Social Media Image Sizes 2026 – Complete Guide
The correct image size for each social media platform changes often. This guide covers the recommended dimensions for posts, stories, covers, thumbnails, and profile photos across all major platforms — updated for 2026.
Need to verify the aspect ratio of your image? Use the Aspect Ratio Calculator to check or convert any dimensions instantly.
Instagram Image Sizes
Instagram supports multiple formats depending on where the content appears. Using the correct dimensions prevents unwanted cropping in the feed or Stories viewer.
| Format | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square Post | 1080 × 1080 px | 1:1 | Classic feed format, safe for all crop previews |
| Portrait Post | 1080 × 1350 px | 4:5 | Recommended — takes up most vertical space in the feed |
| Landscape Post | 1080 × 566 px | 1.91:1 | Wide images; gets cropped to 4:5 in feed thumbnails |
| Story / Reel | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | Full screen vertical; keep key content in center 1080×1420 safe zone |
| Profile Photo | 320 × 320 px | 1:1 | Displayed as circle; upload at least 320×320 for sharpness |
YouTube Image Sizes
YouTube thumbnails are one of the most critical assets for click-through rate. The channel banner must look good across devices from TV screens to mobile.
| Format | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video Thumbnail | 1280 × 720 px | 16:9 | Minimum 640×360; 1280×720 recommended for sharpness |
| Channel Banner | 2560 × 1440 px | 16:9 | Safe zone for all devices: center 1546×423 px area |
| Shorts | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | Full screen vertical video, same as Instagram Reels |
| Profile Photo | 800 × 800 px | 1:1 | Displayed as circle across YouTube and Google |
TikTok Image & Video Sizes
TikTok is a vertical-first platform. All content is designed for full-screen portrait viewing on mobile devices.
| Format | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | Standard vertical video; avoid placing text near edges |
| Horizontal Video | 1920 × 1080 px | 16:9 | Supported but less common; letterboxed on mobile |
| Profile Photo | 200 × 200 px | 1:1 | Displayed as circle |
Facebook Image Sizes
Facebook is used across both desktop and mobile, so image dimensions vary by placement. Feed posts render differently from shared link previews and cover photos.
| Format | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed Post Image | 1200 × 630 px | 1.91:1 | Recommended for shared links and standard posts |
| Square Post | 1080 × 1080 px | 1:1 | Works well in feed without cropping |
| Cover Photo (Page) | 820 × 312 px | ~2.63:1 | Displayed at 820×312 on desktop, 640×360 on mobile |
| Story | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | Full screen vertical; same spec as Instagram Stories |
| Profile Photo | 170 × 170 px | 1:1 | Upload larger (at least 320×320) for best quality |
X (Twitter) Image Sizes
X crops images in the timeline to a 2:1 ratio preview. Upload the full image at the recommended size and X will crop to show a preview — users can click to see the full image.
| Format | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post Image | 1200 × 675 px | 16:9 | Recommended; previewed at 2:1 crop in timeline |
| Header / Banner | 1500 × 500 px | 3:1 | Cropped on mobile; keep key content centered |
| Profile Photo | 400 × 400 px | 1:1 | Displayed as circle |
LinkedIn Image Sizes
LinkedIn is primarily a professional network viewed on desktop. High-quality images with clean compositions perform best, especially for company page banners and post images.
| Format | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post / Shared Image | 1200 × 627 px | 1.91:1 | Recommended for feed posts and shared links |
| Personal Cover Photo | 1584 × 396 px | 4:1 | Visible on your personal profile page |
| Company Page Banner | 1128 × 191 px | ~5.9:1 | Very wide; use a simple, centered design |
| Profile Photo | 400 × 400 px | 1:1 | Displayed as circle; can upload up to 8 MB |
Pinterest Image Sizes
Pinterest is a vertical-first platform. Tall pins take up more space in the feed and tend to get more engagement. The 2:3 ratio is the platform's standard recommendation.
| Format | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Pin | 1000 × 1500 px | 2:3 | Recommended ratio; performs best in feed |
| Square Pin | 1000 × 1000 px | 1:1 | Works well; takes up less vertical space than 2:3 |
| Long Pin | 1000 × 2100 px | 1:2.1 | Max ratio before cropping; anything taller gets cut to 1:2.1 |
| Profile Photo | 165 × 165 px | 1:1 | Upload at least 165×165; displayed as circle |
Quick Reference by Aspect Ratio
Most social media image sizes are based on a small set of aspect ratios. Here's a summary of which ratio maps to which formats:
| Aspect Ratio | Used For |
|---|---|
| 9:16 | Instagram Stories/Reels, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Facebook Stories |
| 16:9 | YouTube thumbnails & banners, X posts, TikTok horizontal video |
| 1:1 | Instagram square posts, Facebook square posts, profile photos on all platforms |
| 4:5 | Instagram portrait posts (recommended feed format) |
| 1.91:1 | Instagram landscape posts, Facebook/LinkedIn shared link images |
| 2:3 | Pinterest standard pins |
Use the Aspect Ratio Calculator to calculate the exact pixel dimensions for any of these ratios at your target resolution.
Tips for Social Media Images
- Always export at the recommended size or larger. Platforms will scale images down if needed, but scaling up causes blurring.
- Use PNG for graphics and text-heavy images. Use JPEG for photographs. Both are accepted by all major platforms.
- Keep key content in the safe zone. Platforms like YouTube and Facebook crop banners differently on desktop vs. mobile. Center your most important elements.
- Portrait formats perform better on mobile. Vertical images (4:5 or 9:16) take up more screen space in mobile feeds, leading to higher engagement.
- Check file size limits. Most platforms accept images up to 8–30 MB, but keeping files under 5 MB helps avoid quality reduction from re-compression.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best image size for Instagram in 2026?
For Instagram feed posts, the recommended size is 1080 × 1350 px (4:5 portrait ratio). This format takes up the most vertical space in the feed, which tends to increase visibility and engagement. For Stories and Reels, use 1080 × 1920 px (9:16).
What size should a YouTube thumbnail be?
The recommended YouTube thumbnail size is 1280 × 720 px with a 16:9 aspect ratio. This matches the standard HD video format and looks sharp across all devices and screen sizes.
What aspect ratio is used for Instagram Stories and TikTok?
Both Instagram Stories/Reels and TikTok use the 9:16 aspect ratio, which is vertical full-screen. The recommended resolution is 1080 × 1920 px.
Do social media image sizes change often?
Platforms occasionally adjust their recommended dimensions or safe zones, but the core aspect ratios (9:16, 16:9, 1:1, 4:5) have remained consistent for several years. It's a good idea to verify with the platform's official help center before major campaigns.
What is the 9:16 aspect ratio in pixels?
The most common 9:16 resolution used on social media is 1080 × 1920 px. Other valid 9:16 resolutions include 720 × 1280 and 540 × 960. You can calculate any 9:16 dimension using the Aspect Ratio Calculator.