When shoppers first began asking me to deal with their social media, I figured the picture half can be straightforward. Create one clear graphic, add it throughout platforms, and the instruments would modify all the pieces routinely.
Boy, was I unsuitable.
Between cropped headers, stretched thumbnails, and textual content that disappeared on cellular, it didn’t take lengthy to comprehend that every platform performs by its personal guidelines — they usually change typically. I spent method an excessive amount of time backtracking, resizing, and apologizing for issues that appeared off as soon as they went reside.
Now, I maintain a operating checklist of up-to-date social media picture sizes and construct templates for the commonest social media asset sizes my shoppers want. It helps me transfer quicker, keep away from guesswork, and maintain all the pieces trying skilled from feed to advert to story.
This information pulls all of that collectively—present specs, sensible ideas, advert dimensions, and instruments I take advantage of to make the method smoother. I’ve labored with dozens of manufacturers on natural and paid social technique, and picture sizing is likely one of the first issues I coach groups to get proper.
Desk of Contents
Why You Ought to Care About Social Media Picture Sizes
I used to deal with picture sizing like an afterthought. If the content material had been sturdy, the picture would carry it, proper? However after managing dozens of campaigns and cleansing up various formatting points, I’ve realized it performs a a lot larger function in efficiency than I anticipated.
Right here’s what I take note of now.
Engagement is dependent upon visible high quality.
I’ve examined posts with the very same copy and design, however totally different picture sizes, and the distinction in click-through charge was not possible to disregard. One model appeared sharp and well-fitted; the opposite was awkwardly cropped and misplaced a bit of the message.
That drop in efficiency was laborious to disregard—and I’m not the one one who’s seen.
In accordance with HubSpot’s 2025 World Social Media Traits report, Instagram, Fb, and YouTube are the highest platforms for each engagement and lead high quality, and each certainly one of them is powered by visuals. In case your pictures are misaligned, off-brand, or low-res, you’re lacking alternatives earlier than your viewers even reads the caption.
Adverts get rejected or underperform.
One of many first paid campaigns I ran by way of Meta was rejected for one thing I didn’t catch: a picture that didn’t meet their minimal width requirement. No warning, no adjustment — simply silence. I didn’t even understand it hadn’t run till I checked the analytics a couple of days later.
LinkedIn may be simply as strict. I’ve seen picture adverts quietly throttle their attain as a result of the dimensions wasn’t fairly proper, or the facet ratio threw off the preview. In case you’ve ever watched a high-performing marketing campaign stall for no obvious cause, picture formatting is likely one of the first issues to test.
Your model appears inconsistent.
Cropped-off logos. Misaligned visuals. Graphics that look completely tremendous on desktop however disintegrate on cellular. I’ve been there and so have your prospects.
These inconsistencies add up. They make your model really feel disjointed, even when the message is true. After I began utilizing platform-specific dimensions, our visuals lastly felt constant on each display screen. No lacking margins. No off-brand templates. Simply clear, dependable content material that felt intentional throughout each channel.
And that issues, as a result of visuals are sometimes the primary impression your viewers will get.
Study extra about what grabs folks’s consideration on social media with our information on the simplest varieties of content material on social media.
Social Media Picture Sizes At-a-Look
Social Media Picture Sizes by Platform
I used to attempt to get away with a one-size-fits-all method. I’d design as soon as, resize for 2 or three channels, and name it a day. That by no means labored out the way in which I hoped.
Each platform handles visuals in a different way — some crop aggressively, some downscale uploads, and others prioritize fully totally different facet ratios. Now I work from an in depth spec sheet and construct all the pieces with these dimensions in thoughts.
Right here’s the breakdown I maintain bookmarked.
Fb Picture Sizes
- Profile: 320 x 320 px
- Cowl: 851 x 315 px
- Feed put up: 1080 x 1350 px
- Tales: 1080 x 1920 px
- Advert codecs:
- Feed: 1080 x 1080 px
- Hyperlink advert: 1200 x 628 px
- Story advert: 1440 x 2560 px
- Hyperlink preview: 1200 x 630 px
I’ve seen probably the most points right here with cowl images — what appears good on desktop can get oddly cropped on cellular. When unsure, middle your point of interest and maintain essential particulars away from the sides.
For extra tips about optimizing your Fb visuals, try our information to Fb advertising or discover HubSpot’s Fb advert finest practices.
Instagram Picture Sizes
- Profile: 320 x 320 px
- Sq. put up: 1080 x 1080 px
- Portrait: 1080 x 1350 px
- Panorama: 1080 x 566 px
- Tales and Reels: 1080 x 1920 px
- Grid thumbnail: 161 x 161 px
- Reels cowl: 420 x 654 px
- Advert codecs: identical dimensions as natural posts
For Instagram, I deal with the vertical format since many of the feed is optimized for visuals which are 4:5 or taller. Sq. nonetheless works, however portrait pictures are inclined to carry out higher by way of attain and engagement.
If Instagram is a serious channel in your group, HubSpot’s free Instagram template can assist you construct a cohesive grid and preserve constant model visuals.
Twitter (X) Picture Sizes
- Profile: 400 x 400 px
- Header: 1500 x 500 px
- Feed put up:
- Panorama: 1600 x 900 px
- Portrait: 1080 x 1350 px
- Hyperlink preview: 1200 x 630 px
- Advert codecs:
- Single picture: 1200 x 628 px
- Sq.: 800 x 800 px
- Carousel: 800 x 418 px
I’ve had good luck with landscapes on X, however I’ve just lately began testing extra portrait crops. The cellular preview house has shifted, and portrait pictures get extra display screen actual property when achieved accurately.
TikTok Picture Sizes
- Profile: 200 x 200 px
- Feed, Tales, Carousel: 1080 x 1920 px
- Advert choices:
- Vertical (min): 540 x 960 px
- Carousel: 1200 x 628 px (panorama)
Most visuals listed here are full display screen, so I deal with TikTok like a vertical-first platform. Even the adverts have to match that format to keep away from awkward black bars.
LinkedIn Picture Sizes
- Profile: 400 x 400 px
- Cowl pictures:
- Private: 1584 x 396 px
- Firm: 1128 x 191 px
- Feed put up: 1200 x 627 px
- Life tab:
- Hero: 1128 x 376 px
- Gallery: 900 x 600 px
- Carousel: 1080 x 1080 px
- Sponsored content material: 1200 x 627 px
For LinkedIn, model polish issues. I double-check all the pieces — particularly on firm pages — as a result of even slight misalignment stands out in knowledgeable feed.
To go deeper on optimizing LinkedIn for lead gen or model constructing, I like to recommend HubSpot’s LinkedIn publishing ideas and put up creation workflows.
Pinterest Picture Sizes
- Profile: 165 x 165 px
- Cowl: 800 x 450 px
- Customary pin: 1000 x 1500 px (2:3 facet ratio)
- Carousel or advert: 1000 x 1000 or 1000 x 1500 px
- Story pins: 1080 x 1920 px
Pinterest leans closely into vertical. If I stick with 2:3 for pins, I keep away from any awkward auto-cropping, particularly within the cellular feed.
Pinterest can drive a stunning quantity of referral site visitors if pictures are achieved proper. This HubSpot overview on picture finest practices helped form how I take into consideration vertical visuals throughout platforms, not simply on Pinterest.
YouTube Picture Sizes
- Profile: 800 x 800 px
- Banner: 2560 x 1440 px
- Protected zone: middle content material inside 1546 x 423 px
- Thumbnail: 1280 x 720 px
- Podcast thumbnail: 1280 x 1280 px
YouTube’s banner dimension may be difficult. What appears good on a desktop may get cropped on a TV or cellular machine. I check previews on all units earlier than finalizing.
Threads Picture Sizes
- Profile: 320 x 320 px
- Feed put up: 1440 x 1920 px
- Hyperlink preview: 1200 x 600 px
- Carousel: as much as 20 pictures
Threads content material is usually cross-posted from Instagram, so I take advantage of the identical picture dimensions and secure zone guidelines. Portrait orientation tends to show finest.
Snapchat Picture Sizes
- Profile: 320 x 320 px
- Geofilter: 1080 x 1920 px
- Adverts: 1080 x 1920 px
- Banner: 375 x 278 px
With Snapchat, all the pieces is constructed for the telephone display screen. I maintain designs easy, vertical, and clutter-free close to the highest and backside edges.
Google Enterprise Profile Picture Sizes
- Brand: 720 x 720 px
- Profile: between 250 and 750 x 750 px
- Cowl: 1024 x 576 px
- Video: 1280 x 720 px (max 30 seconds, 75 MB file dimension)
These visuals seem throughout Maps, Search, and enterprise listings, so I deal with them like front-door signage — clear, high-resolution, and brand-aligned.
Bluesky Picture Sizes
- Profile: 400 x 400 px
- Banner: 1500 x 500 px
- Feed picture: 1200 x 627 px
- Publish picture: 1080 x 1080 or 627 x 1200 px
The platform permits some flexibility, however sticking with normal facet ratios (1:1 or 4:5) retains issues crisp throughout totally different screens.
Tumblr Picture Sizes
- Profile: 128 x 128 px
- Banner: 3000 x 1055 px
- Publish picture: 500 x 750 px
- Adverts: 1280 x 1920 px
Tumblr nonetheless favors vertical imagery and posts which are graphic-forward. I’ve seen stronger outcomes when visuals are saved gentle on textual content and optimized for cellular scrolling. It’s value testing vertical codecs right here—even legacy platforms have loyal communities.
Picture Sizes for Paid Social Adverts
Advert specs may be barely totally different from natural posts, even once they seem related within the feed. I’ve realized to double-check picture dimensions earlier than launching any marketing campaign. It helps keep away from rejections, scaling points, and blurry visuals that eat into efficiency.
Right here’s what I maintain readily available when constructing inventive for paid social.
Fb and Instagram (Meta)
Frequent advert codecs:
- Feed: 1080 x 1080 px (1:1)
- Hyperlink adverts: 1200 x 628 px (1.91:1)
- Tales and Reels: 1080 x 1920 px (9:16)
- Carousel: 1080 x 1080 px (1:1)
Specs to bear in mind:
- Max file dimension: 30 MB
- Accepted codecs: JPG or PNG
- Protected zone for tales: Keep away from putting key content material within the high 250 px and backside 340 px
- Fb recommends leaving 14% padding on high and 20% on the underside for Tales/Reels
Twitter (X)
Frequent advert codecs:
- Single picture: 1200 x 628 px (1.91:1)
- Sq.: 800 x 800 px (1:1)
- Carousel: 800 x 418 px (1.91:1) or 800 x 800 px (1:1)
Specs to bear in mind:
- Max file dimension: 5 MB (pictures) or 15 MB (GIFs on desktop)
- Accepted codecs: JPG, PNG, GIF
- Really useful to keep away from putting textual content too near the sides—cropping can differ throughout cellular and internet
Frequent advert codecs:
- Sponsored content material: 1200 x 627 px (1.91:1)
- Carousel adverts: 1080 x 1080 px (1:1)
- Vertical adverts (cellular): 720 x 900 px (4:5)
Specs to bear in mind:
- Max file dimension: 5 MB
- Accepted codecs: JPG, PNG, non-animated GIF
- Minimal width: 200 px
- LinkedIn crops pictures in a different way on cellular vs. desktop, so middle key visuals and duplicate
TikTok
Frequent advert codecs:
- Full-screen in-feed video: 1080 x 1920 px (9:16)
- Carousel: 1200 x 628 px (panorama), 640 x 640 px (sq.)
Specs to bear in mind:
- Min picture dimension: 540 x 960 px
- Max file dimension: 500 KB (pictures), 500 MB (video)
- Format: JPG, PNG for pictures
- Protected zones: Go away ~150 px padding on the high and backside to keep away from UI overlays
Frequent advert codecs:
- Customary Pin: 1000 x 1500 px (2:3)
- Carousel: 1000 x 1000 px or 1000 x 1500 px
- Buying advert: Similar specs as normal pins
Specs to bear in mind:
- Max file dimension: 20 MB
- Accepted codecs: JPG, PNG
- Keep away from putting textual content close to the highest 270 px or backside 790 px—these areas typically get cropped in-feed
- Pins taller than 2:3 could also be downranked within the algorithm
YouTube
Frequent advert codecs:
- Thumbnail: 1280 x 720 px (16:9)
- Companion banner (desktop-only): 300 x 60 px
- In-video overlay: 480 x 70 px
Specs to bear in mind:
- Max file dimension: 2 MB (thumbnails)
- Format: JPG, PNG, GIF
- YouTube recommends conserving thumbnails beneath 2 MB with minimal textual content
- Maintain topic centered—cropping can differ by display screen dimension and machine
Right here’s a fast information from HubSpot on picture necessities for social posts.
Instruments and Templates for Social Media Property
I’ve used all the pieces from Photoshop to Paint in a pinch, however over time, I’ve constructed a go-to stack of instruments that simplify sizing, designing, and reformatting social media graphics. These are the instruments I return to many times, particularly after I have to resize or reformat social media asset sizes shortly and constantly.
Canva
If I’m constructing one thing from scratch or want a fast resize, Canva is the primary place I am going. Their templates are already optimized by platform, and the drag-and-drop editor makes it straightforward to take care of model consistency. I particularly like the power to create customized folders for every consumer or marketing campaign.
- Constructed-in templates for feed posts, tales, adverts, banners, and extra
- Resize device for reformatting one design throughout platforms
- Free and Professional variations obtainable
Pixlr
Once I want to scrub up a picture or crop one thing shortly, I take advantage of Pixlr. It’s a light-weight browser-based device with simply sufficient photograph modifying options to get the job achieved, with out feeling overwhelming.
- Good for quick edits, crops, or overlays
- Helps layering, transparency, and filters
- Free to make use of, with superior options behind a paywall
Adobe Specific
Adobe Specific is nice after I want extra design flexibility with out leaping into Photoshop. It’s quick, web-based, and comes with a rising assortment of pre-sized templates for all main platforms.
- Very best for branded campaigns or content material that wants polish
- Straightforward-to-use animation and video options
- Helps JPG, PNG, and clear backgrounds
Adobe Specific additionally makes it straightforward to format movies for various platforms, which is changing into extra essential as social feeds lean extra closely into short-form video. In case you’re keeping track of the place video is headed this 12 months, HubSpot’s Social Media Video Traits report gives a useful take a look at what’s performing and why.
Hubspot Social Media Templates
For constant branding throughout platforms, I depend on HubSpot’s free social media picture templates. These are particularly helpful after I’m onboarding a brand new model or transforming a content material calendar, they usually’ve saved me hours when resizing social media belongings throughout channels.
- Contains editable templates for Fb, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Pinterest
- Sized to match present platform necessities
- Appropriate with Canva and different design instruments
In case you‘re utilizing HubSpot’s Advertising Hub, it’s also possible to handle and publish instantly by way of the Social Inbox device, which helps maintain content material and picture belongings organized in a single place.
Suggestions for Higher Picture Optimization
Sizing your pictures accurately is a good begin, however absolutely optimizing them requires a couple of additional steps. These are the ways I now use as a default when prepping social media visuals.
- Cell-first design: Most engagement occurs on telephones. I all the time check how visuals look in cellular previews and modify spacing, font sizes, and placement accordingly.
Professional tip: I check each picture in preview mode throughout desktop and cellular earlier than publishing. It takes 30 seconds, and it’s caught extra points than I can rely.
- Protected zones matter: For tales, reels, and adverts, I go away room on the high and backside — often round 250 to 340 pixels — to make sure that buttons, logos, or UI overlays don’t cowl up something essential.
- Use JPG for images, PNG for logos: I stick with JPGs for images as a result of they’re lighter and cargo quicker. For logos, icons, or any design factor with transparency, PNGs maintain issues sharp and clear.
- Keep constant throughout platforms: Even when the specs change, the model parts don’t. I take advantage of the identical colour palette, typography, and structure construction to construct recognition, no matter the place the picture seems. I observe the identical method for web site visuals, too, conserving picture sizes constant so all the pieces hundreds cleanly and appears sharp throughout touchpoints. This text on web site picture sizes is one I come again to typically.
- Evaluate AI-generated pictures manually: Instruments like Adobe Firefly or Canva’s AI helpers can velocity up manufacturing, however I all the time evaluate outputs rigorously. They often miss model pointers or crop issues in bizarre methods. AI is nice for drafts, however polish nonetheless issues.
And authenticity is what wins. The truth is, 76% of entrepreneurs say their most relatable, calmly produced content material performs higher than polished campaigns, which implies your visuals don’t must be fancy, simply accurately sized and true to your model.
Why Picture Sizing Is Definitely worth the Effort
It took a couple of campaigns — and various resizing regrets — earlier than I understood simply how a lot picture sizing impacts efficiency. As soon as I began tailoring visuals to every platform’s specs and aligning them with right social media asset sizes, I seen sharper pictures, stronger engagement, and much fewer points with paid adverts.
One marketing campaign nonetheless involves thoughts. We had been selling a product launch and created a single picture to make use of throughout each channel. On the desktop, it appeared nice. However on cellular, our CTA was cropped. After swapping in a correctly sized portrait model, click-throughs jumped 27% in a single day.
The repair was straightforward. The outcomes weren’t one thing we may have achieved with guesswork.
And we’re not the one ones shifting focus. Almost two-thirds of entrepreneurs now prioritize high quality over amount, which implies that each picture must do its job. Getting the dimensions proper is likely one of the best methods to make sure it does.
It’s a small step that makes an enormous distinction. And as soon as you’re employed it into your course of, it’s laborious to think about going again.
Wish to skip the guesswork and dimension your social media pictures proper the primary time? Obtain our free picture template pack to create platform-ready belongings in minutes.
FAQs
Have questions? Listed here are a couple of of the commonest ones I hear from groups attempting to get their pictures proper the primary time.
What dimension ought to social media pictures be?
Social media picture sizes differ by platform, however probably the most generally used dimensions are 1080 x 1080 pixels for sq. posts, 1080 x 1350 for portrait posts, and 1080 x 1920 for tales or full-screen vertical content material.
What’s one of the best facet ratio for social media?
The most effective facet ratios are 1:1 for sq. feed posts, 4:5 for portrait pictures, and 9:16 for tales, reels, and different vertical codecs.
Ought to I take advantage of JPG or PNG for social posts?
Use JPG for images and full-image backgrounds as a result of they load quicker. Use PNG for graphics, logos, or pictures that want transparency or sharper strains.
What occurs if I add the unsuitable dimension?
In case your picture is the unsuitable dimension, it could be cropped, compressed, or rejected by the platform. This may make your put up look unprofessional and negatively impression efficiency. That’s why I all the time check picture previews earlier than publishing.
Editor’s observe: This put up was initially printed in March 2020 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.