In recent years, it has become very apparent how important it is to have a presence on the social media platforms. Visual content plays an important role in this. Whether you take your own pictures, use stock photos, or create your own designs in Canva: with striking images, you can reach your target audience, radiate the desired expertise, and you stand out professionally. Because all online platforms use and sometimes change their own formats, you will find the current formats and image sizes for each platform and each type of image in this blog.
Everything at a glance
Are you getting confused with all the different formats and image sizes when making images for social media? I can relate. Each platform has different types of images, each of which is different in size.
Did you know that images that are the wrong or inappropriate size or are often distorted or even cut off? That will look unprofessional, and you should avoid it. To help you out, I have made a list of the most important resolutions per post for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter. This way, you can be sure that your pictures are displayed properly and that you will have a professional image.
1. FACEBOOK
Despite all the commotion around Facebook, it is still the most popular social media network in the world. Facebook is a great channel to reach your target group and to involve them in your content. On Facebook, you should always make sure you have relevant and valuable posts to share with your fans.
Facebook is also becoming more visual. Make sure that everything you post on Facebook looks professional. Check the image size you use to make sure the aspect ratio is right and that your image will be displayed properly on every device.
PERSONAL FACEBOOK PROFILE
Facebook profile picture: 360 x 360 pixels
Your profile picture is displayed on all your activities on social media. Note that this applies to all online platforms! On your personal Facebook profile, this is the main image that represents your business or personal profile. The profile picture is the round image that sits above your cover picture. It is also the image that appears when you post or comment on someone else’s post. For this, you simply upload a squared picture, and it automatically turns it into a circle.
Facebook business page profile picture: 360 x 360 pixels
There are some similarities between the profile picture on your personal profile and your business profile. Since Facebook’s last update, certain features display your business profile picture more prominently. The image gets cropped to fit in a square.
Therefore, always check how it is displayed on different devices after you have posted the picture.
Facebook cover picture: 820 x 312 pixels
A cover picture only appears only on your profile page. On most social media networks, this image appears at the top of your profile and usually stretches across the entire width of the image.
A Facebook cover picture appears only in your specific timeline and gets placed behind your profile picture. While your profile picture can be a picture of yourself or your brand logo, the cover picture allows you to get creative. Create something nice and interesting as a cover picture. Think of a picture of your product or a promotion of your service, or choose something else that stands for you and your company.
You should change your cover picture regularly. This way, you can highlight a particular promotion, put a new product in the spotlight or display something else that suits you and your services.
When you have changed your cover picture, an update gets sent to your followers and fans. It is a great way to bring certain things to their attention. You can create the cover picture in Canva, for example.
A few more helpful tips for the cover picture on Facebook:
Your cover picture will display at 820 x 312 pixels on a desktop and 340 x 360 pixels on mobile devices.
The minimum social media size for cover pictures is 400 x 150 pixels.
If your cover picture contains a photo or text, it is smart to upload it as a PNG file.
Note: All images smaller than 820 x 312 pixels get stretched automatically.
Facebook post images: 1200 x 360 pixels
If you want to add an image to a Facebook post, an image size of 1200 x 630 pixels is recommended. Your image will have the optimal format in the news feed with a maximum width of 470 pixels and will be scaled to a maximum aspect ratio of 1:1.
The shared image will appear on your Facebook page with a maximum width of 504 pixels and will be scaled to a maximum aspect ratio of 1:1.
Facebook event images: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Do you use the events feature on Facebook? You can do some fun things with that. By adding a nicely fitting and appealing image to your event, you can make it even more interesting for your target audience. Choose an image size of 1920 x 1090 pixels. Make sure your image really interests your target audience.
Facebook will automatically reduce the image to the minimum social media size of 470 x 174 pixels. Your image will then also appear in the feed with the size of 470 x 174 pixels.
2. INSTAGRAM
Instagram is a platform where you as an entrepreneur can work efficiently and effectively on your visibility. This platform also allows you to connect easily with your target audience.
This popular app also offers many interesting and free features that allow you to work on your visibility in many different ways. The platform has many different formats. I have made a list of the most important ones that should help you get started!
Instagram profile picture: 110 x 110 pixels
As a platform that focuses predominantly on visual content, everything on Instagram starts with using a perfectly fitting profile picture. It will ensure that your audience finds and recognizes you quickly and easily.
For your profile picture, choose a size of 110 x 110 pixels. This is also how it appears on your profile picture. The image appears on the platform in a round format, but you should upload a square image with an aspect ratio of 1:1.
Instagram posts: 1080 x 1080 pixels
Once someone clicks on a preview of your picture or video, the image gets enlarged. Make sure you upload your image in the highest resolution possible. This applies to all types of images. It sometimes happens that Instagram lowers the resolution of the image slightly when the image has not been created directly through the app itself.
The size you can keep is 1080 x 1080 pixels. Instagram itself reduces it to 612 x 612 pixels. Your image will appear in the feed in a size of 510 x 510 pixels.
Instagram Stories: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Instagram Stories is a widely popular way to share your visual content on social media. With Instagram Stories, you have both image and video options that you can use to create a Story.
Features of a Story are:
- 1 part of a story lasts 10 seconds.
- Multiple parts in a row form a Story.
- A story remains visible for 24 hours and then disappears.
A story is temporary. Your followers can see your Story for 24 hours, and then the Story disappears. It is also possible to save your Story under the “Highlights” option on your Instagram profile.
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3. PINTEREST
Pinterest profile picture: 165 x 165 pixels
Pinterest is a visual online pinboard where you can collect images. Collecting images (= pins) is called ‘pinning.’ A business Pinterest account has advantages that you as an entrepreneur should definitely use. If you sell physical products, Pinterest is the online platform you need to be on.
When you set up your Pinterest account through a Facebook, Twitter, or email account, the platform automatically uses the profile picture of that particular account for your Pinterest page.
If you would like to add a new profile picture yourself, you have to upload a square picture with a size of 165 x 165 pixels. Your picture will also appear on your Pinterest page in that size. You can upload your profile picture in a JPG or PNG format, and the maximum file size is 10 MB.
Pinterest pin: 1000 x 1500 pixels.
For your pins on Pinterest, the recommended image size is 1000 x 1500 pixels. The image size for Story Pins is 1080 x 1920 pixels. Choose an aspect ratio of 2:3 to 1:3.5.
Know that Pinterest limits the width of the pinned image but not the length. That will be scaled automatically. It is very useful when you want to share infographics, for example. Those are very popular on Pinterest.
Pinterest pinboard: 222 x 150 pixels
One of the most interesting features of Pinterest is creating pinboards to organize your pins and also drive traffic to your website.
When creating pinboards, make sure you use images that are the right size. It is important that the image you choose does not only look appealing but is also relevant to the pinboard you are posting it on.
As for the sizes, the image size for large thumbnails on Pinterest is 222 x 150 pixels, and for smaller thumbnails, it is 55 x 55 pixels.
4. LINKEDIN
LinkedIn is not only a platform for finding staff or a job or assignment; it is also a great place to profile your company and work on your brand awareness and visibility.
Don’t have a (company) page on LinkedIn yet? That’s a missed opportunity! LinkedIn is a great showcase for your company, and it offers many opportunities.
LINKEDIN PERSONAL PROFILE
LinkedIn personal profile picture: 400 x 400 pixels.
The profile picture is the round image that is visible on your personal LinkedIn profile. It is one of the first images someone sees when they click on your profile. Make sure it is a professional picture.
A size between 400 x 400 and 20,000 x 20,000 pixels is recommended for the profile picture. The image should have a maximum size of 10 MG. In addition, it should be a JPG, GIF, or PNG format.
LinkedIn personal cover picture: 1584 x 396 pixels
Similar to the cover picture on Facebook that appears behind your profile picture, this personal background or cover picture on LinkedIn also appears behind your personal profile picture.
A size of 1584 x 396 pixels is recommended for this cover picture. Make sure the file is no larger than 4 MB and that it is a JPG, PNG, or GIF format.
LINKEDIN BUSINESS PROFILE
LinkedIn business profile picture: 300 x 300 pixels
The image appears next to your company or brand name on your business profile. This image also appears in the ‘Companies you might want to follow’ section. The more appealing and professional this image is, the more likely you appeal to your target audience and attract their attention.
LinkdedIn uses a square format. The recommended size is 300 x 300 pixels. The maximum file size is 4 MB, and it must be a PNG, JPG, or GIF file.
LinkedIn Business cover picture: 1128 x 191 pixels
The business cover picture takes up the entire top of the page. This cover picture is larger than the one on your personal profile, so you have even more space to present your business.
The recommended size for this is 1128 x 191 pixels. Make sure the image is no larger than 4 MB. You can only use PNG, JPG, or GIF files. The image gets displayed at 1400 x 425 pixels.
Image or link shared on LinkedIn: 1200 x 627 pixels
This format is suitable for LinkedIn posts in which you share an image or share a link to an article or blog with an image. The recommended size is 1200 x 627 pixels.
The image or link will appear as 552 x 289 pixels. Again, you can only use PNG, JPG, or GIF files.
5. YOUTUBE
The video and streaming platform YouTube is also very popular. This platform allows you to upload your own videos and watch and comment on other videos.
YouTube is of great use if you want to use a lot of videos for your marketing. Uploading the videos is easy. Another big advantage is that users do not have to register. Furthermore, YouTube also gets used as an alternative search engine. This contributes greatly to your visibility and findability.
YouTube cover image: 2560 x 1440 pixels
The recommended size for this is 2560 x 1440 pixels. The minimum requirement for this is 2048 x 1152 pixels.
Please note that because YouTube content gets viewed on many different devices, the aspect ratios and sizes may vary. So, make sure your image is optimized for each streaming device. Try it out yourself to make sure everything is visible.
YouTube video upload: 1280 x 720
Your YouTube channel is not complete until you start uploading your own videos. This is one of the most important steps in building your online presence on this platform.
If you want to go for good image quality, a minimum size of 1280 x 720 pixels is necessary. The aspect ratio of all YouTube videos is 16:9.
YouTube profile image: 800 x 800 pixels
Your profile image has a size of 800 x 800 pixels. You can upload a file in a JPG, GIF, BMP, or PNG format.
YouTube thumbnails: 1280 x 720 pixels
The ideal size for YouTube thumbnails is 1280 pixels wide and 720 pixels high. While this seems a bit large for a YouTube thumbnail, the size helps maintain flexibility when embedding the video on external websites.
6. TWITTER
Twitter is the last platform that will be included in this blog. Twitter is a micro-blogging platform for sharing news and messages. The emphasis is on short because the tweets have a maximum of 280 characters per tweet. Photos and videos are usually only used in a supporting role. If you do include them it is important to use the appropriate image sizes.
Twitter profile picture: 400 x 400 pixels
Your Twitter profile picture is the main image that represents you or your brand on this platform. It is displayed at 200 x 200 pixels in a round format, but 400 x 400 pixels as a square image.
The maximum file size for this image is 2 MB, and the image types are limited to PNG, JPG, or GIF.
Twitter header image: 1500 x 500 pixels
Your Twitter header image is the picture that appears at the top of your Twitter profile page and behind your profile picture. Because this header image is slightly larger than your profile picture, it’s smart to save it in the highest resolution possible.
The recommended image size for your Twitter header is 1500 x 500 pixels. The maximum file size is 5 MB. Twitter files are limited to PNG, JPG, or GIF.
Twitter in-stream image: 1024 x 512 pixels
You can insert an image into all your tweets without affecting the available tweet character count. Your uploaded images will appear in the streams of your followers. Also, when they retweet your content, this image will appear.
The recommended size for this is 1024 x 512 pixels. The minimum size for this image is 440 x 220 pixels. You can also use existing Instagram images for this purpose. Twitter will automatically resize those images.
This was an overview of the most important formats and image sizes. Good luck with creating professional profiles and great posts.
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