The Ultimate Guide to Photo Dimensions For Every Social Media Platform

See the ultimate guide to photo dimensions for every social media platform putting out the best content that speaks well to your audience.

By Claudio Pires
Updated on July 25, 2022
The Ultimate Guide to Photo Dimensions For Every Social Media Platform

Making the most out of social media means putting out the best content that speaks well to your target audience. But before you can do just that, you need to be aware of a fundamental factor – the photo dimensions for the channels you’re using. In this article, you’ll see the ultimate guide to photo dimensions for every social media platform.

The Ultimate Guide to Photo Dimensions For Every Social Media Platform

Needless to say, knowing and using the right photo dimensions is part and parcel of a great social media design strategy. Lucky for you, we’ve compiled the image dimensions used for every platform typically used for marketing. 

Facebook: Guide to Photo Dimensions For Social Media

Let’s start with what’s considered to be the most popular social media platform to date. With an estimated 1.69 billion user count, Facebook has become an invaluable tool in marketing for various industries.

In this light, it’s crucial to note that maintaining a Facebook business account entails making sure that your profile images are up-to-date.

Business Page Profile Picture (180 x 180 px)

Business Page Profile images are cropped to fit a square and must measure at least 180 x 180 pixels. This will display as a 170 x 170 px-image on desktop and 128 x 128 px-image on smartphones. Throughout the platform, the image will appear as a 32 x 32 px image. 

Facebook Cover Photo (820 x 312 px)

The minimum size for the Facebook Cover Photo is 400 x 150 px. If the file is less than this measurement, the image will be stretched. On a desktop, this will display as 820 x 312 px. On smartphones, however, it will display as 640 x 360 px. 

Shared Image (1,200 x 630 px)

When you share an image on Facebook, it appears on your followers’ News Feeds as well as your timeline. The ideal size for shared images is 1,200 x 630 px. That said, this measurement can help ensure that the image looks well enough to be shared by your followers.

Highlighted Image (1,200 x 717 px)

A highlighted image is somehow akin to a shared image. The main difference is that it appears a bit bigger, thus drawing more attention to your chosen content. Whether you want to put the spotlight on a new collection or a seasonal offer, make sure that the image is 1,200 x 717 px.

Facebook Ads Guide to Photo Dimensions For Social Media

Many ventures also use Facebook for paid traffic. If this is the case for you, it pays to know the image specs and requirements you need to prepare before creating a new campaign.

Here are the recommended image sizes depending on the type of ad you’re running:

  • Carousel Ad: 600 x 600 px
  • Facebook Feed Image Ad: 1080 x 1080 px
  • Right Column Ad: 1200 x 628 px
  • Marketplace Ad: 1200 x 628

Facebook Event Image (1920 x 1080)

Creating a Facebook Event is a great step to take if you want to draw attention to an affair you’re holding. The event image should measure 1920 x 1080 px, though this will be scaled down to 470 × 174 px when shown in the News Feed.

Facebook Stories (1,080 x 1,920 px)

If you use Facebook Stories to update your followers, make sure that the images you use measure 1,080 x 1,920 px.

Instagram: Guide to Photo Dimensions For Social Media

Instagram is another invaluable resource in social media marketing. Basically, there are three image types you need to be familiar with if you want to utilize this platform.

Instagram Profile Picture (110 x 110 px)

This is basically the photo that appears on your profile as well as at the top left side of each of your posts. Because the profile photo only measures 110 x 110 px, it’s crucial to keep the image simple. At the same time, make sure that the profile photo complements your Instagram handle as they will appear side by side.

Image Post (1080 x 1080 px)

Instagram is a visual platform. That said, it’s best not only to post visuals that spark interest but also to use high-reso images for optimum impact. Make sure that the photos you post measure at least 1080 x 1080 px.

Instagram Stories (1080 x 1920)

Instagram Stories measures 1,080 x 1,920 px, the same as Facebook Stories.

Twitter: Guide to Photo Dimensions For Social Media

Because this is a channel where clients will most likely discuss your brand, make sure that you’re presenting your venture well on this platform, including the following:

Twitter Profile Photo (400 x 400 px)

The profile photo measures 400 x 400 px, and this is scaled down to 200 x 200 px when displayed on the platform.

Twitter Header Image (1,500 x 500 px)

Similar to a cover image, this photo shows on top of your Twitter profile. Whether you’re using a JPG, GIF, or PNG image, make sure that it measures 1,500 x 500 px.

In-Stream Photos

The size of photos that you share will depend on whether you’re posting it with a link. In the same vein, the number of photos you’re sharing at a time can also affect its size:

  • Single Image Tweet: 1200 x 675 px
  • Shared Link Tweet: 1200 x 628 px
  • Two Image-Tweet: 700 x 800 px
  • Three Image-Tweet: 700 x 800 px (left), 1200 x 686 px (right)
  • Four Image-Tweet: 1200 x 600 pixels

Pinterest: Guide to Photo Dimensions For Social Media

Many brands use Pinterest to drive traffic to their website. That said, it’s no surprise why Pinterest social media design is a crucial component marketers pay attention to. 

Pinterest Profile Photo (165 x 165 px)

The profile photo will appear as a 165 x 165 px-image on the home page. However, it will be scaled down to 32 x 32 px on the rest of the platform.

Image Pins

Here’s one thing to remember about pinned images on Pinterest: the platform limits the width at 236 px and scales the length. In addition to that, keep in mind that it’s best to use an aspect ratio of 2:3 to 1:3.5. 

Guide to Photo Dimensions For Social Media: Why Does it Matter?

So, why exactly should you care about photo dimensions? Here are three important reasons why:

  • Best resolution. If you’re already exerting the effort to offer valuable content, don’t let technicalities make you fall short of making an impact. Knowing the right dimensions will allow you to create images that look perfect when you post them. After all, it doesn’t take a lot to get it right.
  • Professional look. Have you ever seen social media posts that look stretched or pixelated? Those are the risks of posting images without knowing the ideal dimensions for each channel first. That said, images can make your brand look unprofessional and compromise your reputation. And you can avoid that by teaming up with graphic design companies. Let the pros make you look good and professional on social media.
  • Trustworthiness. In this day and age, maintaining social media channels is part of making a brand relevant and trustworthy. Getting the most basic technical aspect, such as the right dimension and resolution, can greatly affect public perception of your brand.

Without a doubt, knowing the right image sizes to use in every platform can help make your account stand out from the rest. It tells your target market that you’re serious about what you do and that you value them enough to put much effort into the content you put out.

Claudio Pires

Claudio Pires is the co-founder of Visualmodo, a renowned company in web development and design. With over 15 years of experience, Claudio has honed his skills in content creation, web development support, and senior web designer. A trilingual expert fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, he brings a global perspective to his work. Beyond his professional endeavors, Claudio is an active YouTuber, sharing his insights and expertise with a broader audience. Based in Brazil, Claudio continues to push the boundaries of web design and digital content, making him a pivotal figure in the industry.