Social Media Image Sizes 2026: The Complete Cheat Sheet
Quick answer
The most-used social media image sizes in 2026 are 1080 x 1080 px for an Instagram square post, 1080 x 1920 px for Stories, Reels and TikTok, 1280 x 720 px for a YouTube thumbnail, 1500 x 500 px for an X header and 1584 x 396 px for a LinkedIn banner. These are the recommended sizes as published by each platform; platforms change them, so check the official help pages before big campaigns.
Key takeaways
- Vertical full-screen content (Stories, Reels, TikTok, Shorts) is 1080 x 1920 px, a 9:16 ratio.
- Link-preview images on Facebook, LinkedIn and X work well at about 1200 x 630 px (1.91:1).
- Banners and covers are cropped differently on desktop and mobile, so keep text in the center.
- Uploading at the exact recommended size reduces unwanted cropping and re-compression.
- Platforms update their specs, so verify before a major launch.
Social media image size cheat sheet (2026)
This table lists the recommended sizes as published by each platform; platforms change these, check before big campaigns.
| Platform | Image type | Size (px) | Aspect ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square post | 1080 x 1080 | 1:1 | |
| Portrait post | 1080 x 1350 | 4:5 | |
| Story / Reel | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 | |
| Profile photo | 320 x 320 (displays as a circle) | 1:1 | |
| Page cover photo | 820 x 312 desktop display (851 x 315 is a common upload size) | About 2.7:1 | |
| Link share / ad image | 1200 x 630 (Meta ads often 1200 x 628) | 1.91:1 | |
| Feed square image | 1080 x 1080 | 1:1 | |
| X (Twitter) | Header | 1500 x 500 | 3:1 |
| X (Twitter) | In-feed image | 1600 x 900 | 16:9 |
| Personal profile banner | 1584 x 396 | 4:1 | |
| Shared link image | 1200 x 627 | 1.91:1 | |
| YouTube | Video thumbnail | 1280 x 720 (under 2 MB) | 16:9 |
| YouTube | Channel banner | 2560 x 1440 (safe area 1546 x 423) | 16:9 |
| TikTok | Video / photo post | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 |
| TikTok | Profile photo | At least 200 x 200 | 1:1 |
Why does uploading the exact size matter?
Uploading at the recommended size means the platform crops and resizes your image less, so text stays where you put it and the image stays sharp.
When an image does not match the expected aspect ratio, platforms crop it automatically, often cutting off headlines or faces. Very large uploads are also recompressed more aggressively, which can soften detail. Matching the ratio exactly, and keeping the file reasonably sized, gives you the most control over the final look.
Safe zones for banners, covers and Stories
Banners and covers are displayed at different crops on phones, tablets and desktops, so important content should sit in a central safe zone.
- YouTube channel banner: keep logos and text inside the central 1546 x 423 px area, which is visible on every device.
- Facebook cover: mobile shows more height and less width than desktop, so keep text away from the left and right edges.
- LinkedIn banner: your profile photo overlaps the lower-left area on desktop; keep it clear.
- X header: the profile photo overlaps the lower-left corner, and the top and bottom can be trimmed on some screens.
- Stories, Reels and TikTok: leave roughly the top and bottom 250 px free of text, where usernames, captions and buttons appear.
Best file format for social media images
JPG is the safest format for photos on every social platform, and PNG works best for graphics with text, logos or flat colors.
Most platforms re-encode whatever you upload, so there is little benefit in uploading huge files. Export at the recommended dimensions with JPG quality around 85-90 for photos; for text-heavy graphics, PNG often survives the platform's own compression with crisper lettering.
How to resize an image for any social platform
The quickest way is a preset resizer that already knows the target dimensions, so you only choose whether to fill (crop) or fit (letterbox) your image.
imgloom has free presets including Instagram Post Size, Instagram Story Size, YouTube Thumbnail Size, YouTube Banner Size, Facebook Cover Size, Facebook Ad Image Size, Twitter Header Size, LinkedIn Banner Size and Profile Picture Resizer. They run in your browser on desktop or phone, without uploading your images. For any other size, use Resize Image or Crop Image with custom dimensions.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best Instagram post size in 2026?
- Instagram recommends 1080 px wide; 1080 x 1350 px (4:5 portrait) takes up the most feed space, and 1080 x 1080 px (1:1) is the classic square post.
- What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
- YouTube recommends 1280 x 720 px (16:9) with a minimum width of 640 px, in JPG, PNG or GIF format under 2 MB.
- What size should a TikTok image or video be?
- TikTok content is vertical 9:16, so 1080 x 1920 px is the standard size for videos and photo posts.
- What is the X (Twitter) header size?
- X recommends 1500 x 500 px (3:1) for profile headers. Keep key content away from the lower-left corner, where the profile photo overlaps.
- Why does my cover photo look blurry?
- Usually the upload was smaller than the recommended size and got stretched, or the platform heavily recompressed a large file. Upload at the recommended dimensions as a high-quality JPG, or PNG for text-heavy designs.