Image sizes for social media and how to resize for them
Recommended pixel sizes and aspect ratios for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X and YouTube, and how to crop and resize images to fit without distortion.
· 1 min read
Each platform displays images at specific aspect ratios. Upload the wrong shape and the platform crops it for you — often cutting off heads or text.
Recommended sizes
| Placement | Size (px) | Aspect ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram square post | 1080 × 1080 | 1:1 |
| Instagram portrait post | 1080 × 1350 | 4:5 |
| Stories and Reels | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 |
| Link preview (Facebook, LinkedIn) | 1200 × 630 | ≈1.91:1 |
| X (Twitter) in-feed image | 1600 × 900 | 16:9 |
| YouTube thumbnail | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 |
Platforms change their layouts from time to time, so check their help pages for the latest recommendations; the aspect ratios above have been stable for years.
Crop first, then resize
Resizing changes the number of pixels; cropping changes the shape. To get an exact size:
- Open Crop image and pick the aspect ratio (1:1, 4:5, 16:9…). Move the frame to keep the important part.
- Open Resize image, choose Social media sizes and the target, or type the exact width.
If you only resize a photo with a different shape, it will fit inside the box but won't fill it — the platform may then add bars or crop it.
Keep text away from the edges
Profile pictures are shown in circles and feeds crop previews. Keep faces and text within the central 80% of the image.
Upload size
Platforms re-compress uploads anyway. Keep a good quality (80–90) and let them optimise; if an upload is rejected for size, run it through Compress image.