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Social Media Image Sizes in 2026: The Complete Reference Guide

Every platform, every format, every pixel dimension you need. Updated for 2026 with Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, X, and YouTube specs.

March 1, 20266 min read

Posting at the wrong dimensions forces platforms to crop or compress your image. Cropped content loses faces and calls-to-action. Compressed content looks blurry. Both hurt reach. Facebook and Instagram prioritize native-ratio content in the feed. LinkedIn and X use fixed crop zones. Use the right size and your image displays exactly as intended.

Upload at exact dimensions when you can. Resizing triggers recompression. A 2000 × 2000 image scaled down to 1080 × 1080 by Instagram loses clarity. Export at 1080 × 1080 from your editor and you skip that step. Keep text and faces in the center 60% of the frame. Most platforms crop from the edges when they generate previews.

Instagram

FormatDimensionsAspect RatioMax File SizeFile Type
Feed (portrait)1080 × 13504:530 MBJPG, PNG
Feed (square)1080 × 10801:130 MBJPG, PNG
Feed (landscape)1080 × 5661.91:130 MBJPG, PNG
Stories1080 × 19209:164 MBJPG, PNG
Reels1080 × 19209:164 MBJPG, PNG
Profile320 × 3201:12 MBJPG, PNG

Portrait (4:5) gets about 20% more feed space than square. Use it for product shots and people.

Facebook

FormatDimensionsAspect RatioMax File SizeFile Type
Feed (link share)1200 × 6301.91:18 MBJPG, PNG
Feed (photo post)1080 × 10801:18 MBJPG, PNG
Cover (desktop)820 × 3122.63:1100 KBJPG, PNG
Cover (mobile)640 × 3601.78:1100 KBJPG, PNG
Stories1080 × 19209:164 MBJPG, PNG
Ads (feed)1080 × 10801:130 MBJPG, PNG
Ads (carousel)1080 × 19209:1630 MBJPG, PNG
Profile360 × 3601:1100 KBJPG, PNG

The cover image renders differently on desktop and mobile. Keep important content in the center 820 × 312 safe zone. For feed photos, 1080 × 1080 works but 1080 × 1350 (4:5) often gets higher engagement because it occupies more of the scroll.

TikTok

FormatDimensionsAspect RatioMax File SizeFile Type
Feed / video1080 × 19209:16287.6 MBJPG, PNG
Profile200 × 2001:16 MBJPG, PNG

TikTok is 9:16. Use that ratio for all video thumbnails and in-feed images. The profile image displays at 200 × 200 but appears small in the app. Use a simple, high-contrast design.

LinkedIn

FormatDimensionsAspect RatioMax File SizeFile Type
Feed1200 × 6271.91:15 MBJPG, PNG, GIF
Article cover1200 × 6271.91:15 MBJPG, PNG
Profile400 × 4001:18 MBJPG, PNG
Personal cover1584 × 3964:18 MBJPG, PNG
Company banner1128 × 3763:18 MBJPG, PNG

LinkedIn crops feed images to a fixed preview. A 1.91:1 image fits the preview without unexpected cropping. The company page banner (1128 × 376) is narrower than the personal cover (1584 × 396). Do not reuse the same asset for both.

Pinterest

FormatDimensionsAspect RatioMax File SizeFile Type
Standard pin1000 × 15002:332 MBJPG, PNG
Idea pin1080 × 19209:1632 MBJPG, PNG

Vertical pins (2:3 or 9:16) perform better. 1000 × 1500 is the standard recommendation. Pinterest allows up to 32 MB per image, but smaller files (under 1 MB) load faster in the feed. Use JPG at 80% quality for photos.

X (Twitter)

FormatDimensionsAspect RatioMax File SizeFile Type
Feed1200 × 67516:95 MBJPG, PNG, GIF
Header1500 × 5003:15 MBJPG, PNG
Profile400 × 4001:12 MBJPG, PNG

X crops images in the feed. Use 16:9 and keep important elements in the center. The header (1500 × 500) wraps on large monitors. Important visuals should sit in the middle 1200 × 400 to avoid cutoff.

YouTube

FormatDimensionsAspect RatioMax File SizeFile Type
Thumbnail1280 × 72016:92 MBJPG, PNG
Channel art2560 × 144016:96 MBJPG, PNG
Shorts1080 × 19209:16256 MBJPG, PNG

Channel art shows a 2560 × 423 visible area on TV, 1546 × 423 on desktop, and 2560 × 1440 on mobile. Keep logos and text in a 1546 × 423 safe zone. Thumbnails under 2 MB load faster. Use bold text and high contrast. Faces and products perform better than abstract graphics.

Quick Reference Table

PlatformFeed / PrimaryStories / ShortsProfile
Instagram1080 × 1350 (4:5)1080 × 1920 (9:16)320 × 320
Facebook1200 × 630 (1.91:1)1080 × 1920 (9:16)360 × 360
TikTok1080 × 1920 (9:16)Same200 × 200
LinkedIn1200 × 627 (1.91:1)N/A400 × 400
Pinterest1000 × 1500 (2:3)1080 × 1920 (9:16)165 × 165
X (Twitter)1200 × 675 (16:9)N/A400 × 400
YouTube1280 × 720 (thumbnail)1080 × 1920 (Shorts)800 × 800

Tools like Sudeno can take one source image and auto-format it for each platform. You upload once and get correctly sized exports for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and the rest without manual resizing.

Common Mistakes

Using a square asset everywhere

Instagram and Facebook reward 4:5 in the feed. X and LinkedIn crop squares badly. Export per platform.

Ignoring the safe zone

Logos and text near the edges get cut on covers and headers. Most platforms crop to a center region. Keep important elements 10% inward from each edge.

Uploading huge files

A 10 MB JPG does not look better than a 1 MB one at the same dimensions. Platforms compress anyway. Smaller uploads often process faster and avoid timeout errors.

FAQ

What is the best image size for Instagram feed posts?

1080 × 1350 (4:5) is the best size for most content. It uses more of the feed than 1:1 and avoids the letterboxing you get with landscape. Instagram supports up to 1080px on the shorter side. Use 1080 × 1080 for carousels where consistency matters more than extra height.

Can I use the same image across all platforms?

No. Each platform has different ratios and crop rules. A 1:1 square looks fine on Instagram but gets cropped on X and LinkedIn. A 16:9 image that works on X will get letterboxed on Instagram. Export platform-specific versions or use a tool that resizes automatically from one source.

What file format should I use for social media images?

JPG for photos and gradients. PNG for graphics, text, or logos. Both work on all major platforms. Keep file size under each platform limit to avoid extra compression. GIF works for animated images on X, LinkedIn, and Facebook but has stricter size limits.

Why does my image look blurry after uploading?

Two causes: wrong dimensions (platform rescales) or over-compression before upload. Export at the exact pixel dimensions the platform expects. For JPG, use 80 to 90% quality. Avoid upscaling small images. A 500 × 500 image blown up to 1080 × 1080 will always look soft.

How often do social media image sizes change?

Platforms adjust specs a few times per year, usually without much notice. Major feeds (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) have been stable since 2023. Cover images and banners change more often than feed post specs. Check each platform's help center before a big campaign or redesign.

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Sudeno Team

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