift Kings Media Social Media templates
For a consistent branding over platforms, I rely on it HUBSPOT -free social media image templates. These are particularly useful when I bring in a new brand or revise a content calendar, and they saved me for hours if they have changed the change from social media -assets across channels.
- Contains processable templates for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest
- Size to meet the current platform requirements
- Compatible with Canva and other design tools
If you use the HubSpot marketing hub, you can also manage and publish directly via the Social inbox ToolWhat contributes to organizing content and image goods in one place.
Tips for better image optimization
The correct size of your pictures is a good start, but the complete optimization requires some additional steps. These are the tactics that I have now used as the standard in preparing social media.
- Mobile-First design: Most commitment appears on telephones. I always test what visually look like in mobile views and adapt the distance, font sizes and the placement accordingly.
Pro tip: I test every picture in preview mode over desktop and mobile before publication. It takes 30 seconds and it has more problems than I can count.
- Safe zones important: For stories, roles and ads, I leave space at the top and below -usually about 250 to 340 pixels -to ensure that buttons, logos or UI -Ooverlays do not cover up any important things.
- Use JPG for photos, PNG for logos: I stick to JPGs for photos because they are lighter and load faster. For logos, symbols or a design element with transparency, Pngs keep things sharp and clean.
- Stay consistent across platforms: Even if the specifications change, the brand elements do not. I use the same color palette, typography and layout structure to create the detection, regardless of where the image appears. I also pursue the same approach for website visuals and keep the image sizes consistently, so that everything loads cleanly and looks sharp over contact points. This article about Website image sizes are one that I often come back to.
- Check the ai-generated images manually: Tools such as Adobe Firefly or Canvas Ai helpers can accelerate production, but I always check the expenses carefully. You occasionally miss the fire guidelines or appear in a strange way. AI is ideal for designs, but Polish is still important.
And authenticity is what wins. Actually, 76% of the marketers Say that your relatable, easily produced content cut better than polished campaigns, which means that your graphics do not have to be chic, only correctly large and loyal to your brand.
Why image sizes are worth the effort
It took a few campaigns – and more than a few regret – before I understand how much image sizes the performance influences. After I started adapting visuals to the specifications of the individual platforms and aligning them with the right social media -asset sizes, I noticed sharper images, stronger commitment and far fewer problems with paid displays.
A campaign still comes to mind. We encouraged a product launch and created a single picture that can be used for each channel. It looked great on the desktop. But our CTA was tailored on the cell phone. After the exchange in a real portrait version, the click sticks rose by 27%overnight.
The fix was simple. The results were not something that we could have achieved with assumptions.
And we are not the only ones that change. Almost Two thirds of the marketers Now prioritize the quality from quantity, which means that every picture has to do its job. The correctness of the size is one of the simplest ways to ensure that this is the case.
It is a small step that makes a big difference. And as soon as you incorporate it into your process, it is hard to imagine that it returns.
Would you like to skip the assumption and size of your social media pictures for the first time? Download our free image template package How to create in minutes.
Faqs
Have questions? Here are some of the most common people I hear from teams who try to do their pictures right for the first time.
What size should social media images be?
Social media image sizes vary depending on the platform, but the most frequently used dimensions are 1080 x 1080 pixels for square contributions, 1080 x 1350 for portrait contributions and 1080 x 1920 for stories or vertical full screen content.
What is the best aspect ratio for social media?
The best side conditions are 1: 1 for square feed posts, 4: 5 for portrait pictures and 9:16 for stories, rollers and other vertical formats.
Should I use JPG or PNG for social contributions?
Use JPG for photos and full backgrounds because you are loaded faster. Use PNG for graphics, logos or images that require transparency or sharper.
What happens when I upload the wrong size?
If your picture has the wrong size, it can be curtailed, compressed or rejected by the platform. This can look unprofessional and negatively influence the performance. That’s why I always test image views before publication.
Note from the publisher: This post was originally published in March 2020 and updated for completeness.