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Nothing ruins a great post like a cropped-off head or blurry text. Each platform displays images at specific shapes and sizes, and using the right dimensions makes your content look sharp and intentional. Bookmark this cheat sheet.
Platforms update their recommendations from time to time. These are widely used sizes at the time of writing — check the platform's help pages before major campaigns.
| Format | Size (px) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Square post | 1080 × 1080 | 1:1 |
| Portrait post | 1080 × 1350 | 4:5 |
| Landscape post | 1080 × 566 | 1.91:1 |
| Story / Reel | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 |
| Profile photo | 320 × 320 (shown as a circle) | 1:1 |
Portrait 4:5 posts take up the most space in the feed, which can help them get noticed.
YouTube
| Format | Size (px) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Video thumbnail | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 |
| Channel banner | 2560 × 1440 (safe area about 1546 × 423 in the centre) | 16:9 |
| Shorts | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 |
| Profile picture | 800 × 800 | 1:1 |
| Format | Size (px) |
|---|---|
| Shared link / post image | 1200 × 630 |
| Square post | 1080 × 1080 |
| Page cover photo | 851 × 315 (displays differently on mobile) |
| Story | 1080 × 1920 |
X (Twitter)
| Format | Size (px) |
|---|---|
| In-feed image | 1600 × 900 (16:9) |
| Header | 1500 × 500 |
| Profile photo | 400 × 400 |
| Format | Size (px) |
|---|---|
| Post image | 1200 × 627 |
| Personal banner | 1584 × 396 |
| Company logo | 400 × 400 |
Pinterest and WhatsApp
| Format | Size (px) |
|---|---|
| Pinterest standard pin | 1000 × 1500 (2:3) |
| WhatsApp Status | 1080 × 1920 |
| WhatsApp profile photo | 500 × 500 |
Safe zones: where not to put text
Platforms overlay buttons, captions, usernames and progress bars on your images:
- Stories and Reels: keep text and faces out of the top ~250 px and bottom ~340 px.
- Profile photos: shown as circles — keep the face centred with space around it.
- YouTube banners: different devices crop different amounts; only the centre is always visible.
- Facebook covers: desktop and mobile crop differently — keep key content central.
One photo, many platforms
Instead of reshooting, resize the same photo for each platform:
- Crop to fill when the subject is centred and there’s spare background.
- Fit with a blurred background to keep the whole photo — a popular look for Stories and Reels.
- Fit with a solid colour for product images and quote graphics.
Resize in one click
Our Social Media Image Resizer has presets for Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Pinterest and WhatsApp, with crop-to-fill, blurred background and solid colour modes. It runs in your browser and downloads JPG or PNG at the exact size.
Free toolTry the Social Media Image ResizerResize any photo to the perfect size for every social platform.Frequently asked questions
What happens if I upload the wrong size?
Platforms crop or shrink it. Faces and text near the edges may be cut off, and small images can look blurry.
Should I upload bigger images for better quality?
Slightly larger is fine, but platforms compress uploads anyway. Uploading at the recommended size usually gives the most predictable result.
JPG or PNG for social media?
JPG for photos; PNG for graphics with text, logos or sharp edges.
Written by the Toolsopedia team. Spotted an error? Tell us and we’ll fix it.