SOCIAL MEDIA IMAGE SIZES & ASPECT RATIOS: A 2021 GUIDE
Curious about social media image sizes? Consider this guide your cheat sheet to discovering the proper dimensions for your next social media post. Before we get started, let’s differentiate between an image size and an aspect ratio.
WHAT IS AN IMAGE SIZE?
When we discuss image size, we are referring to the resolution of an image. A photo’s image size and resolution is influenced by the number of pixels that make up the width and height of the image. Don’t panic if this is already sounding a little too techy for your comfort zone- we’ll break it down for you.
So, what is a pixel?
Pixel is short for “picture element” and it refers to a single point that, in combination with other pixels, makes up a whole image. Think about pixels like a mosaic. Each piece of the mosaic represents a pixel, or a small colorful square. Generally speaking, the more pixels per inch an image has, the higher the quality (aka resolution) because there is more fine detail included in the photo. Just like with mosaics, the more individual pieces that are included, the more detailed and clear the final product will be.
Overall, an image size is communicated by two numbers, the first representing the number of pixels that make up the width of the image and the second number representing the height.
WHAT IS AN ASPECT RATIO?
An aspect ratio is the ratio between the width and height of an image. The ratio typically includes two digits separated by a colon. The first digit represents the width and the second represents the height of the image. Based on this, we can assume (and confirm;) that a perfect square’s image ratio is 1:1 because the length of the image’s width and height are the same. For a portrait photo, on the other hand, the image ratio might be 4:5 because the width is shorter than the height.
If you post an image of a different size or aspect ratio than what the social media application allows, your photo will not fit properly on the platform and risks being cropped, stretched, or pixelated. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words and your feed plays a major role in a consumer’s first impression of your brand, so it’s important to get sizing right! Without further ado, read on for image size guidelines for various social platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn!
SIZE OF INSTAGRAM PHOTO
Square photos
Size - 1080 x 1080 pixels
Aspect ratio - 1:1
Vertical photos
Size - 1080 x 1350 pixels
Aspect ratio - 4:5
Horizontal photos
Size - 1080 x 566 pixels
Aspect ratio- 16:9 is the maximum, but 1.91:1 is recommended
SIZE OF INSTAGRAM STORY
Size - 1080 x 1920 pixels
Aspect ratio - 9:16
Check out our completely customizable Instagram Story templates!
SIZE OF IGTV VIDEO
Vertical IGTV
Size - 1080 x 1920 pixels
Aspect ratio - 9:16
Horizontal IGTV
Size - 1920 x 1080 pixels
Aspect ratio - 16:9
SIZE OF IGTV COVER
Size - 420 x 654 pixels
Aspect ratio - 1:1.55
SIZE OF INSTAGRAM REELS
Size - 1080 x 1920 pixels
Aspect ratio - 9:16
SIZE OF INSTAGRAM PROFILE PHOTO
Size - Will display at 110 x 110 pixels, but is recommended to upload at at least 320 x 320 pixels
Aspect ratio - 1:1
SIZE OF INSTAGRAM HIGHLIGHT COVER
Size - 1080 x 1920 pixels
Aspect ratio - 9:16
Check out our how to make Instagram highlight covers blog post!
Facebook
SIZE OF FACEBOOK PROFILE PHOTO
Size - Appears as 170 x 170 pixels on desktop and 128 x 128 pixels on mobile
Aspect ratio - 1:1
SIZE OF FACEBOOK COVER PHOTO
Size - Appears as 820 x 312 pixels on desktop and 640 x 360 pixels on mobile
Aspect ratio - 16:9
SIZE OF FACEBOOK POST IMAGE
Size - 1200 x 630 pixels
Aspect ratio - 1.91:1
SIZE OF FACEBOOK STORY
Size - 1080 x 1920 pixels
Aspect ratio - 9:16
Twitter
SIZE OF TWITTER PROFILE PHOTO
Size - Displays at 200 x 200 pixels, but 400 x 400 pixels is recommended
Aspect ratio - 1:1
SIZE OF TWITTER HEADER PHOTO
Size - 1500 x 500 pixels
Aspect ratio - 3:1
SIZE OF TWITTER POST PHOTO
Size - Appears at 440 x 220 pixels, but 1024 x 512 pixels is recommended
Aspect ratio - 16:9
SIZE OF TWITTER FLEETS
Size - 1080 x 1920 pixels
Aspect ratio - 9:16
Pinterest
SIZE OF PINTEREST PROFILE PHOTO
Size - 165 x 165 pixels
Aspect ratio - 1:1
SIZE OF PINTEREST PIN
Size - 1000 x 1500 pixels
Aspect ratio - 2:3
SIZE OF PINTEREST BOARD COVER
Size - 600 x 600 pixels
Aspect ratio - 1:1
TikTok
SIZE OF TIKTOK PROFILE PHOTO
Size - 20 x 20 pixels
Aspect ratio - 1:1
SIZE OF TIKTOK VIDEO
Size - 1080 x 1920 pixels
Aspect ratio - 9:16
YouTube
SIZE OF YOUTUBE PROFILE PHOTO
Size - 800 x 800 pixels
Aspect ratio - 1:1
SIZE OF YOUTUBE BANNER / CHANNEL ART
Size - 2048 x 1152 pixels
Safe area for text & logos: 1235 x 338 pixels
Aspect ratio - 16:9
SIZE OF YOUTUBE THUMBNAIL
Size - 1280 x 720 pixels
Aspect ratio - 16:9
LinkedIn
SIZE OF LINKEDIN PROFILE PHOTO
Size - 300 x 300 pixels
Aspect ratio - 1:1
SIZE OF LINKEDIN COVER PHOTO
Size - 1584 x 396 pixels
Aspect ratio - 4:1
We hope this blog post was helpful for you in discovering social media image sizes for your next post! You can download our infographic of social media’s most popular image sizes and aspect ratios or check out our done-for-you Social Media Templates.
xx- The Homies
