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Why are the best image sizes for your social media posts so important?
Social media is one of the most important marketing channels. Most social networks have grown their number of monthly active users over the last years. More and more users rely on social media to research and shop new products, or use them as search engines instead of Google. So, social media is becoming more and more about showing your brand and product. But what’s that got to do with image sizes? Here’s what: image posts tend to outperform text posts. Images can function as literal eyecatchers. How often have you stopped scrolling because you saw an appealing visual? Probably more times than you can count. Visuals don’t just speak to our sense of aesthetic, they evoke emotions and tell stories far quicker and much easier than text does. By using the right image size for each of your networks you ensure that your content is presented in the best way possible. The risk of your image getting cut off or being stretched to fit the specs is reduced to zero. Your audience will see the entire image as you intended and will much more likely engage with it.
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The right image sizes help you avoid the following situations:
- Your images are blurry or pixelated
- Parts of your images are cut off
- Your images are not displayed in the correct format
- Your images are not displayed at all
Images for your social media profile
Profile Pictures
A profile picture is a great way to show who you are. Whether it’s a photo of you, or a brand or business logo, it’s the image that you identify yourself with on social media. All the activities you perform will show your profile picture. Whether you chat, post, or comment, your profile picture appears everywhere, making it an important image.
Cover Images
In addition to your profile picture, you can also add cover images to many of your social media accounts. Unlike your profile picture, the cover image is only displayed on your profile. It is located at the top of your profile on most social media. With the cover image, you have the opportunity to let your profile shine in the look and feel of your corporate identity/design. You can place additional or newsworthy information about your company prominently and use all the display options of your profile. Choosing the right image size for your header is crucial to perfectly showcase the information you want displayed.
Images for your social media posts
Images are displayed in social media feeds. There are two ways to include images in your posts: image posts and link posts.
Image posts
Image posts emphasize the visual because the message is in the visual. Your image should contain everything the audience needs to know. Text (in form of captions) is not necessary but can offer additional information. Some networks crop the images in the preview and only show them in full when the user clicks on the post. This is especially the case when you post several images in one post. Keep that in mind when you post.
Link posts
A link post, as the name suggests, contains a link that redirects to where you want the user to go. Social networks automatically generate a link preview when you include a link in your posts. A well-chosen thumbnail allows you to visually reinforce your content for your followers, giving them more incentive to go to follow the link. Clicking on the thumbnail will forward directly to your landing page instead of enlarging the image. Some content works better as an image post, some as a link post. Therefore, test both formats regularly and optimize your social media strategy.
What are the best image sizes for Facebook?
Facebook is still the #1 social network with 3,065 billion monthly active users as of April 2024. Among them are also more than 200 million businesses that address their target audience through profiles, pages, groups and ads. Facebook offers entrepreneurs, self-employed and private individuals a large potential reach to spread their topics, content, news and events. You can post images as image posts and link posts in your newsfeed. When posting an image, your image will be added to your photo album on your profile at the same time.
These are the best image sizes for Facebook
- Cover image: 851 x 315 px
- Profile picture: 196 x 196 px
- Image post (portrait): 1080 x 1350 px
- Image post (landscape): 1200 x 630 px
- Link post: 1200 x 630 px
- Multiple images: 1200 x 1200 px
- Aspect ratio: 1:1 (square), 4:5 (portrait) or 1.91:1 (landscape)
What are the best image sizes for Pinterest?
Pinterest, unlike other social media, works like a search engine and online pinboard. The platform is designed to redirect to your websites, which is why many bloggers and businesses post blog articles, information about products or infographics on Pinterest. Companies use Pinterest for their e-commerce to offer their products and services. With 522 million monthly active users, Pinterest is a traffic generator whose users spend 80% more money than users of other networks. Posts, profiles and pins also rank well in Google searches and generate good visibility. Video pins, story pins and collection pins offer new opportunities to present your offerings comprehensively and vividly.
These are the best image sizes for Pinterest
- Cover image: 1440 x 810 px
- Profile picture: 165 x 165 px
- Standard & Carousel Pin: 1000 x 1500 px
- Long Pin: 600 x 1260 px or 1000 x 2100 px
- Story Pin: 1080 x 1920 px
- Square Pin: 1000 x 1000 px
- Board Thumbnail: 600 x 600 px
- Aspect ratio: 2:3, 16:9 (for cover image), 9:16
What are the best image sizes for X (Twitter)?
X (formerly known asTwitter) is a fast-moving social network that focuses on the ongoing flow of information. According to X’s (Twitter’s) internal data, people are three times more likely to engage with a tweet when it contains an image. Through short and concise tweets, companies and self-employed people can position themselves well on current topics and contribute to discussions that are relevant to you and your target group. There are even corporate influencers from companies who share personal experiences and adventures from their everyday work. The success is also reflected in the user figures. With 611 million monthly active users worldwide, X (Twitter) continues to be one of the most popular social media networks.
What are the image sizes on X (Twitter)?
As with all social media, the profile and header image play an essential role on X (Twitter). Your profile image is attached to every post you create, be it an original one or a reply to someone else’s. Your header image – as the name implies – is shown prominently at the top of your profile. It gives you the chance to display ongoing promotions, as an example. You can add up to four images or GIFs to your tweet. These visuals will enlarge when a user clicks on them, and they are added to your profile’s media tab in your profile. Since 2021 Twitter shows single in-feed images in full without cropping them. You don’t have to painstakingly make sure that the preview image shows what’s most important anymore. However, stick to the recommended sizes as aspect ratios for the best X (Twitter) experience.
These are best image sizes for your X (Twitter) posts
- Cover image: 1500 x 500 px
- Profile picture: 400 x 400 px
- Image post: 1600 x 900 px, 1080 x 1080 px, 1080 x 1350 px
- GIFs: 1280 x 1080 px
- Cards (Link Previews):
- for Videos: 350 x 196 px (minimum, better more but keeping in line with the aspect ratio 1:1 or 16:9)
- for Links: 4096 x 4096 px (max.), aspect ratio 1:1 or 3:1
- Aspect ratio: 3:1 (for cover images and links), 1:1, 1.91:1 (landscape)
What are the best image sizes for Instagram?
Instagram has been part of Facebook since 2012 and, with around 2 billion monthly active users, is the third largest social media network worldwide. As a visual network, Instagram’s focus is on videos and images. Many companies use Instagram for their corporate communications to generate more awareness for their products and services, and – more recently – to set up shops.
These are the best image sizes for your Instagram posts
Although Instagram has been testing a vertical grid preview in users’ profiles, the majority of accounts still have the square grid. So keep centering all your important messaging in your images so it is seen even in the grid preview on your profile.
- Profile picture: 320 x 320 px
- Image post (square): 1080 x 1080 px
- Image post (portrait): 1080 x 1350 px
- Image post (landscape): 1080 x 566 px
- Story: 1080 x 1920 px
- Live & Reels: 1080 x 1920 px
- Aspect ratio: 1:1 (square), 4:5 (portrait), 1.91:1 (landscape), 9:16 (reels/stories)
What are the best image sizes for LinkedIn?
LinkedIn has reached more than 1 billion members worldwide. On LinkedIn you will find private profiles, company pages, various groups on different topics, ads for job offers and many online events and seminars for which you can register directly via LinkedIn. All of this makes it the go to network for B2B marketing and business networking.
These are the best image sizes for LinkedIn
The profile picture has a special significance on LinkedIn. Since LinkedIn is primarily used for networking with business contacts, your profile picture is like a job application photo. Regardless of whether you are actually applying for a job or trying to acquire new leads or customers, your profile picture is the first impression your business contacts have of you. On your profile page, you can also choose a cover photo on LinkedIn that, in the best case, represents you as a person or your brand. In addition to the profile pictures, there are the pictures that are displayed to your followers and contacts in the feed. Your page can quickly appear unserious due to distorted images or incorrectly displayed graphics. A real no-go in business networks. Therefore, pay attention to the optimal image sizes for LinkedIn.
- Cover image: 1128 x 191 px (for companies), 1584 x 396 px (for personal profiles)
- Profile picture: 400 x 400 px
- Link post: 1200 x 628 px
- Image post: 1104 x 552 px
LinkedIn is somewhat flexible when it comes to the height of your image. Square images like on Instagram work on LinkedIn just as well. So feel free to try different formats to see what works best for you.
What are the best image sizes for Tumblr?
Tumblr is a blogging site that focuses on sharing text and content. You can create text posts and add images to it, you can post images with no text at all, or you can share video and audio files. There are 519 million – half a billion! – blogs on Tumblr as of 2024. This makes Tumblr an interesting social media for businesses and entrepreneurs, such as bloggers, to showcase your content, services and products and provide content.
These are the best image sizes for your Tumblr posts
- Profile picture: 128 x 128 px
- Cover image: 2048 x 1152 px
- Image post: 1280 x 1920 px (in-feed view: 540 px in width)
Generally speaking, Tumblr is flexible when it comes to the height of your image. You can work landscape, portrait and square images, they will all look fine. Keep in mind however that on your dashboard, images are shown with a width of 540 px. The image will enlarge to its original size when the user clicks on it.
What are the best image sizes for Google Business Profiles?
Granted, a Google Business Profile isn’t really a social media network, but it’s still a tool where you can use impressive visuals to generate more reach for your business. A Google Business Profile is a business listing for your company and is the direct way into Google’s search index. In addition, your Google Business Profile entry is displayed in Google Maps. With the new features of Google Business Profile and Google Posts, you can publish your blog posts, pictures, videos, news, events and announcements directly through Google and place them prominently on Google Search. With active use and regular posts, your site will rank for your relevant keywords on page 1 at the top right of Google. This makes your Google Business Profile an important part of your website marketing and complements your marketing activities via Google Adwords. A Google Business Profile is available to you free of charge.
These are the image sizes for Google Business Profiles
Similar to other social networks, you can add a profile picture or logo on your Google Business Profile, as well as a supplementary background picture, which is similar to a cover image. As a profile picture you should choose your company logo. The background image can be found at the top of your profile and should contain additional content about your business. Google may not display your background image as the first image. Using the new Google Business Profile features, you can now post image posts, videos, news, blog posts, events and announcements. You can upload different image posts and highlight different aspects of your business that will appeal to your customers and provide information. According to Google, this is the best size for your images:
- Image post: 720 x 720 px
- Cover image: 1024 x 576 px
What are the best image sizes for Meta Threads?
Meta launched its micro-messaging app Threads on July 5, 2023, so just a little over a year ago. By now, Threads has reached 175 million monthly active users – and it’s still growing. Threads is messaging service like and an alternative to X (Twitter). Users can share text posts with up to 500 characters, post images, links and videos. Unlike most of the other social networks, Threads doesn’t crop or cut off images within the feed.
These are the image sizes for Meta Threads
- Profile picture: 320 x 320 px
- Images: 1440 x flexible
Seeing as Threads doesn’t change your images within the in-feed display, the height of your image can be whatever you want or need it to be. However, keep in mind that images wider than 1440 pixels will be scaled down to that size.
How to optimize your images for your social media posts
To help you take advantage of visual content for your content marketing on social media, here’s an overview of how to optimize your images: 1. Choose images with strong visual language
- Pay attention to a good image quality and the optimal image sizes on social media
- Choose image elements with a recognition value
- Add a watermark or your company logo
- Add your most important keyword in the image descriptionUse different image formats
2. Use different image formats
- Create and share infographics
- Make smart use of memes and GIFs
- Add supplementary images of products and processes at the right place
3. Use the optimal image size for social media
- Mind the different aspect ratios and (preview) crops of each network
- Be sure to center the most important information
How can I create images with optimal image size for social media?
There are many tools you can use to create images and graphics for social media. One advantage of using such tools is that the optimal image sizes for social media are already stored and predefined. You can also crop your existing images to the perfect size. Here you can find an overview of the most popular tools for images and image editing:
Canva
Canva is the ideal tool for everyone who can’t or doesn’t have the time to work with big creative suites. The tool offers a huge selection of templates for different formats and content types. You can also upload your own graphic elements to Canva and incorporate them into your graphics. Make use of a selection of AI tools to craft the visual you need.
Giphy
With Giphy you can easily and quickly create animated GIFs and memes. Also GIFMaker.me is a good alternative for short animations.
TinyPNG
TinyPNG helps you reduce the file size of your image without losing quality. This is helpful when you’ve got an especially large image file that you may not be able to upload to some networks.
Tool tip: Share images on social media quickly and easily
Many different networks and accounts with many different image sizes means having to spend a lot of time uploading and publishing each post. But it doesn’t have to be! Here’s your time-saver: Blog2Social, your tool for social media automation. Share all your images quickly and easily on all your social media channels from a single space – your Blog2Social dashboard. You can schedule your posts and let the tool auto publish them for you at the best time. Whether you want to share an image or a link post, whether it’s a TikTok or an Instagram story, Blog2Social simplifies your social media workflow and saves you valuable time every day.
Download the best image sizes now!
Sabrina successfully completed her Bachelor’s degree in German and Anglophone studies as well as her Master’s degree in Communications and American Studies at the University of Duisburg-Essen. She is now responsible for Online-PR, Marketing and Social Media Management at ADENION GmbH.
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