Every social media platform has its own preferred image dimensions, and uploading the wrong size means your image gets cropped automatically — often cutting off faces, text, or important details. This guide covers the exact pixel dimensions each major platform expects in 2026, plus practical tips for cropping images to fit without losing the parts that matter.
Instagram supports three aspect ratios in the feed: square, landscape, and portrait. Stories and Reels use full-screen vertical format.
| Placement | Aspect ratio | Recommended size |
|---|---|---|
| Feed post (square) | 1:1 | 1080×1080px |
| Feed post (landscape) | 1.91:1 | 1080×566px |
| Feed post (portrait) | 4:5 | 1080×1350px |
| Stories / Reels | 9:16 | 1080×1920px |
| Profile photo | 1:1 | 320×320px (displayed at 110px) |
| Carousel | 1:1 or 4:5 | 1080×1080px or 1080×1350px |
Pro tip: The 4:5 portrait ratio takes up the most screen real estate in the feed, which is why marketers and photographers prefer it for engagement. If you only use one ratio, make it 4:5. Carousels lock the aspect ratio of slide one for all subsequent slides, so choose carefully for the first image.
X (Twitter)
X displays images differently depending on how many are attached to a post. Single images are cropped to roughly 16:9 in the timeline with a click-to-expand.
| Placement | Aspect ratio | Recommended size |
|---|---|---|
| Single image in timeline | 16:9 | 1200×675px |
| Two images in timeline | 7:8 each | 700×800px each |
| Header / banner | 3:1 | 1500×500px |
| Profile photo | 1:1 | 400×400px |
| Link preview card | 1.91:1 | 1200×628px |
Pro tip:X's auto-crop algorithm focuses on faces and high-contrast areas. If your subject is centered or contains a face, the crop usually works. If not, crop to 16:9 yourself to control the framing.
Facebook is forgiving about image sizes but has sweet spots for each placement.
| Placement | Aspect ratio | Recommended size |
|---|---|---|
| Feed post (landscape) | 1.91:1 | 1200×630px |
| Feed post (square) | 1:1 | 1080×1080px |
| Cover photo | 2.7:1 | 851×315px (desktop) / 640×360px (mobile) |
| Profile photo | 1:1 | 170×170px (displayed) |
| Stories | 9:16 | 1080×1920px |
| Event cover | 16:9 | 1920×1080px |
| Link preview (OG image) | 1.91:1 | 1200×630px |
Pro tip:The Facebook cover photo is notorious for displaying differently on desktop and mobile. On desktop it's wide and short; on mobile it's cropped to a more square shape from the center. Keep critical content (text, faces, logos) in the center 60% of the image.
| Placement | Aspect ratio | Recommended size |
|---|---|---|
| Feed post | 1.91:1 or 1:1 | 1200×627px or 1080×1080px |
| Company page banner | 4:1 | 1128×191px |
| Personal banner | 4:1 | 1584×396px |
| Profile photo | 1:1 | 400×400px |
| Article cover | 1.91:1 | 1200×628px |
Pro tip: LinkedIn heavily compresses uploaded images. Upload at the maximum recommended resolution to minimize quality loss. Square posts (1:1) consistently outperform landscape posts in LinkedIn engagement metrics because they take up more vertical feed space.
TikTok
| Placement | Aspect ratio | Recommended size |
|---|---|---|
| Video / photo post | 9:16 | 1080×1920px |
| Profile photo | 1:1 | 200×200px minimum |
| Photo carousel | 9:16 or 3:4 | 1080×1920px or 1080×1440px |
Pro tip:TikTok's interface overlays username, caption text, and interaction buttons on the right side and bottom of the screen. Keep your subject in the upper 60-70% of the frame and avoid putting important content on the right edge.
YouTube
| Placement | Aspect ratio | Recommended size |
|---|---|---|
| Thumbnail | 16:9 | 1280×720px |
| Channel banner | 16:9 | 2560×1440px (safe area: 1546×423px center) |
| Profile photo | 1:1 | 800×800px |
Pro tip:YouTube thumbnails are the single most important image for video creators. Use 1280×720 with large, readable text and a close-up face if applicable. The thumbnail is shown at various sizes (from ~120px wide in suggestions to ~360px in search), so test readability at small sizes.
| Placement | Aspect ratio | Recommended size |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Pin | 2:3 | 1000×1500px |
| Long Pin | 1:2.1 (max) | 1000×2100px |
| Square Pin | 1:1 | 1000×1000px |
| Board cover | 1:1 | 600×600px |
| Profile photo | 1:1 | 165×165px (displayed) |
Pro tip:The 2:3 ratio is Pinterest's sweet spot. Taller images take up more space in the feed and get more saves. Anything taller than 2:3 gets truncated in the feed with a “see more” tap, so 2:3 is the maximum visible ratio.
The universal OG image
Open Graph (OG) images appear when someone shares a link on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Slack, Discord, or iMessage. The universal standard is 1200×630px (1.91:1 ratio). If you create one image for link previews, use this size. It works correctly across all major platforms.
Keep text and logos in the center 80% of the image. Some platforms crop to different ratios for their cards, and edge content may get clipped.
How to crop efficiently
If you're preparing images for multiple platforms, the most efficient workflow is:
- Start with the highest resolution source.A 3000×2000 photo gives you room to crop to any ratio without going below the minimum pixel requirements.
- Crop the most restrictive format first.If you need both a 16:9 landscape and a 4:5 portrait, crop the 4:5 first — it removes less of the image, and you can evaluate whether the wider crop still works with what's left.
- Use preset aspect ratios. Rather than calculating pixels manually, use a crop tool with preset ratios. Select 4:5 for Instagram, 16:9 for YouTube, 2:3 for Pinterest, and adjust the crop position.
- Check at display size. A crop that looks good at 3000px might cut something important when displayed at 320px on a phone. Zoom out to preview the final display size before committing.
MakeMyImgs' crop tool includes preset aspect ratios for common social media formats. Drop your image in, select the platform ratio, position the crop area over your subject, and download. The crop happens entirely in your browser — no upload needed.
Common mistakes
Cropping too tight on faces
Leave breathing room above the head and to the sides. A profile photo cropped right to the hairline looks cramped. The general guideline is to leave at least 10-15% padding around the subject.
Ignoring the mobile crop
Cover photos on Facebook and LinkedIn display differently on desktop and mobile. Facebook's cover image is wider on desktop and more square on mobile, cropping from the center. Test your image at both aspect ratios before uploading.
Text in the crop zone
If your image contains text (quotes, promotions, event details), that text must be inside the visible area after cropping. Different platforms crop differently, and auto-crop algorithms don't know what your text says. Position text in the center of the image and verify it's fully visible at each target ratio.
Uploading oversized images
Every platform re-compresses your image on upload. Starting with a 20 MB JPEG doesn't help — the platform compresses it to their target quality regardless. Resize to the recommended dimensions before uploading to maintain control over the output quality. A well-compressed 1080px image will look better than a massive image that the platform crushes with aggressive compression.
Bottom line
Bookmark the sizing tables above. When preparing images for social media, crop to the platform's recommended dimensions and upload at that exact size. This gives you control over framing, avoids auto-crop surprises, and ensures the best possible quality after the platform re-compresses your image.