Social Media Image Sizes — 2026 Cheat Sheet
Every dimension that matters, platform by platform — posts, stories, profiles and banners. Linked sizes have a free tool that resizes your image to that exact spec, entirely in your browser (nothing is uploaded).
| Use | Pixels | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square post | 1080×1080 | 1:1 | The classic feed square. |
| Portrait post | 1080×1350 | 4:5 | Fills the most feed space — best engagement format. |
| Landscape post | 1080×566 | 1.91:1 | Wide format; used less since portrait dominates. |
| Stories / Reels | 1080×1920 | 9:16 | Full-screen vertical. Watch the UI safe zones. |
| Profile picture | 320×320 | 1:1 | Displayed as a circle — keep the subject centered. |
TikTok
full TikTok guide →| Use | Pixels | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video / photo post | 1080×1920 | 9:16 | Keep text inside the safe zone — the right rail and caption cover a lot. |
| Profile picture | 200×200 | 1:1 | Minimum 20×20; upload larger for sharpness. |
YouTube
full YouTube guide →| Use | Pixels | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thumbnail | 1280×720 | 16:9 | Under 2MB. The single highest-impact image on YouTube. |
| Channel banner | 2560×1440 | 16:9 | Safe area for all devices: keep essentials within the central 1546×423. |
| Profile picture | 800×800 | 1:1 | Displayed as a circle. |
X (Twitter)
| Use | Pixels | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-stream image | 1600×900 | 16:9 | Sharp in the timeline without cropping. |
| Header | 1500×500 | 3:1 | Edges can be covered by the profile photo on mobile. |
| Profile picture | 400×400 | 1:1 | Displayed as a circle. |
| Use | Pixels | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared image / link preview | 1200×630 | 1.91:1 | Also the Open Graph standard for link cards. |
| Cover photo | 820×312 | 2.63:1 | Displays 820×312 on desktop, cropped to 640×360 on mobile — keep it centered. |
| Stories | 1080×1920 | 9:16 | Same vertical format as Instagram. |
| Use | Pixels | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile banner | 1584×396 | 4:1 | The most under-used professional real estate. |
| Shared link image | 1200×627 | 1.91:1 | Link preview card in the feed. |
| Company page cover | 1128×191 | 5.9:1 | Very wide and short — design for it specifically. |
| Use | Pixels | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard pin | 1000×1500 | 2:3 | The recommended pin format; taller pins may get cut in feed. |
| Profile picture | 165×165 | 1:1 | Upload larger for sharpness. |
WhatsApp / Telegram / Discord
| Use | Pixels | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp profile | 500×500 | 1:1 | Square; displayed as a circle. |
| WhatsApp status | 1080×1920 | 9:16 | Same vertical story format. |
| Telegram profile | 512×512 | 1:1 | Also the size for Telegram stickers. |
| Discord server icon | 512×512 | 1:1 | Displayed as a circle in the sidebar. |
The 3-step workflow for sharp uploads
- Crop to the right ratio first (1:1, 4:5, 9:16, 16:9) so nothing important gets auto-cut.
- Resize to the exact pixels from the table — platforms compress less when the size already matches.
- Compress lightly before upload — a smaller, clean file survives the platform's re-compression better.
For vertical video and stories, run the frame through the safe-zone tester so captions aren't hidden behind the UI. Sizes are the widely published standards — platforms occasionally change them, so check official docs for mission-critical campaigns.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best image size for Instagram in 2026?
- For feed posts, 1080×1350 (4:5 portrait) fills the most screen and performs best. Squares are 1080×1080, and Stories/Reels are 1080×1920. Always upload at exactly 1080px wide to minimize Instagram’s re-compression.
- Why do my images look blurry after uploading?
- Platforms re-compress everything. Uploading at the exact recommended dimensions — and keeping the file reasonably small before upload — gives their compressor less to destroy, so your image survives sharper.
- What is a safe zone?
- The area of a vertical video or story that isn’t covered by the platform’s buttons, captions and UI. On TikTok and Reels, the right rail and bottom third are covered — keep text out of them.
- Is 9:16 the same on every platform?
- The 1080×1920 canvas is shared by TikTok, Reels, Stories, Shorts and WhatsApp status — but each app’s UI covers different areas, so check the safe zone per platform before posting the same file everywhere.
🔒 Your files never leave your device. Every tool linked on this page runs entirely in your browser.