Each platform crops, compresses, and resizes uploads in its own opinionated way. Upload the wrong dimensions and your image gets cropped, blurry, or letterboxed. Here are the right numbers.
Social platforms display images on dozens of different device sizes, but each platform has a preferred aspect ratio and maximum resolution. Uploading at the right dimensions saves you from awkward auto-cropping and from the heavy re-compression that happens when files are too big.
This list reflects current platform recommendations as of early 2026. Specifics change quarterly — when in doubt, follow the linked platform documentation.
Instagram
Instagram supports more aspect ratios than people realize, but only a few are well-supported across the entire app (feed, profile grid, Explore).
Feed posts
Square: 1080×1080 (1:1) — works everywhere, recommended default.
Portrait: 1080×1350 (4:5) — maximum vertical real estate in the feed.
Landscape: 1080×566 (1.91:1) — common but visually small in feeds.
Instagram displays at 1080px wide. Uploading larger (e.g. 4320×4320) doesn't improve quality — Instagram resizes down and re-compresses. Uploading smaller results in blur.
Stories and Reels
Stories/Reels: 1080×1920 (9:16).
Safe zone: keep text and key visuals in the center 1080×1420 area. The top and bottom 250 pixels get covered by UI elements.
Profile picture
Upload: 320×320 minimum, 1080×1080 for future-proofing.
Display: circular crop, so put nothing important in the corners.
Twitter / X
In-feed posts
Single image: 1600×900 (16:9) — fills the feed card width.
Single image, alternative: 1080×1080 (1:1) — gets cropped to 1.91:1 in feed but full image in the modal.
Multi-image (2-4 images): any aspect ratio, but Twitter crops them to fill a 7:8 grid layout. Use centered subjects.
Header / banner
Dimensions: 1500×500 (3:1).
Safe zone: the bottom 250 pixels are partially covered by the profile picture circle and bio overlay. Keep critical content in the upper area.
Profile picture
Upload: 400×400.
Display: circular crop at multiple sizes (32px, 48px, 200px). Test how it looks at small sizes — fine details get lost.
LinkedIn
Feed posts
Single image: 1200×627 (1.91:1).
Square option: 1080×1080 (1:1).
Multi-image carousel: 1080×1080 per slide.
Articles (LinkedIn Pulse)
Cover image: 1280×720 (16:9). LinkedIn crops slightly so don't put critical content at the edges.
Company / profile banner
Personal cover: 1584×396 (4:1).
Company cover: 1128×191 (5.9:1).
Profile photo: 400×400.
Facebook
Feed posts
Standard post: 1200×630 (1.91:1).
Square post: 1080×1080 (1:1).
Portrait post: 1080×1350 (4:5).
Cover photo
Personal: 851×315.
Page: 1640×856.
Mobile cropping: cover photos get cropped on mobile. Test on both devices.
TikTok
Video / photo posts: 1080×1920 (9:16).
Profile picture: 200×200 minimum, square crop displayed as circle.
YouTube
Thumbnail: 1280×720 (16:9), under 2 MB.
Channel banner: 2560×1440 (16:9). Safe zone for all devices: center 1546×423.
Profile picture: 800×800.
Pinterest
Standard pin: 1000×1500 (2:3) — Pinterest's preferred ratio, gets the most engagement.
Square pin: 1000×1000 (1:1).
Long pin: 1000×2100 (1:2.1) — tallest allowed before truncation.
Common mistakes
Uploading huge files
Phones now take 12 MP photos by default. A 4032×3024 photo uploaded to Instagram gets aggressively re-compressed by Instagram's server, often with visible quality loss. Resize to the recommended dimensions before uploading and you control the compression quality.
Wrong aspect ratio
Uploading a 16:9 photo to a platform expecting 4:5 results in either cropping (you lose the sides) or letterboxing (white bars at top and bottom). Pre-crop to the platform's ratio.
Forgetting safe zones
Most platforms overlay UI elements on photos (text, gradient, profile picture). What looks centered in your editor often isn't centered when displayed. Reference the safe-zone dimensions when designing graphics with text.
Using transparent PNGs where they get flattened
Most social platforms convert PNG to JPG on upload, replacing transparency with a solid background (usually white). If your logo has a transparent background, the platform will flatten it. Provide a version with the right solid background.
One workflow that handles all platforms
Create your hero image at 2160×2160 — large enough for any platform's needs.
Maintain a "safe square" in the center 1080×1080 with critical content.
For each platform, crop to its preferred ratio.
Resize each crop to that platform's recommended dimensions.
Export as WebP or JPG at quality 85.
This gives you one source that produces all the formats. Update the source, regenerate all the crops.
Crop and resize for any platform with pictoolkit's crop tool (presets for common ratios) and resize tool. Batch process all your social variants in one go.