Social Media Image Size Guide
Pixel-perfect canvas dimensions for every major social media platform — updated for 2026. Use these as reference when designing posts, stories, thumbnails, and banners.
Instagram Post
1080×1080
Instagram Story
1080×1920
YouTube Thumbnail
1280×720
Facebook Post
1200×630
WhatsApp Status
1080×1920
Twitter Post
1600×900
| Format | Width | Height | Ratio | Shape | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square Post | 1080 | 1080 | 1:1 | Most common format | |
| Portrait Post | 1080 | 1350 | 4:5 | Takes up more feed space | |
| Landscape Post | 1080 | 566 | 1.91:1 | Wide/panoramic format | |
| Story & Reels | 1080 | 1920 | 9:16 | Full-screen vertical video | |
| Profile Photo | 320 | 320 | 1:1 | Displayed at 110px on mobile |
YouTube
| Format | Width | Height | Ratio | Shape | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Video Thumbnail | 1280 | 720 | 16:9 | Recommended, max 2MB | |
| Channel Art / Banner | 2560 | 1440 | 16:9 | Safe zone: 1546×423px | |
| Shorts | 1080 | 1920 | 9:16 | Vertical full-screen | |
| Profile Photo | 800 | 800 | 1:1 | Displayed as circle | |
| End Screen | 1920 | 1080 | 16:9 | Design CTAs in lower-right |
| Format | Width | Height | Ratio | Shape | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feed Post (Landscape) | 1200 | 630 | 1.91:1 | Standard link preview size | |
| Feed Post (Square) | 1080 | 1080 | 1:1 | — | |
| Story | 1080 | 1920 | 9:16 | Keep text out of top/bottom 14% | |
| Page Cover Photo | 820 | 312 | ~2.63:1 | Mobile: 640×360 | |
| Event Cover | 1920 | 1080 | 16:9 | — | |
| Profile Photo | 170 | 170 | 1:1 | Displayed as circle on desktop |
| Format | Width | Height | Ratio | Shape | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Status | 1080 | 1920 | 9:16 | Disappears after 24 hours | |
| Shared Image | 1080 | 1080 | 1:1 | Max 16MB per image | |
| Profile Photo | 500 | 500 | 1:1 | Displayed as circle | |
| Channel / Group Icon | 640 | 640 | 1:1 | — |
Twitter / X
| Format | Width | Height | Ratio | Shape | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post / Tweet Image | 1600 | 900 | 16:9 | Displays cropped to ~2:1 in feed | |
| Profile Header | 1500 | 500 | 3:1 | — | |
| Profile Photo | 400 | 400 | 1:1 | Displayed as circle | |
| In-Stream Photo | 1024 | 512 | 2:1 | — |
| Format | Width | Height | Ratio | Shape | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post Image | 1200 | 627 | 1.91:1 | Recommended for link posts | |
| Personal Profile Banner | 1584 | 396 | 4:1 | — | |
| Company Page Banner | 1128 | 191 | ~5.9:1 | — | |
| Profile Photo | 400 | 400 | 1:1 | Minimum 200×200 |
Design tip: Safe zones
Most platforms crop or overlay UI on edges. Keep important content — text, logos, faces — at least 10–15% away from all edges. This is especially critical for Stories, Reels, and YouTube Channel Art.
Design tip: Aspect ratio first
Always set your canvas to the correct aspect ratio before designing. Cropping or stretching a finished design to fit a different ratio almost always looks bad. Start right, save time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size should I use for Instagram posts in 2026?
For a standard square post: 1080×1080px (1:1). For a portrait post that takes up more feed space: 1080×1350px (4:5). For landscape: 1080×566px. Instagram Stories and Reels use 1080×1920px (9:16).
What is the ideal YouTube thumbnail size?
YouTube recommends 1280×720px (16:9 aspect ratio) for thumbnails. The minimum width is 640px, and the file size must be under 2MB. Use JPG, GIF, or PNG format.
Which canvas size should I use for WhatsApp Status?
WhatsApp Status uses a 9:16 vertical format, so design at 1080×1920px. Keep important content away from the very top and bottom edges as the interface overlays those areas.
What is the safe zone for YouTube Channel Art?
Design your banner at 2560×1440px, but keep important content (logo, text) within the central "safe zone" of 1546×423px. This ensures your banner looks good on all screen sizes — from mobile to large TV.
Does image resolution (DPI) matter for social media?
No. Social media platforms display images on screens, not in print. Screen resolution is measured in pixels, not DPI. As long as your pixel dimensions match the recommended sizes, your images will look sharp. 72 DPI is standard for screen, but DPI settings are ignored by social media.
Can I use one image size for all platforms?
Not ideally. Each platform has different aspect ratios and display contexts. A square 1080×1080px image works decently on Instagram and Facebook, but a YouTube thumbnail needs 16:9. For the best results, create platform-specific versions of key images.