The Ultimate Social Media Size & Ratios Guide for 2024

In today’s ever-changing world of social media, staying updated with the latest image sizes is essential. Whether it's ensuring your profile picture looks sharp or your posts capture full attention, the right dimensions make all the difference. With social media platforms frequently updating their format requirements, what worked yesterday might not give you the same results today.

This guide serves as your one-stop cheat sheet for all social media image sizes across major platforms as of April 2024. We’ve done the legwork to gather the most current specifications for Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and TikTok, so you can focus on creating content that resonates with your audience.

‍Facebook: The OG

Facebook, with the largest social media audience, demands attention to image sizes to ensure every pixel plays its part in captivating the audience.

Profile Picture: Facebook profile photos display in different sizes on different devices. For example it displays at 176x176 pixels on your computer and 196x196 pixels on smartphones. The recommended image size is 320x320 pixels to be displayed optimal across the board.

Cover Photo: The cover photo recommendation is 851x315 pixels. On desktops, it slightly adjusts to 820x312 pixels, and on smartphones, it changes to a more accommodating 640x360 pixels. The importance here is to consider the profile picture location and how it sits across the cover photo.

Content:

• Feed Posts: The versatility of the Facebook feed allows for various image types. For standard posts, aim for images that are 1200x630 pixels to ensure they're eye-catching and clear.
• Event Images: Captivate potential attendees with 1920x1080 pixels images that reflect the essence of your event, encouraging interaction and attendance.
• Stories/Reels: With a full-screen format, 1080x1920 pixels images or videos can deliver immersive experiences. Reserve the top and bottom 250 pixels for non-essential elements to avoid overlap with the app interface.
• Feed Ads: Leverage the power of the feed with images that are at least 1080x1080 pixels, maintaining a 1.91:1 to 1:1 ratio for maximum impact.
• Right Column Ads: Specifically designed for desktop viewing, these ads perform best at 1080x1080 pixels, showcasing your message without distraction.
• Marketplace Ads: Mimic the organic feel of Marketplace listings with 1080x1080 pixel images to blend seamlessly into the user's browsing experience.
  

Instagram: A Visual Storyteller's Dream

Instagram continues to support a diverse range of image orientations, from its iconic square to portrait and landscape options, making it a versatile platform for brands and creators.

Profile Picture: Upload a 320x320 pixel image to ensure clarity across all devices, keeping in mind that it will display as a circle—so centralise key elements to avoid cropping.

Feed Posts: The heart of Instagram lies in its feed, where diverse image types thrive. To look great for single image or carousel posts follow the below.

• Landscape: Choose 1080x566 pixels to capture broad horizons.
• Portrait: Go for 1080x1350 pixels to fill followers' screens with your vision.
• Square: Stick to Instagram's roots with 1080x1080 pixels.
• Aspect Ratios: Stay within 1.91:1 to 4:5 ratios to keep images unclipped.
  

Stories and Reels: Dive into the world of Stories and Reels with 1080x1920 pixels for a captivating full-screen experience. However, keep crucial details within the central 700 pixels to prevent them from being obscured by the interface.

Thumbnails: Even the smallest visuals matter. Display thumbnails at 161x161 pixels to maintain a clear grid on your profile.

Pro Tip: Maximise the quality of your feed by uploading images with a width up to 1080 pixels. This ensures your photos remain sharp and engaging, reflecting the high standards of your Instagram narrative.

LinkedIn: The Professional’s Network

LinkedIn is the cornerstone for professionals looking to connect and showcase their businesses. Image precision on this platform enhances not only engagement but also professionalism and credibility.

Profile Picture: Besides the important of a professional looking picture, the ideal size of 400x400 pixels is also key to proportionately share your profile across the various devices.

Cover Photo: The cover photo size is recommended to be 1584x396 pixels on personal profiles. This panoramic image can complement the profile picture perfectly, but should be chosen with the profile picture overlay in mind that adjust from desktop to mobile device.  

Shared Posts and Articles: Standard posts should use images of 1200x627 pixels to display sharply. When posts include links it is important to ensure your URL has a feature image set to display nicely on LinkedIn and increases conversion.  

Company Logos/Cover: Your company logo, clear at 300x300 pixels, is pivotal for recognition on LinkedIn. Accompany it with a 1128x191 pixel cover image, your brand's visual statement. Both should be thoughtfully designed—your logo for immediate identification, your cover to communicate your company’s vision, ensuring they combine seamlessly across LinkedIn’s desktop and mobile layouts.

X - The platform formerly known as Twitter

Although X/Twitter is more focused on its 280 character written posts, in the digital world we live in the visuals have become just as important and are incorporated within the platform.‍

Profile Picture: Your profile picture pops up in a round format at 200x200 pixels, though it's stored as a square image at 400x400 pixels and recommended to be uploaded in this size.

Cover Photo: The ideal cover size is 1500x500 pixels for a vivid, expansive canvas above your profile. It’s the largest part of a X profile and gives an opportunity to showcase their business again.

In-Stream Photos: The optimal dimensions are 1200x675 pixels, which allows for clear, uncollapsed images in the tweet stream. The fun begins with multiple Image posts where the layout shifts slightly:

• Two Images: Each should be 700x800 pixels.
• Three Images: The first image at 700x800 pixels, with the others at 1200x686 pixels.
• Four Images: A quartet of images displayed perfectly at 1200x600 pixels each.
  

TikTok: The Arena of Viral Sensations

Although TikTok does not (yet) support image only posts it’s important that your visual brand identity stands out in a landscape of fast-scrolling viewers and creators.

Profile Picture: Set the stage with a profile picture of 200x200 pixels, ensuring it's clear and recognisable against the backdrop of an ever-moving feed. The most successful pages are using an adapted logo to capture the essence of their business.

Videos: TikTok operates in a full-screen vertical format with 1080x1920 pixel videos that invite users into your world. Understanding the apps like, comment, save and share features a long the right side of the screen allows you to not pack essential information behind these navigational tools.

Pro Tip: On TikTok, where trends and creativity reign, your visuals should be as bold and engaging as your content. High-resolution images and videos will stand out, catching the eye of users and encouraging them to stop, watch, and engage.

Conclusion

In the swiftly changing world of social media, knowing the ins and outs of image sizes is crucial for making every post count. Our 2024 guide is designed to keep your content looking its best, ensuring that you're always ahead of the curve.

If you’re ready to sharpen your brand's look or refresh your social media strategy, B3 Marketing has the expertise to make it happen. We’re here to assist with all your branding and social design needs, ensuring that your visual identity not only meets but exceeds the standards of today’s social platforms.

Looking for a partner to help navigate the visual landscape of social media? Reach out to B3 Marketing, where we turn your vision into a visually compelling reality.