Social Media Image Sizes in 2026: Guide for 9 Major Networks

If you want your images to look great in the feed — not awkwardly cropped or stretched — getting your sizing right from the start makes a real difference.

But figuring out image sizes for each social network is tricky, especially considering how many different image options each platform offers.

Which is where this guide comes in. Keep this handy, and you won’t have to store all those fiddly numbers in your brain — or Google “what’s the best image size for [insert platform here]” with every post.

In this article, you’ll find the ideal social media image sizes for nine popular platforms, focusing on the images you share with your updates, cover photos, and profile pictures.

Quick summary: universal image standards

• Square posts: 1080 x 1080 pixels is the standard for Facebook, Instagram, and X.
• Vertical content: Use 1080 x 1920 pixels for stories, reels, and TikTok.
• Profile pictures: Aim for at least 400 x 400 pixels to ensure clarity across all devices.
• Link previews: 1200 x 630 pixels works best for most platforms (Facebook, X, LinkedIn).
• Aspect ratios: Stick to 1:1 (square), 9:16 (vertical), and 16:9 (horizontal) for maximum compatibility.

Social media image size basics

There are two terms you’ll see frequently in this post — aspect ratio and pixels.

Aspect ratio (width: height): The proportional relationship between width and height.

• 1:1: Square (e.g., Instagram feed)
• 9:16: Vertical (e.g., TikTok, Stories)
• 16:9: Horizontal (e.g., YouTube, X headers)

Pixels (width x height): The unit of measurement for resolution. Higher pixel counts (e.g., 1080 x 1350) result in sharper, more detailed images. A good rule of thumb is that the higher the number, the higher the level of detail — a square image with 1080 x 1080 pixels will be clearer than one that is 200 x 200 pixels.

One important trend to keep in mind: vertical, mobile-first aspect ratios like 4:5 and 9:16 now tend to outperform square images on most networks. Most platforms are designed for scrolling on a phone, so vertical images naturally take up more screen space and grab more attention. You'll notice these ratios come up again and again throughout this guide.

JPG or PNG files are the most common file types for uploading images on different social media platforms. Some platforms also support animated GIF files, and a growing number now accept WEBP files as well.

Here's a quick look at the recommended image sizes for each social media platform.

Facebook image sizes

• Profile photo: 320 x 320 pixels
• Cover photo: 
  • Profiles and Pages: 851 x 315 pixels (2.7:1 aspect ratio)
  • Groups: 1640 x 856 pixels (1.92:1 aspect ratio)
  • Events: 1920 x 1005 pixels (1.91:1 aspect ratio)
• Post images: 
  • Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels
  • Vertical: 1080 x 1350 pixels
  • Horizontal: 1200 x 630 pixels
• Facebook Stories: 1080 x 1920 pixels
• Link image: 1200 x 630 pixels

Facebook profile picture size 

Facebook recommends a profile picture size of at least 320 x 320 pixels for the best quality. Your image can be larger, but it shouldn’t be smaller than this, or it’ll appear pixelated.

Keep in mind that your Facebook profile picture will be cropped into a circle, so don’t keep any important information near the corners.

Facebook cover photo size

The ideal size for a cover photo for Facebook profiles and pages is 851 x 315 pixels. According to Facebook, your profile cover photo should be at least 720 pixels wide.

Your cover photo will look slightly different on mobile — Facebook shows your cover photo at 640 pixels wide by 360 pixels tall.

Your Facebook profile picture overlaps the bottom left of the cover photo for profiles and pages, so try not to include any important information there, as it’ll get obscured.

Facebook cover photos for profiles and pages have different dimensions and aspect ratios from those for groups and events. For groups, the recommended cover image size is 1640 x 856 pixels. For events, the recommended cover image size is 1920 x 1005 pixels.

There’s no profile photo overlapping the cover images for groups and events.

Facebook post image size

The recommended size for Facebook image posts is 1080 x 1350 pixels for vertical images, 1080 x 1080 pixels for square images, and 1200 x 630 pixels for horizontal or landscape images.

Facebook Stories image size

Because Facebook Stories take up the entire mobile screen, the recommended Facebook Story image size is 1080 x 1920 pixels. Your profile photo, page or profile name, play/pause button, mute/unmute button, and settings menu icon will appear at the top of your stories, so be sure to leave space for those when designing your images.

Facebook image size when shared with a link

Now this one is a little more technical — but don't worry, you don't need to be a developer to get it right. When you share a link to Facebook, people will see an accompanying image in the link preview. Facebook pulls this image from the Open Graph tags on your website — specifically the og:image tag, which tells Facebook which image to use.

You can add this tag manually to the section of your website, but if that sounds like a lot, a plugin like Yoast SEO for WordPress handles all of it for you.

Instagram image sizes

• Profile photo: 320 x 320 pixels
• Post images: 
  • Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
  • Vertical: 1080 x 1350 pixels (4:5 aspect ratio) or 1080 x 1440 pixels (3:4 aspect ratio)
  • Horizontal: 1080 x 566 pixels (1.91:1 aspect ratio)
• Instagram Stories: 1080 x 1920 pixels
• Reels thumbnails: 1080 x 1920 pixels

Instagram profile picture size

Instagram profile images are displayed at 110 x 110 pixels, but the app stores the image files at 320 x 320 pixels, so we recommend uploading an image with these dimensions or larger. Similar to Facebook, your profile picture will be cropped into a circle.

Instagram post image size

The recommended image aspect ratio for Instagram feed posts is between 1.91:1 for horizontal images and 4:5 or 3:4 for vertical images.

With these aspect ratios in mind, square photos (1:1) should be 1080 x 1080 pixels in size, horizontal (1.91:1) should be 1080 x 566 pixels, and vertical (4:5) should be 1080 x 1350 pixels (4:5) or 1080 x 1440 pixels (3:4).

The Instagram profile grid — how all your posted images appear in your profile — used to display square thumbnails automatically from images and reels. As of January 2025, Instagram rolled out a “tall grid” with a 3:4 aspect ratio.

What does that mean in practice? Even if you share a square or horizontal photo, it'll be displayed with a vertical crop on your grid. Since most people are sharing vertical images and videos anyway, this shift makes a lot of sense — but it's worth keeping in mind if you carefully curate how your grid looks. Vertical images at 1080 x 1350 or 1080 x 1440 pixels tend to be the safest choice now.

Instagram Stories image size

Since Instagram Stories take up the full phone screen, the ideal image size is 1080 x 1920 pixels (aspect ratio of 9:16).

When designing your Instagram Stories, remember to keep 310 pixels each from the top and bottom of the image free of text and logos, because that's where your profile photo, name, and Instagram buttons will be.

Instagram Reels thumbnail size

When you upload a reel, you can choose a frame from the reel or add a custom thumbnail to display in your grid.

We recommend adding a thumbnail that’s 1080 x 1920 pixels. Make sure you keep 480 pixels each from the top and bottom free of any text and logos so it displays well in the new 3:4 grid.

X/Twitter image sizes

• Profile picture: 400 x 400 pixels
• Cover photo: 1500 x 500 pixels
• Post image: 
  • Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels
• Vertical: 1080 x 1350 pixels
• Horizontal: 1600 x 900 pixels
• Link image: 1200 x 630 pixels

X/Twitter profile photo size

The recommended profile image size for X/Twitter is 400 x 400 pixels, and the maximum file size is 2MB. Profile photos for people and most brand or business accounts will be cropped into a circle. For Verified Organizations that have the gold check mark, profile photos will display as square images.

X/Twitter cover photo size

X/Twitter recommends that your header photo size be 1500 x 500 pixels — much wider than it is tall, especially when compared to most cover images. Stick to an image wide enough to fill the space otherwise X/Twitter will stretch it, and that blurriness is hard to miss.

X/Twitter post image size

The ideal X/Twitter image sizes are 1080 x 1080 pixels for square images, 1080 x 1350 pixels for vertical images, and 1600 x 900 pixels for horizontal images. The minimum required width is 600 pixels, but larger images will look better when your followers click to expand the image.

Images with 2:1 and 3:4 aspect ratios will display in full within a timeline — no cropping required.

You can also add up to four photos, videos, and GIFs in a single tweet, and they don't need to have the same dimensions. Feel free to mix horizontal and vertical images in the same tweet. The display will automatically stack to show all images in the timeline, and people can click on any image to see it at full size.

X/Twitter image size when shared with a link

For images that preview when you share a link (also known as website image cards), the ideal card image size is 1200 x 631 pixels.

The card shows a photo, headline, and link when you share a URL from a site that contains the appropriate X/Twitter Cards code. All this information is pulled via HTML tags, often the same ones that are used by Facebook to display links. 

You can use the Yoast SEO WordPress plugin to add images to X/Twitter cards. If you run a Squarespace Commerce website, it’s automatically optimized for X/Twitter cards.

LinkedIn image sizes

• Profile photo: 400 x 400 pixels
• Cover photo: 
  • Profiles: 1584 x 396 pixels 
  • Company Pages: 1128 x 191 pixels
• Post images: 
  • Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels
  • Vertical: 1080 x 1350 pixels
  • Horizontal: 1080 x 360 pixels
• Link image: 1200 x 627 pixels

LinkedIn profile photo size

The recommended image size for LinkedIn profile photos is 400 x 400 pixels, which will be cropped into a circle on personal profiles. LinkedIn profile images — for your brand’s or business’s logo — on LinkedIn Company Pages are square.

The maximum file size for LinkedIn profile photos on personal profiles is 8MB. For company pages, the maximum file size for logos is 3MB.

LinkedIn personal profile cover photo size

LinkedIn profile header photos are displayed at a 4:1 aspect ratio. LinkedIn recommends using photos with dimensions of 1584 x 396 pixels. The maximum file size for LinkedIn cover photos on personal profiles is 8MB.

LinkedIn Company Page cover photo size

While LinkedIn recommends dimensions of 1128 x 191 pixels for company page cover photos, the profile photo or logo covers a small section on the left, so it might be best to keep the important aspects of your photo to the middle of the image if possible. The maximum file size for LinkedIn cover photos on company pages is 3MB.

LinkedIn post image size

Images shared with LinkedIn posts can have an aspect ratio between 3:1 and 4:5. LinkedIn recommends a minimum width of 1080 pixels, meaning horizontal images should be at least 1080 x 360 pixels, square images should be 1080 x 1080 pixels, and vertical images should be at least 1080 x 1350 pixels.

LinkedIn automatically crops and centers photos that go beyond the recommended aspect ratios, but LinkedIn is more vague about how that cropping happens. We've found that as long as your text is centered, many different image sizes will display well in the LinkedIn feed.

LinkedIn image size when shared with a link

If you're sharing a link that has an image preview, the recommended image size is 1200 x 627 pixels.

Threads image sizes

• Profile photo: 320 x 320 pixels
• Post images: Any size and combination of images
• Link image: 1200 x 600 pixels

Threads profile photo size

Threads profile photos are the same as Instagram at 320 x 320 pixels. You can sync your Threads profile photo with your Instagram profile photo so you don't have to upload a new image.

Threads post image size

So far, Threads hasn't published strict guidelines for photo resolutions or aspect ratios. Even when sharing multiple images of different sizes, the preview doesn’t crop any of the images, and keeps the original dimensions. You can share up to 20 photos, videos, or a combination in a single thread.

Threads has a unique feature on its mobile apps that lets people “pinch” two adjacent photos together to join them. You can slice panoramas into multiple images and upload them in a single thread. When the separate images are pinched together, they’ll join to look like one panoramic image.

Threads image size when shared with a link

Threads hasn’t specified an image size for photos that preview with links shared on posts. We recommend using an image with at least 1200 pixels width, which is the same minimum width that Facebook, X/Twitter, and LinkedIn use.

Images that preview along with links shared on Threads use a 2:1 aspect ratio, which would make the image size 1200 x 600 pixels.

Pinterest image sizes

• Profile photo: 165 x 165 pixels
• Cover photo: 800 x 450 pixels 
• Post or pins images: 1000 x 1500 pixels

Pinterest profile photo size

The recommended Pinterest profile photo size is 165 x 165 pixels. Like the other social media platforms we’ve seen so far, the profile image will be cropped into a circle when displayed on your Pinterest profile.

Pinterest cover photo size

Pinterest requires your cover photo to have a minimum size of 800 x 450 pixels. They recommend that you use a horizontal image with a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Pinterest pin image size

Pinterest is unique in that it heavily favors long, vertical images and recommends 1000 x 1500 pixels, which is a 2:3 aspect ratio.

Staying within the 2:3 aspect ratio is key. Pinterest told Buffer that the Pinterest algorithm will limit distribution for both low-resolution images and images longer than 1500 pixels.

YouTube image sizes

• Profile photo: 800 x 800 pixels
• Cover photo: 2560 x 1440 pixels 
• Video thumbnail: 1280 x 720 pixels

YouTube profile photo size

It's recommended to use an image that is 800 x 800 pixels for your YouTube profile image. The display size for your profile photo is 98 x 98 pixels, and it will be cropped into a circle on your YouTube channel. The maximum file size for YouTube profile pictures is 15MB.

YouTube banner image size

The minimum size for YouTube banner images — what other social media platforms call cover photos — is 2048 x 1152 pixels. 

YouTube videos can be viewed on a desktop, mobile, and even TV, and YouTube recommends uploading an image that is 2560 x 1440 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio) so that it looks good on larger screens.

YouTube banner images will be displayed differently on different devices, and the sides of the image may be cropped depending on where you’re viewing the channel. 

When designing your banner image, keep a safe area of 1546 x 423 pixels towards the center of the image to place text and logos.

The maximum file size for YouTube banner images is 6MB.

YouTube video thumbnail size

YouTube thumbnails should be 1280 x 720 pixels, but keep in mind there is a 2MB maximum file size limit, and you want the thumbnail to be high-quality so it grabs people's attention.

For YouTube podcasts, the maximum file size for thumbnails is 10MB.

TikTok image sizes

• Profile photo: 200 x 200 pixels
• Post images: 1080 x 1920 pixels (though a 4:5 ratio will work)
• TikTok Stories: 1080 x 1920 pixels

TikTok profile photo size

The minimum image size for TikTok profile photos is tiny — 20 x 20 pixels. We recommend using an image that’s at least 200 x 200 pixels so that it looks sharp on larger screens.

TikTok post image size

TikTok is mostly a video platform, but photo posts are becoming increasingly popular — especially carousels. Vertical photos work best on TikTok, with an image size of 1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio). That said, images in a 4:5 aspect ratio will also display well.

You can create carousels with up to 35 photos in a single TikTok post, which makes the platform a surprisingly good fit for photo-heavy content like tutorials, product showcases, or behind-the-scenes snapshots.

TikTok Stories image size

Like Facebook and Instagram Stories, TikTok Stories are available for 24 hours before they disappear from your profile. We recommend using the TikTok video size for stories as well — 1080 x 1920 pixels.

Bluesky image sizes

• Profile image: 400 x 400 pixels
• Cover photo: 1500 x 500 pixels
• Post images: Any size and combination of images
• Link image: 1200 x 627 pixels

Bluesky doesn’t provide a simple, user-facing image size guide like most social platforms. However, it does have documented technical constraints — including limits on file size, number of images per post, and how images are processed and displayed.

While a wide range of aspect ratios is supported, images are typically compressed and resized by the platform, so using common formats like 1:1, 4:5, or 16:9 helps ensure consistent display.

Bluesky profile photo size

Since the photo displays as a circle, we recommend using a 1:1 aspect ratio and an image size of 400 x 400 pixels.

Bluesky cover photo size

Cover photos on Bluesky use a 3:1 aspect ratio on desktop devices, and we recommend using an image size of 1500 x 500 pixels. The header photo gets cropped on mobile devices to a 4:1 aspect ratio, so make sure there’s no important information on the left or right of the image.

Bluesky post image size

Bluesky allows up to four images per post, with each image limited to around 1MB in size. Each image can have its own aspect ratio and alt text, meaning mixed formats are fully supported within a single post.

Unlike most social platforms, Bluesky does not define fixed image dimensions or recommended sizes. Instead, images are processed and resized by the platform after upload, making it flexible but less prescriptive in terms of design requirements.

If you're sharing multiple images — whether they're the same size or different sizes — the preview will be cropped in timelines and on your profile. People can still see the full image in its original resolution by clicking on it. You can share up to four images in a single Bluesky post.

Bluesky image size when shared with a link

Links shared on Bluesky use a 1.91:1 aspect ratio for the accompanying image preview, which is the same as LinkedIn. We recommend using an image size of 1200 x 627 pixels for Bluesky as well.

Why do social media image sizes matter?

You only get a second to grab people's attention on social media, and creating eye-catching visual content in the proper size for each platform can make all the difference with your social media marketing. After all, what's the point of making and sharing a nice image if it shows up cropped or pixelated in people's feeds?

Here are a few quick tips to help you nail your images every time:

• Start with vertical. A 4:5 or 9:16 image works well on most platforms, so if you're creating one image to share across multiple networks, vertical is usually the safest bet.
• Keep text and logos centered. Profile photos, buttons, and platform UI elements often overlap the edges of images — especially in stories and cover photos. Keeping key elements toward the center helps avoid awkward cropping.
• Use high-resolution source files. It's always easier to scale down than to scale up. Start with the largest, highest-quality image you have and resize from there.
• Preview before you post. A quick check of how your image actually looks in the feed can save you from publishing something that's cut off or blurry.

Tools like Buffer make it easier to manage all of this. You can create a post once, customize it for each platform, and schedule it to go live when your audience is online — all from a single dashboard. Get started with Buffer for free today.

FAQ about social media image sizes

What size should images be for social media?

Most platforms display feed images well at 1080 pixels wide. The height depends on the format:

• Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels — works on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, and LinkedIn
• Vertical: 1080 x 1350 pixels — the most common format for Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn feed posts
• Horizontal: 1080 x 566 pixels (Instagram) or 1600 x 900 pixels (X/Twitter)
• Stories and full-screen formats: 1080 x 1920 pixels — standard across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok

Profile photo sizes vary by platform, ranging from 165 x 165 pixels (Pinterest) to 800 x 800 pixels (YouTube). The full breakdown for each network is in the guide above.

What file format should I use for social media images?

JPG and PNG are the most widely supported file formats across all major social platforms. Some platforms — including Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and X/Twitter — also support animated GIFs.

JPG is a good choice for photos. It compresses well, so file sizes stay manageable without much visible drop in quality. PNG works better for graphics, logos, or images with text. It preserves sharp edges and supports transparency, which JPG doesn't handle as well.

When you're not sure, use JPG for photos and PNG for everything else.

What image size works across most social media platforms?

An image that's 1080 pixels wide is a solid starting point for most networks. For feed posts, 1080 x 1350 pixels (4:5 aspect ratio) is a great default that displays well on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter.

What happens if I upload an image that's the wrong size?

Most platforms will automatically crop or resize your image to fit their display requirements. This can result in important parts of your image being cut off, or the image appearing stretched or blurry. Using the recommended dimensions helps you control exactly how your content appears.

Do social media image sizes change often?

They can. Platforms update their specs periodically — sometimes with big changes like Instagram's shift to a tall grid, and sometimes with smaller tweaks. We keep this guide updated so you always have the latest numbers in one place.

More social media marketing resources

• 24 Free Instagram Tools to Help Grow Your Account
• 13 Ways to Get More Views on YouTube — Tried + Tested
• The 9 Best AI Image Generators (+ Examples)
• The 11 Best Social Media Analytics + Reporting Tools
• Social Media Engagement: 11 Ways to Boost Yours + Why it Matters
• 8 Essential Social Media Collaboration Tools — Tried + Tested by the Buffer Marketing Team