Social Media Image Sizes 2026: The Complete Guide
Every social media image size for 2026 in one place. Covers Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, and Threads with pixel dimensions.
Social media platforms quietly update their image specifications every year, and using outdated dimensions means cropped logos, blurry banners, and lost engagement. According to Sprout Social, 2025, posts with correctly sized images receive up to 2.3x more engagement than those with improperly cropped visuals. This guide covers exact pixel dimensions, aspect ratios, file size limits, and format recommendations for every major platform in 2026.
Whether you’re building a content calendar or just updating a profile picture, bookmark this page. It’s the only reference you’ll need.
Key Takeaways
- Instagram feed images work best at 1080x1350 px (4:5 portrait) for maximum screen real estate.
- Facebook cover photos are 820x312 px on desktop but crop to 640x360 px on mobile. Design for both.
- YouTube thumbnails at 1280x720 px (16:9) directly affect click-through rates.
- Upload JPG or PNG under 1 MB for most platforms. WebP support is growing but not universal.
What Are the Correct Instagram Image Sizes in 2026?
Instagram supports five distinct image placements, each with different dimensions. The platform serves over 2 billion monthly active users (Statista, 2025), and its algorithm favors content that fills the screen without requiring cropping.
Feed posts
Portrait images at 1080x1350 px (4:5) take up the most screen space in the feed, which correlates with higher engagement. Square posts at 1080x1080 px (1:1) still work but occupy roughly 25% less vertical space. Landscape images at 1080x566 px (1.91:1) get the least attention because they shrink to fit.
Upload as JPG or PNG. Instagram compresses heavily above 1 MB, so keep files between 500 KB and 1 MB for the best balance of quality and speed.
Stories and Reels
Both use 1080x1920 px (9:16), filling the entire phone screen. Keep key text and logos within the center 1080x1420 px area to avoid overlap with the username bar at the top and the CTA buttons at the bottom.
Profile picture
Upload at 320x320 px minimum. Instagram displays it as a circle, so avoid placing critical content near the edges. The actual display size varies (110 px on desktop, 150 px on mobile), but uploading at 320 px ensures sharpness on high-density screens.
| Placement | Dimensions (px) | Aspect Ratio | Max File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed (portrait) | 1080 x 1350 | 4:5 | ~1 MB |
| Feed (square) | 1080 x 1080 | 1:1 | ~1 MB |
| Feed (landscape) | 1080 x 566 | 1.91:1 | ~1 MB |
| Stories / Reels | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 | ~4 GB (video) |
| Profile picture | 320 x 320 | 1:1 | N/A |
| Carousel | 1080 x 1080 or 1080 x 1350 | 1:1 or 4:5 | ~1 MB per slide |
Citation capsule: Instagram’s recommended feed image size is 1080x1350 px at a 4:5 aspect ratio. Portrait posts take up approximately 25% more vertical screen space than square posts, which correlates with higher engagement according to Sprout Social, 2025.
What Are the Correct Facebook Image Sizes in 2026?
Facebook remains the largest social network globally, with 3.07 billion monthly active users (Meta Investor Relations, Q4 2025). Its image specs are notoriously inconsistent between desktop and mobile views, so you need to design for both.
Feed posts
The recommended feed image size is 1200x630 px (1.91:1) for link shares. For standalone photo posts, 1080x1350 px (4:5) matches Instagram’s portrait format and performs well in the feed. Facebook downscales images wider than 2048 px.
Cover photo
Cover photos display at 820x312 px on desktop and 640x360 px on mobile. This means the top and bottom edges visible on mobile get cropped on desktop. Place essential content in the center 640x312 px overlap zone. Upload at 1640x624 px for retina clarity.
Stories
Facebook Stories use 1080x1920 px (9:16), identical to Instagram Stories. The same safe zone rules apply: keep critical content in the center 1080x1420 px area.
Event cover and group cover
Event covers display at 1200x628 px (1.91:1). Group covers display at 1640x856 px (1.91:1) on desktop, cropped tighter on mobile. Both follow the same principle: center your content.
| Placement | Dimensions (px) | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed (link share) | 1200 x 630 | 1.91:1 | Used for URL previews |
| Feed (photo post) | 1080 x 1350 | 4:5 | Maximum feed space |
| Cover photo | 820 x 312 (desktop) | ~2.63:1 | Upload at 1640 x 624 |
| Stories | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 | Same as Instagram |
| Profile picture | 176 x 176 (display) | 1:1 | Upload at 512 x 512 |
| Event cover | 1200 x 628 | 1.91:1 | Cropped on mobile |
| Group cover | 1640 x 856 | 1.91:1 | Cropped on mobile |
Citation capsule: Facebook cover photos display at 820x312 px on desktop and 640x360 px on mobile. Designers should place critical elements within the 640x312 px overlap zone to ensure visibility on both devices, per Meta’s Business Help Center, 2025.
What Are the Correct X (Twitter) Image Sizes in 2026?
X serves approximately 600 million monthly active users (Statista, 2025). The platform compresses images aggressively, and incorrectly sized images get awkward crops in the timeline.
In-stream posts
Single-image posts display best at 1600x900 px (16:9). The platform auto-crops images to fit a roughly 16:9 preview in the timeline. If you want to control what’s visible, upload at exactly that ratio.
For a taller image that expands on tap, use 1080x1350 px (4:5). X now supports expanded previews for portrait-oriented images without hard cropping.
Header banner
The header (cover) image is 1500x500 px (3:1). On mobile, the top and bottom 50-60 px may be covered by the profile picture and navigation. Keep text in the center band.
Profile picture
Upload at 400x400 px. Displayed as a circle at varying sizes (48 px in timeline, 200 px on profile page). Same rule as Instagram: keep content away from the edges.
| Placement | Dimensions (px) | Aspect Ratio | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single image post | 1600 x 900 | 16:9 | JPG or PNG (< 5 MB) |
| Multi-image (2 images) | 700 x 800 each | 7:8 | JPG or PNG |
| Header banner | 1500 x 500 | 3:1 | JPG or PNG (< 5 MB) |
| Profile picture | 400 x 400 | 1:1 | JPG or PNG (< 2 MB) |
Avoid compression artefacts on X
Upload JPG at quality 92-95 instead of PNG for screenshots and infographics. X’s compression pipeline handles JPG source files more gracefully and produces fewer banding artefacts in flat color areas.
compress images before uploading
What Are the Correct LinkedIn Image Sizes in 2026?
LinkedIn’s user base reached 1 billion members in 2024 (LinkedIn, 2025). The platform favors professional-looking images and has specific requirements for company pages, personal profiles, and articles.
Feed posts
LinkedIn feed images display best at 1200x627 px (1.91:1) for landscape or 1080x1350 px (4:5) for portrait. Portrait posts take up significantly more feed real estate on mobile, which is where roughly 57% of LinkedIn traffic originates (Hootsuite, 2025).
Profile and banner
Profile photos display at 400x400 px (circle crop). The background banner is 1584x396 px (4:1) on personal profiles and 1128x191 px (5.9:1) on company pages. These dimensions are oddly specific, and LinkedIn crops anything that doesn’t match.
Article cover images
Article (newsletter) cover images use 1200x644 px (1.86:1). This appears at the top of the article and in feed previews. A well-designed cover image can increase article click-through rate meaningfully.
| Placement | Dimensions (px) | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed (landscape) | 1200 x 627 | 1.91:1 | Standard link share |
| Feed (portrait) | 1080 x 1350 | 4:5 | Maximum feed space |
| Profile photo | 400 x 400 | 1:1 | Circle crop |
| Personal banner | 1584 x 396 | 4:1 | Tight vertical space |
| Company banner | 1128 x 191 | ~5.9:1 | Very wide, very short |
| Article cover | 1200 x 644 | 1.86:1 | Newsletter / article header |
Citation capsule: LinkedIn personal profile banners require 1584x396 px at a 4:1 aspect ratio, while company page banners use 1128x191 px. Roughly 57% of LinkedIn traffic comes from mobile devices, making portrait feed posts (1080x1350 px, 4:5) the most effective format for engagement (Hootsuite, 2025).
What Are the Correct TikTok Image Sizes in 2026?
TikTok reached 1.58 billion monthly active users in 2025 (Statista, 2025). While it’s primarily a video platform, profile images and photo carousel posts have specific dimension requirements.
Video cover and uploads
All TikTok videos should be 1080x1920 px (9:16). This is the full-screen vertical format. The platform accepts other ratios but adds black bars or crops to fit, which looks unprofessional.
Video cover images (thumbnails) also follow 1080x1920 px. You can select a frame from the video or upload a custom cover. Custom covers with clear text overlays tend to perform better in search results.
Profile picture
Upload at 200x200 px minimum. TikTok displays it as a circle. The recommended size is at least 400x400 px for crisp rendering on tablets and high-DPI phones.
Photo carousel posts
TikTok’s photo mode supports up to 35 images per post. Each image should be 1080x1920 px (9:16) for full-screen display. Square (1080x1080) images are also accepted but won’t fill the screen.
| Placement | Dimensions (px) | Aspect Ratio | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video upload | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 | MP4, MOV |
| Video cover / thumbnail | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 | JPG or PNG |
| Profile picture | 400 x 400 | 1:1 | JPG or PNG |
| Photo carousel | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 | JPG or PNG (up to 35) |
What Are the Correct YouTube Image Sizes in 2026?
YouTube thumbnails are arguably the most important images in social media marketing. According to YouTube Creator Academy, 2025, 90% of top-performing videos use a custom thumbnail. Getting the dimensions right is non-negotiable.
Thumbnails
The standard thumbnail size is 1280x720 px (16:9) with a minimum width of 640 px. Keep the file under 2 MB. JPG, PNG, and GIF (non-animated) are accepted. YouTube displays thumbnails at various sizes across devices, from 120x90 px in sidebar suggestions to 480x270 px in search results. Uploading at 1280x720 ensures clarity everywhere.
Channel banner
The channel banner (header) image should be 2560x1440 px. However, visible areas vary dramatically by device. The safe area for text and logos is the center 1546x423 px. Content outside this zone may be visible on TVs but cropped on phones. We’ve found that designing the channel banner at full 2560x1440 px, then testing visibility at 1546x423 px (the mobile safe area), catches most cropping issues before publishing. Use YouTube’s official template overlay for precise alignment.
Shorts thumbnails
YouTube Shorts thumbnails follow the same 9:16 vertical format at 1080x1920 px. Custom thumbnails for Shorts rolled out broadly in 2025, and they’re worth creating for every Short you publish.
| Placement | Dimensions (px) | Aspect Ratio | Max File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video thumbnail | 1280 x 720 | 16:9 | 2 MB |
| Channel banner | 2560 x 1440 | 16:9 | 6 MB |
| Banner safe area | 1546 x 423 (center) | ~3.66:1 | N/A |
| Profile picture | 800 x 800 | 1:1 | N/A |
| Shorts thumbnail | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 | 2 MB |
Citation capsule: YouTube’s recommended thumbnail size is 1280x720 px at 16:9 aspect ratio, with a 2 MB file size limit. According to YouTube Creator Academy, 90% of top-performing videos use custom thumbnails, making proper sizing critical for click-through rates.
compress thumbnails under 2 MB
What Are the Correct Pinterest Image Sizes in 2026?
Pinterest’s visual search engine drives over 450 million monthly active users (Pinterest Investor Relations, 2025). Tall, vertical images dominate the platform because of its card-based layout.
Standard pins
The ideal pin size is 1000x1500 px (2:3). Pins taller than 2:3 get truncated in the feed. Pinterest’s own guidelines explicitly recommend the 2:3 ratio for maximum visibility. Keep file sizes under 10 MB, though smaller is better for load speed.
Idea pins (multi-page)
Each page in an Idea Pin should be 1080x1920 px (9:16). You can mix images and short video clips across up to 20 pages. Consistent sizing across pages prevents jarring layout shifts as users swipe through.
Board cover and profile
Board cover thumbnails display at 222x150 px but should be uploaded at a higher resolution. Use 600x600 px minimum. Profile pictures display at 165x165 px, upload at 400x400 px.
| Placement | Dimensions (px) | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard pin | 1000 x 1500 | 2:3 | Ideal ratio for feed visibility |
| Idea pin page | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 | Up to 20 pages |
| Board cover | 600 x 600 | 1:1 | Cropped to 222 x 150 display |
| Profile picture | 400 x 400 | 1:1 | Displayed at 165 x 165 |
What Are the Correct Threads Image Sizes in 2026?
Threads, Meta’s text-first social platform, hit 200 million monthly active users in late 2025 (Meta, 2025). It shares much of Instagram’s media infrastructure, so image specs are familiar.
Feed images work best at 1080x1350 px (4:5) for portrait or 1080x1080 px (1:1) for square. The platform accepts landscape at 1080x566 px but crops it awkwardly in the feed. Profile pictures use the same image as your Instagram account, displayed as a circle at various sizes.
What’s the best format? JPG for photographs, PNG for graphics with text. Keep files under 1 MB. Threads applies compression similar to Instagram’s pipeline.
| Placement | Dimensions (px) | Aspect Ratio | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed (portrait) | 1080 x 1350 | 4:5 | JPG or PNG |
| Feed (square) | 1080 x 1080 | 1:1 | JPG or PNG |
| Feed (landscape) | 1080 x 566 | 1.91:1 | JPG or PNG |
| Profile picture | 320 x 320 | 1:1 | Synced from Instagram |
How Do All Social Media Image Sizes Compare?
Seeing every platform side by side makes patterns obvious. The table below covers the most common placements across all eight platforms. According to Buffer, 2025, mismatched dimensions are the number one cause of poor-quality social media visuals. We compiled official documentation from all eight platforms and cross-referenced with third-party testing in March 2026. Every dimension in this table reflects current platform behavior, not just documented specs.
| Platform | Feed Post | Stories/Vertical | Profile Pic | Banner/Cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080 x 1350 | 1080 x 1920 | 320 x 320 | N/A | |
| 1200 x 630 | 1080 x 1920 | 512 x 512 | 1640 x 624 | |
| X (Twitter) | 1600 x 900 | N/A | 400 x 400 | 1500 x 500 |
| 1200 x 627 | N/A | 400 x 400 | 1584 x 396 | |
| TikTok | 1080 x 1920 | 1080 x 1920 | 400 x 400 | N/A |
| YouTube | 1280 x 720 | 1080 x 1920 | 800 x 800 | 2560 x 1440 |
| 1000 x 1500 | 1080 x 1920 | 400 x 400 | N/A | |
| Threads | 1080 x 1350 | N/A | 320 x 320 | N/A |
Universal sizes that work across platforms
If you need one set of dimensions that works nearly everywhere, design at 1080x1350 px (4:5) for feed posts and 1080x1920 px (9:16) for vertical content. These two sizes cover the majority of placements across all major platforms.
What File Format and Size Should You Use?
Every platform has its own compression pipeline, but the rules of thumb are consistent. JPG works best for photographs because it compresses efficiently and all platforms handle it well. PNG is better for screenshots, infographics, and images with text because it preserves sharp edges.
WebP uploads are accepted by YouTube, Pinterest, and some Meta properties, but support isn’t universal. Don’t rely on it as your only format yet.
File size guidelines
Most platforms re-encode your image regardless of what you upload. The trick is giving the platform enough data to work with. Too small (under 100 KB) and the re-encoded version looks muddy. Too large (over 5 MB) and you’re wasting upload time for quality the platform will strip anyway.
The sweet spot for most feed images is 500 KB to 1.5 MB. Thumbnails and profile pictures can be smaller, 100-300 KB.
compress images to target file size
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I upload an image with the wrong dimensions?
The platform will either crop it, add black bars, or downscale it. Instagram crops to fit 4:5 or 1:1 if your ratio doesn’t match. Facebook crops cover photos differently on desktop and mobile. YouTube stretches or letterboxes off-ratio thumbnails. In every case, you lose control over which part of the image viewers see.
Does image resolution matter beyond the recommended dimensions?
Higher resolution than recommended provides no benefit. Instagram downscales anything over 1080 px wide. Facebook caps at 2048 px. YouTube thumbnails display at a maximum 1280 px. Uploading a 4000 px wide image only increases upload time. The platform discards the extra data.
Should I use PNG or JPG for social media images?
Use JPG for photographs and images with complex gradients. Use PNG for screenshots, infographics, logos, and anything with text overlays or sharp edges. JPG compresses photos 60-80% smaller than PNG with minimal visible quality loss (Cloudinary, 2025). PNG preserves every pixel, which matters when text sharpness is critical.
Are these dimensions the same for ads?
Not always. Facebook and Instagram ad placements have additional specifications. For example, Facebook feed ads use 1080x1080 px (1:1) or 1080x1350 px (4:5), while carousel ads require 1080x1080 px per card. Check each platform’s ad specs separately, as ad dimensions often differ from organic post dimensions.
How often do social media image sizes change?
Major dimension changes happen roughly once per year, usually alongside app redesigns or new feature launches. Minor adjustments, like safe zone shifts, happen more frequently. Platforms rarely announce changes to image processing pipelines. We update this guide as specifications change, so bookmark it for reference.