Image requirements on social media platforms change often. With the number of platforms that social media managers need to work with, it can be tricky to keep up with these changes. Because you have enough to do already, I’ve created a guide to the ratios and dimensions you need for various channels so you can focus on what matters most – creating great content.
Instagram Image Sizes
Image Source: SmartQueue
Since Instagram is based on visuals, optimising image quality is vital. When this platform was first created, it supported square images, later introducing horizontal and vertical orientations, and video.
(i) Profile Photo
Photo Size: 320 x 320 pixels
Display Pixels: 110 x 100 pixels
Suggestions: High-quality profile photos make a great impression on viewers. Profile photos are displayed as circular, no matter the orientation of the image you upload, so make sure the important elements from your photo do not extend beyond the edge of the circular frame.
(ii) Feed Photos
- Thumbnails: 161 x 161 pixels
- Landscape: 1080 x 565 pixels
- Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels
- Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels
Suggestions: Here is the answer to the age-old question of why Instagram reduces image quality: “When you share a photo that has a width between 320 and 1,080 pixels, we keep that photo at its original resolution as long as the photo’s aspect ratio is between 1.91:1 and 4:5” (iii) Carousel
- Landscape (rarely used for carousels): 1080 x 566 pixels
- Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels
- Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels
Suggestions: Be mindful of the carousel’s flow – make sure everything feels connected by creating a smooth transition between slides.
(iv) Reels
- Video: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Cover: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Suggestions: Isn’t it frustrating when Instagram crops out your covers into ratios that do not fit well with your design? The reason this happens is that Instagram Reels are cropped to a 1:1 image in your profile feed and a 4:5 image in the home feed. Being mindful of this while designing can help you create reel covers that stand out.
(v) Ads
- Landscape: 1080 x 566 pixels
- Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels
- Minimum Width: 320 pixels
- Maximum Width: 1080 pixels
Suggestions: The images for ads have additional rules that are worth looking into. Before posting an ad, make sure that your images comply with those rules.
(vi) Stories – 1080 x 1920 pixels
Twitter Image Sizes
Image Source: Visme
Even though Twitter is a text-based platform and does not rely much on images, posting them with your tweets can greatly increase their impact. Requirements may change as Elon Musk takes over this platform so for now, focus on strategizing for the short-term.
(i) Profile Photos
Minimum Size: 200 x 200 pixels
Maximum Size: 2 MB
Suggestions: You can use images of up to 400 x 400 because, as mentioned before, better-quality images tend to create a greater impact on viewers.
(ii) Header Photos
Size: 1500 x 500 pixels (aspect ratio 3:1)
Maximum Size: 5 MB
Suggestions: Remember, the appearance of header graphics varies based on the monitor and browser used.
(iii) Instream Photos
Size: 1600 x 900 pixels, 1200 x 675 (aspect ratio 16:9)
(iv) Card Image
Size: 120 x 120 pixels
(v) Ads
Single and multi-image tweets: 600 x 335 pixels
Website card image: 800 x 418 pixels (1.91:1 aspect ratio), 800 x 800 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
App card image: 800 x 800 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio), 800 x 418 pixels (1.91:1 aspect ratio)
Carousels: 800 x 800 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio), 800 x 418 pixels (1.91:1 aspect ratio)
Direct Message card: 800 x 418 pixels (1.91:1 aspect ratio)
Conversation card: 800 x 418 pixels (1.91:1 aspect ratio)
3. Facebook Image Sizes
Image Source: Visme
Facebook has the widest variety of image types, especially when it comes to advertising. Just like with Instagram, Facebook’s policies change rather quickly and keeping up to date can be tricky. Other than staying alert to changes, future-proof your strategy by uploading the highest quality images wherever you can.
(i) Profile Photos
Minimum Size: 170 x 170 pixels
(ii) Cover Photos
Display size (desktop): 820 x 312 pixels
Display size (smartphone): 640 x 360 pixels
Minimum size: 400 x 150 pixels
Ideal file size: Less than 100 KB
(iii) Post and Timelines
Recommended size: 1200 x 630 pixels
Minimum size: 600 x 315 pixels
(iv) Event Cover Photos
Size – 1200 x 628 pixels
(v) Ads
- Link image: 1200 x 630 pixels
- Ad: 1200 x 628 pixels
- Story Ad: 1200 x 628 pixels
- Group cover image: 1640 x 856 pixels (or 1.91:1 ratio)
- Feed Ads: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1.91:1 or 1:1 aspect ratio)
- Right Colum Ads: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
- Instant Articles: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1.91:1 or 1:1 aspect ratio)
- Market Place Ads: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
- Search Ads: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1.91:1 or 1:1 aspect ratio)
- Sponsored Messages: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1.91:1 or 1:1 aspect ratio)
- Messenger Inbox Ads: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1.91:1 or 1:1 aspect ratio)
- Messenger Stories Ads: 1080 x 1080 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio)
4. LinkedIn Image Sizes
Image Source: Hootsuite
LinkedIn is the best channel for expressing your professional opinions. There are different requirements for different types of company logos, and, like Facebook, there are an array of ad image types. Make sure your LinkedIn images are of good quality by following the guidelines below.
(i) Profile Photos
Minimum Size: 400 x 400 pixels
(ii) Cover Photos
Recommended Size: 1584 x 396 pixels
(iii) Blog Post Link Images
Recommended size: 1200 x 627 pixels
(iv) Link in Update
Size: 1200 x 627 pixels
(v) Ads
- Logo image size: 300 x 300 pixels
- Page cover image size: 1128 x 191 pixels
- Life tab main image size: 1128 x 376 pixels
- Life tab custom modules image size: 502 x 282 pixels
- Life tab company photos image size: 900 x 600 pixels
- Square logo size: 60 x 60 pixels
(vi) Company Pages
- Company logo size for ads: 100 x 100 pixels
- Spotlight ads logo size: 100 x 100 pixels
- Spotlight ads custom background image: 300 x 250 pixels
- Sponsored content images: 1200 x 627 pixels (1.91:1 aspect ratio)
- Sponsored content carousel images: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
5. Pinterest Image Sizes
Low-quality images and Pinterest do not go hand in hand. After all, among the most popular uses of this platform is for artists to get inspiration. Now, how do you plan to inspire people with blurred images? Higher quality pictures are much more effective with this audience.
(i) Profile Photo
Recommended Size: 165 x 165 pixels
(ii) Profile Cover Photo
Minimum Size: 800 x 450 pixels
(iii) Square Pins
Recommended size: 1200 x 627 pixels
(iv) Story Pins
Size: 1200 x 627 pixels
(v) Fleets
Size: 1080 x 1920
(vi) Collection Pins
1000 x 1500 pixels or 1000 x 1000 pixels (1:1 or 2:3 Aspect Ratio)
(v) Ads
- App install ads: 1000 x 1500 pixels (2:3 Aspect Ratio)
- Carousel Pins and Ads: 1000 x 1500 pixels or 1000 x 1000 pixels (1:1 or 2:3 Aspect Ratio; limited to 5 images)
- Shopping ads: 1000 x 1500 pixels (2:3 Aspect Ratio)
(vi) Company Pages
- Company logo size for ads: 100 x 100 pixels
- Spotlight ads logo size: 100 x 100 pixels
- Spotlight ads custom background image: 300 x 250 pixels
- Sponsored content images: 1200 x 627 pixels (1.91:1 aspect ratio)
- Sponsored content carousel images: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
7. TikTok Image Sizes
TikTok is the go-to platform for Gen-Z. As always, use high-quality images to create a more profound impact on viewers. With videos, make sure file sizes are not too large, to ensure they can load quickly.
(i) Profile Photo
Minimum Size: 20 x 20 pixels
(ii) Videos
Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels (Maximum Size 287.6 MB)
Image Source: Hootsuite
8. Tumblr Image Sizes
Before Instagram and TikTok, Tumblr was the go-to platform for sharing content. You can present your content in a variety of ways, and – like with Pinterest – it’s very important to use high quality images if you want to stand out on this platform. This applies whether you’re posting memes or professional photos.
(i) Profile Photo
Minimum Size – 128 x 128 pixels
(ii) Audio Photo
Size – 169 x 169 pixels
(iii) Banner
Recommended Size – 3000 x 1055 pixels
(iv) Dashboard View Image
Minimum Size – 500 x 750 pixels
(v) Photo Set
- One image – 500 pixels wide
- Two images – 245 pixels wide
- Three images – 160 pixels wide
(vi) Shared Link
- Thumbnail Link – 130 x 130 pixels
- Image/Text Link – 125 pixels
Image Source: Visme
9. Snapchat Image Sizes
This platform is where the world was introduced to “stories” for the first time. It was extremely popular back in the 2010s, and it’s still going strong.
(i) Profile Photo
Minimum Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
(ii) GEO Filter
Size: 120 x 120 pixels
Image Source: Hootsuite
As marketers, we know that posting frequently on social media derives great results. With that said, our efforts are wasted if the quality of our content is not up to the mark. Quality content is not content that’s made just for the sake of it. It’s made with a purpose – to make an impact on your audience. Maintain the high value of your content by ensuring high-quality images accompany it.