Getting social media image sizes right is an art from the ages, where visual content reigns supreme. The right dimensions are essential for a professional and effective display, whether it’s a profile picture, a promotional ad, or a shared video. Each platform, from Instagram and Twitter to Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok, has its own set of specifications that ensure optimal visual appeal.
Understanding these requirements is about more than just aesthetics; it’s about accurately communicating your message, improving brand image, and providing an excellent user experience. In this guide by QC Digitals, we’ll look at the most important image sizes for various social media platforms and explain why getting them right is important for digital success.
Is It Important to Get Social Media Image Sizes Accurate?
Getting the image sizes right is not just about aesthetics; it’s about effective communication. Incorrectly sized images can lead to cropping, stretching, or compression, all of which degrade the visual quality.
Professionalism: Correctly sized images reflect professionalism and attention to detail.
User Experience: Properly sized images provide a better user experience, ensuring that the viewer sees the image as intended.
Brand Image: Consistent and high-quality imagery enhances brand recognition and trust.
Ad Performance: In advertising, image size can directly impact the ad’s performance. Incorrect sizes may lead to poor display or even rejection by the platform.
Instagram Image Sizes
Profile Picture:
- Size: 320 x 320 pixels
- Display Size: 110 x 100 pixels
Make sure that important components are centred within the circular display. Despite the fact that the upload is square, Instagram displays it as a circle.
Feed Photos:
- Landscape: 1080 x 566 pixels
- Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels
- Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels
- Supported Aspect Ratios:91:1 to 4:5
Uploading a 1080 pixel wide image gives the best possible quality. If the image is not in a supported ratio, Instagram will crop it to fit.
Thumbnails:
- Display Size: 161 x 161 pixels
- Recommended Upload Size: 1080 pixels wide
Instagram saves larger copies of these thumbnails, so submitting huge photographs protects your feed from pixelation in the future.
Stories & Reels:
- Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Aspect Ratio: 9:16
This size guarantees that the Story shows appropriately with no odd cropping. Smaller file sizes with the same aspect ratio may result in faster buffering.
Carousel Images:
- Landscape: 1080 x 566 pixels
- Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels
- Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels
- Aspect Ratio: Landscape (1.91:1), Square (1:1), Vertical (4:5)
Maintaining the precise sizes and ratios, as with normal stream photographs, assures optimal presentation.
Reels:
- Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Aspect Ratio: 9:16
- Cover Photo: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Keep in mind that Reels are cropped differently in different feeds, so keep critical visual components centred.
Instagram Ads:
- Landscape: 1080 x 566 pixels
- Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels
- Minimum Width: 320 pixels
- Maximum Width: 1080 pixels
- Supported Aspect Ratios: 1.91:1 to 4:5
Ad requirements for Instagram, including limitations on hashtags and text characters, should be followed. To prevent being buried by text and logos, allow space between Stories advertising.
Twitter Image Sizes
Profile Picture:
- Size: 400 x 400 pixels
Since the image will be displayed as a circle, centralize key elements to avoid cropping.
Header Photo:
- Size: 1500 x 500 pixels
Choose imagery that represents your brand; this is a prominent space on your profile.
In-Stream Photo:
- Size: 1600 x 900 pixels
Supported Aspect Ratios: Anywhere between 2:1 and 1:1
Utilize high-resolution images, as Twitter will scale it down to fit. Avoid going below 600 x 335 pixels to maintain quality.
Twitter Cards:
- Size: 1200 x 628 pixels
These are essential for website link previews. Ensure your key information is centralized.
Twitter Ads:
- Size: Varies based on the ad type, but commonly 1200 x 628 pixels for website cards.
Always adhere to Twitter’s ad standards, as the requirements may alter depending on the ad style.
Facebook Image Sizes
Profile Picture:
- Size: 170 x 170 pixels-desktop, 128 x 128 pixels-smartphones
On Facebook, your profile picture serves as your identification. Check must, it is recognizable and clear.
Cover Photo:
- Size: 820 x 312 pixels-desktop, 640 x 360 pixels-smartphones
Your cover photo is important branding real estate. Make use of high-quality photographs that are consistent with your brand.
Shared Images:
- Size: 1200 x 630 pixels
This size is ideal for sending links with images or uploading photographs.
Event Image:
- Size: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Because this is a wider space, make sure your photography is good resolution.
Facebook Ads:
- Size: Varies significantly based on ad type
Follow Facebook’s specific guidelines for each ad type.
LinkedIn Image Sizes
Profile Picture:
Size: 400 x 400 pixels
Keep it professional; this is the business network.
Cover Image:
Size: 1584 x 396 pixels
Use this space to reflect your professional identity or business branding.
Shared Image or Link:
Size: 1200 x 627 pixels
Engage your professional network with high-quality images that add value to your content.
LinkedIn Ads:
Size: Varies by ad type
Adhere to LinkedIn’s ad specifications for the best performance.
Pinterest Image Sizes
Profile Picture:
- Size: 165 x 165 pixels
Because this will be displayed as a circle, find a picture that looks nice in that shape.
Pins:
- Size: 1000 x 1500 pixels (2:3 aspect ratio recommended)
Pinterest works best with high-quality, aesthetically attractive photographs.
Board Cover:
- Size: 600 x 600 pixels
To make your boards more attractive, use consistent images.
Pinterest Ads:
Adheres to the same rules as standard pins, but with additional rules for promoted material.
Snapchat Image Sizes
Geo filters, Lenses & Ads:
- Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels
These full-screen images need to be visually appealing and engaging.
Snapchat Ads:
- Size: Varies based on ad type
Follow Snapchat’s advertising guidelines for specific ad types.
YouTube Image Sizes
Profile Picture:
- Size: 800 x 800 pixels
This is your channel’s icon; make sure it’s recognizable.
Channel Cover:
- Size: 2560 x 1440 pixels
This large image space can be used for branding, promotion, or calls to action.
Video Thumbnails:
- Size: 1280 x 720 pixels
Thumbnails are essential to attract viewers. Make them catchy and relevant to the video.
YouTube Ads based on Varies ad types
TikTok Image & Video Sizes
Profile Picture:
- Size: 200 x 200 pixels
Video Uploads:
- Size: 1080 x 1920 pixels, 9:16 aspect ratio
Tiktok ad depends on various ad formats.
Conclusion:
Navigating the plethora of image size requirements across various social media networks can appear to be a difficult chore. However, as we’ve seen, following these guidelines is critical to producing visually appealing material that engages with viewers. It’s not just about looking beautiful; it’s also about communicating effectively, being professional, maintaining brand consistency, and advertising effectively.
You may ensure that your photographs are displayed in their best form by following the guidelines provided in this guide by QC Digitals. Remember that in the visually-driven world of social media, the proper image can speak a thousand words, and getting the size right is the first step in ensuring those words are heard clearly and loudly.
