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Visual content rules the social media networks. But to navigate through the various image sizes and requirements is a challenge. Our guide to social media images sizes 2020 includes the latest requirements and recommended sizes for the most important images on the major social platforms.

Facebook

Good to know

In general, there is a difference between how the content will be displayed on your own timeline and it will be displayed in the user’s newsfeed. The dimensions should be chosen based on where the majority of viewers should see the images.
Possible file types: JPG, PNG, GIF

Profile Image
he profile image appears on your own timeline, when you post on other walls, comment on posts or when you are searched with Facebook’s search function. The display differs depending on the device: 170 x 170 px on the desktop, 128 x 128 px on smartphones, 36 x 36 px on most featured phones and 32 x 32 px as a thumbnail.
Keep in mind, that the profile picture will be cropped into a circle. So make sure that nothing important gets cut off. Images sizes larger than the minimum size will of course also work and are even recommended (as long as they keep the square dimensions) since they can be displayed larger if users click on the profile image and open it separately.

Cover Photo
For best results, upload a sRGB JPG file that’s 851 pixels wide, 315 pixels tall and less than 100 KB. Smartphones display the cover image in 640 x 360 pixels.

Tip: Profile images and cover photos with logo or text may achieve a better result using a PNG file.

Shared Image
The images appear on your timeline (with a max. width of 540 pixels) and in most of your follower’s News Feeds (with a max. width of 470 pixels). The minimum size should be 600 x 315 pixels to display link page posts with larger images. The maximum file size is 8 MB.

Shared Link
There are two options to create a shared link with preview images: with a small square image to the left and text on the right, or with a larger rectangular image on top and text below.

– Square photo: min. 154 x 154 px in feed, min. 116 x 116 px on page

– Rectangular photo: min. 470 x 246 px in feed, min. 484 x 252 px on page

Facebook scales photos smaller than the minimum dimension. To get better results, increase image resolution at the same scale as the minimum size. You can use social media tags to determine which photo Facebook uses for your links.

Instagram

Good to know

Instagram is one of the preferred social media networks for businesses to reach out to its target audience. The platform is based on visuals. It is therefore all the more important to always keep an eye on our guidelines.
Possible file types: JPG, PNG

Post: Instagram photos (max. 8 MB) don’t necessarily have to be square. The trick is to make sure the photo is up to 1080 pixels on the shortest side and to pay attention to the aspect ratio. This avoids cropping or black borders. Landscape photos with a ratio of 16:9, for example, are larger than the ideal aspect ratio and a border automatically will be added around the photo.
For shared photos with a width between 320 and 1080 pixels, Instagram keeps the original resolution as long as the photo’s aspect ratio is between 1.9:1 and 4:5. With other aspect ratios, photos will be cropped to fit a supported ratio. Images with a lower resolution than 320 pixels wide are enlarged to 320 pixels, which lowers the quality. Photos at higher resolutions are downsized to 1080 pixels width.

You achieve the best results with the following aspect ratios:

– Square 1:1, 1080 x 1080 px

– Portrait 4:5, 1080 x 1350 px

– Landscape 1.91:1, 1080 x 566 px

Tip: On your page or in your feed, all post images are automatically arranged in rows of squared photo thumbnails of 161 x 161 pixels. Keep an aspect ratio of 1:1 for an optimal appearance. Images of an Landscape or portrait images only appear, if users open a post.

Stories: Stories are vertically oriented, so portrait-style images (max. 4 GB) with a 9:16 ratio are ideal.

Twitter

Good to know

Twitter is one of the social media platforms that customers often use to discuss brands and companies.
Possible file types: JPG, PNG, GIF

Profile Image
Even though it will display at 200 x 200 px on most devices, you should still upload a photo with the recommended size to guarantee best quality. The maximum file size is 2 MB.

Header Image
When designing the header image, keep in mind that a part of it is covered by the profile image (the size varies from desktop to mobile). The maximum file size is 5 MB.

Image Tweets
It is possible to attach photos to any tweets. The minimum size is 600 x 335 pixels, but larger images as the recommended size will be better optimised for when users click to expand the images. As Twitter may collapse photos into a smaller version to fit in a user’s stream, make sure Twitter displays the most important part of the photo by adjusting the width to meet the minimum requirements and horizontally centre the content.

Tip: You can tweet up to four images per post. Image arrangement: two images – side by side; three images – one picture on the left, two on the right one above the other; four images as a 2×2 grid.
The maximum file size depends on where you upload the images from. Max. 5 MB via mobile phone, max. 15 MB via twitter.com and max. 3 MB via ads.twitter.com.

Pinterest

Good to know

Pinterest, the self-proclaimed “Product Discovery Platform”, is an image-based social media platform to look for inspirations, explore interests and promote products using so-called Pins.
Possible file types: JPG, PNG

Profile Image
A Pinterest account can be set up via Facebook, Twitter or email. Via Facebook and Twitter, Pinterest pulls the profile image that is set there. Using email, an individual picture can be used. The display within Pinterest differs: On your own Pinterest homepage 165 x 165 pixels, on Pinterest in general 32 x 32 pixels. The maximum file size is 10 MB.

Pins
The maximum file size per pin is 32 MB. Vertical images with a ratio of 2:3 fit best. Pins with a larger aspect ratio get cut off in the user’s feed. Square Pins with a ratio of 1:1 with at least 600 x 600 pixels are also possible.
Pinterest puts a limit on the width of the Pin images, but not on the length. Pins on the main page appear as 238 pixels width, expanded Pins have a minimum width of 600 pixels. In both cases the height is scaled.

Board Cover
Creating boards is one of the most important things on Pinterest. The Pins of a board are shown on the board cover as square thumbnails. It is also possible to display several small thumbnails in 55 x 55 pixels.

LinkedIn

Good to know

LinkedIn is only intended for the purpose of professional networking. The layout and therefore the recommended sizes for images differ in some areas, depending on whether it is a personal profile or a brand/company page.
Possible file types: JPG, PNG, GIF

Tip: The size for the profile picture can be up to 20.000 x 20.000 pixels with a maximum file size of 10 MB. The maximum file size for the other images is 4 MB.

Xing

Good to know

Xing is the German equivalent to LinkedIn when it comes to online business network platforms, to connect with businesses and professionals, find new jobs, and exchange knowledge and insights.
Possible file types: JPG, PNG, BMP

Profile Image: The maximum file size is 20 MB.

Portfolio
The preview of the images is square and is always taken from the centre of the picture. Only after the users click on the image it is fully displayed. Therefore, make sure that important content is placed in the centre of the picture. Upload images either directly in the recommended size or with any aspect ratio of 1:1. Also images with a width of at least 1200 pixels and any height have proven to be effective.
Basic members can upload a maximum of 1 text box and 3 images or PDF files. Premium members can add as many text boxes as they wish, up to 30 images or PDF files, and up to 15 videos. The maximum file size is 5 MB. The presentation and arrangement differ depending on how the portfolio is used. It’s worth experimenting here.

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