In a world where social media is king, visuals matter more than ever. With each scroll and click, it is your images that capture attention, convey your message, and make your brand stand out. But there is a catch – to get it right, you must know the right social media image sizes to prevent your images from being cropped awkwardly or appearing pixelated.
This is the ultimate cheat sheet for social media image sizes for 2024 that will help your brand maintain its online presence with grace.
Guide to Facebook Image Sizes
Facebook’s ever-changing design and image dimensions can be quite a challenge to keep up with. To ensure your brand’s social media image sizes remain future-proof, a pro tip is to consistently upload the highest-quality images possible.
1. Business Page Profile Picture
Your business page profile photo will display at 176 x 176 pixels on the desktop and 196 x 196 pixels when viewed on a smartphone.
2. Cover Photo
Your cover photo is a hidden gem, only revealed when users click on your business profile so it is important to make sure it stands out to leave a good impression. It serves as your canvas to showcase your brand’s identity and niche, effectively communicating who you are and what you specialise in.
Here are some Facebook cover photo guidelines to keep in mind:
- Left-aligned with a seamless, edge-to-edge appearance, following a sleek 16:9 aspect ratio.
- The image display size is 851 by 315 pixels on the desktop, and you can expect that anything less will become stretched.
- The image display of the cover photo on smartphones would be 640 x 360 pixels.
- Employ the sRGB JPG format, with dimensions set precisely at 851 pixels in width and 315 pixels in height, all while keeping the file size under 100 kilobytes.
- PNG is the best format for a cover photo with a logo and text.
3. Post and Timeline Photos
A shared image is the most common type of sharing on Facebook. Not only can anyone see your post, but they can also re-share your post on their Facebook feed and other platforms.
The image guidelines for Facebook’s social media post size are as follows:
- A resolution of 1,200 x 628 pixels is recommended.
- A square photo in the news feed must be minimally 492 x 492 pixels.
- A portrait image in the news feed must be minimally 492 x 738 pixels.
Remember that when you share an image on Facebook, the resolution will be compressed down to the smallest possible size. As a result, you should raise image resolution to the same scale as the minimum requirement for an optimised image quality.
4. Event Cover Photo
Meanwhile, if you have an upcoming event, you may publicise it by submitting an image of the event. The cover photo should help you grab your consumers’ attention and nudge them to join.
The image for the cover photo should be 1920 x 1005 pixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
5. Fundraiser Image
If you want to launch fundraising for a worthwhile cause, Facebook is ideal. Your fundraising campaign would reach a massive number of individuals as the number of users grows. Make sure the image for the fundraising is 1200 x 628 pixels.
6. Panorama Or 360 Photos
Consider using panorama or 360 photos to promote your products or services on Facebook to make your marketing campaign more engaging. Customers can tap on your image to interact with the Panorama or 360 photos by holding their smartphones and turning themselves from left to right, and vice versa.
According to Facebook, the overall size of the pixels should be between 30,000 and 135,000,000 pixels. That would be a 2:1 ratio.
7. Stories
Facebook Stories is a feature that allows users and businesses to share photos and short videos that disappear after 24 hours. These posts are displayed at the top of the user’s News Feed, offering a prominent placement to grab the attention of your followers.
The ideal Facebook stories should have a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and an aspect ratio of 9:16 to 1.91:1.
8. Ads
Compared to organic Facebook marketing campaign posts, the formats for Facebook ads can be more complex. Here is what you need to know about social media image sizes on Facebook before publishing any ads.
Guide to Instagram Image Sizes
With Instagram’s focus on images and aesthetics, every pixel counts. The right image sizes ensure that your photos and videos fit neatly into the grid, creating a seamless and attractive profile.
1. Profile Picture
Instagram profile photos are displayed at 110 x 100 pixels, but the image files are stored at 320 x 320 pixels. Even though the dimensions are in a square format, take note that Instagram profile photos are displayed as a circle.
2. Photo Thumbnails
Thumbnails are often the first thing users see, and they play a pivotal role in deciding whether someone will stop to explore your content. A compelling thumbnail can make all the difference.
The recommended size for Instagram photo thumbnails is 161 x 161 pixels.
3. Feed Photo
If thumbnails are scaled-down versions of your social media marketing campaign, the feed photo is its actual image size.
Back in 2015, did you know that Instagram users were only allowed to upload the traditional square? Now, they have more options to choose from for feed photos: square, landscape, and portrait.
The supported aspect ratios for feed photos are anywhere between 1.91:1 and 4:5.
4. Carousels
It is a type of post that enables a user to display up to ten images or videos at once, which means you can include more visuals in your social media marketing campaign.
View this post on Instagram
The recommended sizes align with those mentioned for the feed photos above.
5. IG Stories
Ensure that your Instagram stories are at least 600 by 1067 pixels in size or within the recommended resolution of 1080 by 1920 pixels. In aspect ratio of 9:16.
6. IGTV
Many have jumped on the bandwagon and utilised IGTV, known as YouTube for Instagram, for their marketing efforts. If you want to use IGTV to promote your products or services, your video should have a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels. It has a 9:16 aspect ratio, and 420 by 654 pixels is the ideal size for its cover photo.
7. Reels
To ensure your Reels are perfectly sized for Instagram, make sure they have dimensions of 1080 pixels in width and 1920 pixels in height, maintaining a 9:16 aspect ratio.
8. Ads
Navigating the social media image sizes for Instagram advertisements can be a bit more complex compared to organic Instagram marketing posts. To simplify things, we have curated a comprehensive list of Instagram ad sizes:
Guide to YouTube Image Sizes
YouTube is a powerhouse of visual content, hosting an array of videos that cater to diverse interests and audiences worldwide. While videos take the spotlight, the importance of social media image sizes on YouTube should not be underestimated. These images serve as the visual identity of your channel, and their proper sizing is vital for creating a captivating and professional online presence.
1. Channel Profile Picture
Whether JPG, GIF, PNG, or BMP, the suggested size is 800 x 800 pixels, with a maximum file size of 2MB. That would be a 1:1 aspect ratio.
Once you have successfully uploaded your YouTube channel’s profile photo, keep in mind that YouTube will automatically resize it to 98 by 98 pixels for display.
2. Channel Cover Photo
You can increase the likelihood of your potential viewers staying on your YouTube channel for longer if you make the cover photo more appealing. This image requires a size of 2560 x 1440 pixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a maximum file size of 6MB to do this.
Make sure the cover photo is inside the safe area dimension of 1546 by 423 pixels to ensure that everyone can see it at a glance regardless of the device they are using.
3. Video Uploads
Videos should be 1920 x 1080 pixels (recommended HD standard of 1080) when you upload them. For faster upload and loading times, videos should be within the minimum dimension of 1280 x 720 pixels (minimum HD standard of 720).
In both of these two sizes, the aspect ratio of the video upload is 16:9, while the safe visible area for text and logos is 1235 x 338 pixels.
4. Video Thumbnail Image
If your thumbnail image can catch attention, users are more likely to click on your video to watch it. It is one of the most effective YouTube social media marketing strategies.
Beyond displaying your creativity, your custom video thumbnail image should adhere to the 1280 x 720 pixels size, 16:9 aspect ratio, and a maximum file size of 2 MB.
5. YouTube Shorts
In addition to its video length of 60 seconds, YouTube Short also has the same recommended size and aspect ratio as Instagram Reels: 1920 x 1080 pixels and 9:16 ratio aspect, which is in the vertical format targeted to mobile users.
6. Ads
YouTube advertising is a dynamic and effective way to reach a vast audience and promote your brand or content. While the quality of your ad’s message is essential, equally important is paying attention to YouTube ad sizes.
-
Standard Display Ads
They frequently appear in the upper right corner of a YouTube video, whether static or animated.
The size is 300 x 250 pixels and has a 16:9 aspect ratio with a maximum file size of 150 KB.
-
Overlay Ads
Meanwhile, overlay ads are the static or animated images that appear while watching a YouTube video.
It has a dimension of 480 x 70 pixels, an aspect ratio of 16:9 and a maximum file size of 150 KB.
-
Skippable Video Ads
When choosing skippable video ads, keep in mind that their dimensions are 1920 x 1080 pixels, with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and a maximum file size of 256 GB.
-
Non-Skippable Video Ad
Users cannot skip over this ad, as the name implies. Before viewers can see the YouTube video, they must watch the ad until the end.
The suggested size, ratio, and maximum file size are the same as those for skippable video advertisements.
Guide to LinkedIn Image Sizes
LinkedIn, the professional networking platform, is all about making connections, building your brand, and showcasing your expertise. Your profile picture, cover photo, and shared images play a pivotal role in how you are perceived and recognised on LinkedIn.
1. Profile Photo
For your LinkedIn profile picture, the optimal dimensions are 400 x 400 pixels. Keep in mind that the maximum file size allowed is 8 MB.
2. Page Cover Photo
The page cover photo, also known as the background image, should have a maximum size of 1584 x 396 pixels. You can upload cover images with a file size of up to 8 MB. Accepted file formats for the cover image include JPG, GIF, and PNG.
Take note that your company’s profile picture will overlap with the cover photo on the bottom left. So it is crucial to avoid putting text or details in that area.
3. Shared Link Post
The suggested size for a LinkedIn post should be 1200 x 627 pixels.
4. Post Image
A LinkedIn picture post size is similar to a shared link post in certain ways. Depending on the format of your image, there are different sizes that you should follow.
If you want to use a portrait format for your LinkedIn posts, the ideal size is 1080 x 1350 pixels with a 4:5 aspect ratio. A landscape format of a LinkedIn post image should be 1200 x 627 pixels with a 1.91:1 aspect ratio, whereas a square format of a LinkedIn post image should be 1200 × 1200 pixels with a 1:1 aspect ratio.
5. Ads
When it comes to LinkedIn ads, selecting the right image sizes is a fundamental aspect of creating an effective and visually appealing ad campaign.
-
Sponsored Content
This sponsored content has a dimension of 1200 x 627 pixels, and its width can be reduced to 400 pixels. In aspect ratio, keep it at 1.91:1, while the file size should not be more than 5 MB.
-
Message Ads
Stick to a dimension of 300 x 250 pixels with an aspect ratio of 1.2:1, and it must not be a bigger file size than 40 KB. You must also ensure that the message text is no longer than 1,500 characters, and that the subject line is at least 60 characters long.
-
Carousel Image Ads
LinkedIn carousel image ads let you display numerous images in a single, carousel-style ad. You can engage a larger portion of your target market with aesthetically appealing photos.
The suggested image size is 1080 x 1080 pixels, with a 1:1 aspect ratio with a maximum file size of 10 MB.
-
Event Ads
Online event ads should be 1200 by 300 pixels in size, with a 4:1 aspect ratio.
Guide to TikTok Image Sizes
TikTok, the short-form video platform, has taken the world by storm with its engaging and dynamic content. Properly sized content plays a significant role in enhancing your profile, engagement, and overall presence on the platform.
1. Profile Photo
Stick to a TikTok profile photo size of 200 x 200 pixels for the best results.
2. TikTok Video Size
For optimal TikTok videos, the recommended size is 1080 x 1920 pixels with a 9:16 aspect ratio and a maximum video length of 10 minutes.
3. TikTok Carousel Image Size
TikTok carousels work just like Instagram carousels. Use images sized at 1080 x 1920 pixels, ideally with a 9:16 or 1:1 aspect ratio for optimal results.
4. Ads
TikTok supports both image and video ad formats, and can range from In-Feed Ads to TopView Ads. Take note of the right social media image and video sizes for TikTok to maximise your ad campaigns.
For optimal TikTok videos, choose an aspect ratio of 9:16, 1:1, or 16:9 and a minimum resolution of 540 x 960 pixels, 640 x 640 pixels, or 960 x 540 pixels. Keep video length between 5 to 60 seconds, and ensure the video file size does not exceed 500MB. TikTok recommends 9 to 15 seconds for the best results.
Size Matters: The Key to Social Media Success
By adhering to the recommended sizes and aspect ratios, you not only enhance the visual appeal of your content but also ensure a seamless user experience. In a digital landscape where first impressions matter, these size guidelines are the key to making a lasting impact and engaging your audience effectively.
OOm is a digital marketing agency in Singapore with a team of professionals well-versed in the realm of image sizes and social media marketing.
