The Complete Guide to Image Sizes for Every Social Media Platform (2026)
Every social media image size you need in 2026. Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Pinterest dimensions with free resize tools.
Why Image Sizes Matter
Incorrectly sized images hurt engagement, brand perception, and reach. When your image doesn't match a platform's expected dimensions, it gets cropped automatically — often cutting off text, logos, or faces.
Low-resolution images appear blurry on high-DPI screens (which most phones have). Oversized images waste bandwidth and slow load times. Getting the exact dimensions right ensures your content looks professional everywhere.
Instagram Image Sizes
Instagram supports multiple aspect ratios, but portrait (4:5) performs best for feed posts because it takes up the most screen real estate.
- Feed Post (Square): 1080 × 1080 px (1:1)
- Feed Post (Portrait): 1080 × 1350 px (4:5) — recommended
- Feed Post (Landscape): 1080 × 566 px (1.91:1)
- Stories & Reels: 1080 × 1920 px (9:16)
- Profile Photo: 320 × 320 px (displayed as circle)
- Carousel: Same as feed post — stay consistent within a carousel
YouTube Image Sizes
YouTube thumbnails are critical for click-through rate — they're effectively your video's billboard.
- Thumbnail: 1280 × 720 px (16:9) — under 2MB
- Channel Banner: 2560 × 1440 px (safe area: 1546 × 423 px center)
- Profile Photo: 800 × 800 px
- Community Post Image: 1200 × 675 px
Facebook Image Sizes
Facebook compresses images aggressively — upload at the recommended sizes to minimize quality loss.
- Feed Post: 1200 × 630 px (1.91:1)
- Cover Photo: 820 × 312 px (desktop) / 640 × 360 px (mobile)
- Profile Photo: 170 × 170 px (displayed as circle)
- Event Cover: 1200 × 628 px
- Stories: 1080 × 1920 px (9:16)
Twitter / X Image Sizes
Twitter displays images in a 16:9 crop by default in the feed. Images outside this ratio get center-cropped.
- In-Feed Image: 1200 × 675 px (16:9) or 1200 × 1200 px (1:1)
- Header Photo: 1500 × 500 px (3:1)
- Profile Photo: 400 × 400 px
- Card Image: 1200 × 628 px
LinkedIn Image Sizes
LinkedIn favors professional, high-quality images. Post images with a 1.91:1 ratio perform best.
- Feed Post: 1200 × 627 px (1.91:1) or 1080 × 1080 px (1:1)
- Banner: 1584 × 396 px (4:1)
- Profile Photo: 400 × 400 px
- Company Logo: 300 × 300 px
- Article Cover: 1200 × 644 px
TikTok Image Sizes
- Video/Photo Post: 1080 × 1920 px (9:16)
- Profile Photo: 200 × 200 px
Pinterest Image Sizes
Pinterest favors tall, vertical images. A 2:3 ratio performs best and gets the most real estate in the feed.
- Standard Pin: 1000 × 1500 px (2:3) — recommended
- Square Pin: 1000 × 1000 px (1:1)
- Long Pin: 1000 × 2100 px (max 1:2.1)
- Profile Photo: 165 × 165 px
- Board Cover: 222 × 150 px
Quick Reference Table
| Platform | Post Image | Stories/Reels | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080×1350 | 1080×1920 | 320×320 | |
| YouTube | 1280×720 (thumb) | — | 800×800 |
| 1200×630 | 1080×1920 | 170×170 | |
| Twitter/X | 1200×675 | — | 400×400 |
| 1200×627 | — | 400×400 | |
| TikTok | 1080×1920 | 1080×1920 | 200×200 |
| 1000×1500 | — | 165×165 |
Key Takeaways
- Portrait (4:5) images perform best on Instagram because they take up the most feed space
- YouTube thumbnails at 1280×720 are critical for click-through rate
- Always upload at the recommended dimensions — platforms compress aggressively
- Use a consistent aspect ratio within carousels and galleries
- Start with the highest resolution source and resize down to avoid blur
- Use browser-based tools to resize privately without uploading sensitive content
Frequently Asked Questions
What size should Instagram posts be?
Instagram supports square (1080×1080), portrait (1080×1350), and landscape (1080×566). Portrait 1080×1350 performs best because it takes up the most screen space in the feed. Stories and Reels use 1080×1920 (9:16).
What size should YouTube thumbnails be?
YouTube recommends 1280×720 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio) with a minimum width of 640 pixels. Keep file size under 2MB. Use JPG, PNG, or GIF format. High-contrast thumbnails with faces and text overlays get the most clicks.
Does image size affect social media reach?
Yes. Incorrectly sized images get cropped awkwardly, cutting off text or faces. Platforms also favor properly formatted content in their algorithms. Blurry, low-resolution images signal low-quality content and reduce engagement.
Can I resize images without losing quality?
Downscaling (making smaller) preserves quality. Upscaling (making larger) can cause blur. Always start with the highest resolution source image and resize down to the target dimensions. Use tools that maintain aspect ratio to avoid distortion.