Every dimension, format, and file size rule for all 7 major platforms — in one place.
Why You Need This Reference
Every platform has its own image dimension requirements, aspect ratio preferences, file size limits, and format support. These are not suggestions — they are technical constraints that determine whether your image is cropped, blurred, re-encoded at lower quality, or blocked entirely.
This guide compiles the official 2026 specifications for all 7 major platforms, compares them side by side, and explains where the platforms agree and where they conflict — so you know which single set of dimensions to shoot or export for if you cross-post.
See the main guide for context on why these specs differ across platforms.
Master Comparison Table: All Platforms (2026)
This is the quick-reference table. Deep-dives for each platform follow below.
| Platform | Best Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Min Width | Recommended Format | Max File Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Instagram Feed |
1080 × 1350 px | 4:5 (portrait) | 320 px | JPEG | 8 MB |
Instagram Story/Reel |
1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | 500 px | JPEG | 8 MB |
Facebook Post |
1200 × 630 px | 1.91:1 | 600 px | JPEG/PNG | 8 MB |
Facebook Story |
1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | 540 px | JPEG/PNG | 8 MB |
LinkedIn Post |
1200 × 627 px | 1.91:1 | 552 px | JPEG/PNG | 5 MB |
LinkedIn Article Cover |
1920 × 1080 px | 16:9 | 1200 px | JPEG/PNG | 5 MB |
Twitter/X Post |
1600 × 900 px | 16:9 | 600 px | JPEG/PNG/WebP | 5 MB (JPEG/PNG), 15 MB (GIF) |
YouTube Thumbnail |
1280 × 720 px | 16:9 | 640 px | JPEG/PNG | 2 MB |
TikTok Cover |
1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | — | JPEG | 287 KB |
Pinterest Pin |
1000 × 1500 px | 2:3 | 236 px | JPEG/PNG | 20 MB |
Image Format Support Matrix
Not all platforms accept the same formats. This matrix shows which formats are accepted and which are recommended for each platform.
| Format | Twitter/X | YouTube | TikTok | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPEG | ✓ Best | ✓ Best | ✓ Best | ✓ Good | ✓ Best | ✓ Best | ✓ Good |
| PNG | ✓ Good | ✓ Good | ✓ Good | ✓ Best | ✓ Good | ✗ No | ✓ Best |
| WebP | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✓ Accepted | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| GIF | ✗ No (video only) | ✓ Animated | ✓ Limited | ✓ 15 MB | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✓ Animated |
| HEIC/HEIF | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| AVIF | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No |
Platform Deep-Dives
Instagram is the most dimension-sensitive platform. It supports three aspect ratios in the main feed (1:1, 4:5, 1.91:1) but only shows the full image when the ratio matches exactly. The algorithm consistently favors portrait (4:5) posts because they occupy more screen space on mobile, increasing stopping power.
| Post Type | Dimensions | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed Photo (portrait) ✓ Recommended | 1080 × 1350 px | 4:5 | Max vertical space in feed |
| Feed Photo (square) | 1080 × 1080 px | 1:1 | Works but less real estate |
| Feed Photo (landscape) | 1080 × 566 px | 1.91:1 | Smallest on mobile — avoid |
| Story | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | Safe zone: center 1080 × 1420 px |
| Reel Cover | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | Same as Story spec |
| Profile Photo | 320 × 320 px | 1:1 | Displayed at 110 px on mobile |
Format: JPEG recommended. PNG accepted but adds file size with no quality benefit for photos.
Instagram will NOT accept: WebP, AVIF, HEIC, BMP, TIFF. Convert to JPEG first.
Facebook serves content across desktop and mobile simultaneously, so image rendering is more complex than Instagram. The same image may appear at different crop ratios in desktop news feed, mobile feed, and the Stories tab. Facebook renders link preview images (og:image) at 1200×630px — this is the dimension that links to articles and websites use.
| Post Type | Dimensions | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post Image ✓ Recommended | 1200 × 630 px | 1.91:1 | Standard feed post |
| Post Image (square) | 1080 × 1080 px | 1:1 | Works well on mobile |
| Story | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | Same as Instagram Story |
| Event Cover | 1920 × 1080 px | 16:9 | Wide banner format |
| Cover Photo | 851 × 315 px | 2.7:1 | Displayed at 820 × 312 on desktop |
| Profile Photo | 180 × 180 px | 1:1 | Displayed at 40–50 px in feed |
Format: JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics with text. Animated GIFs supported in posts.
LinkedIn's image rendering is strongly oriented toward professional content. The platform is primarily used on desktop (higher desktop share than other social networks), so landscape images perform better here than on Instagram. LinkedIn's article cover image uses a different spec than standard post images.
| Post Type | Dimensions | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post Image ✓ Recommended | 1200 × 627 px | 1.91:1 | Similar to Facebook post spec |
| Post Image (square) | 1080 × 1080 px | 1:1 | Works on both mobile and desktop |
| Article Cover | 1920 × 1080 px | 16:9 | Full-width header image |
| Company Logo | 300 × 300 px | 1:1 | Min 400 × 400 px recommended |
| Profile Photo | 400 × 400 px | 1:1 | Shown at 200 × 200 px max |
| Background Photo | 1584 × 396 px | 4:1 | Banner at the top of profiles |
Format: JPEG and PNG. Max 5 MB per image for posts.
Twitter / X
Twitter/X uses a smart crop algorithm that tries to identify the focal point of an image. Despite this, tall portrait images (9:16) are heavily cropped in the timeline — the preview shows only a center band. The 16:9 landscape format is the safest choice. X is the only major platform that officially accepts WebP format for uploads.
| Post Type | Dimensions | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Image ✓ Recommended | 1600 × 900 px | 16:9 | Full display without crop |
| Single Image (safe) | 1200 × 675 px | 16:9 | Min for crisp rendering |
| Two-image layout | Each at 1200 × 900 px | 4:3 | Side-by-side card layout |
| Header/Banner | 1500 × 500 px | 3:1 | Profile banner image |
| Profile Photo | 400 × 400 px | 1:1 | Circular crop applied |
Format: JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF (animated). Max 5 MB for JPEG/PNG, 15 MB for GIF.
Warning: Twitter's smart crop often fails on portrait photos — a 9:16 portrait will have the head cropped off in timeline preview. Stick to landscape or 1:1.
YouTube
YouTube images are primarily thumbnails — the frame that appears before a video plays in search results and Browse. YouTube thumbnails are one of the highest-ROI image optimization tasks on any platform: a better thumbnail directly increases CTR, which is one of YouTube's primary ranking signals.
| Element | Dimensions | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Thumbnail ✓ Recommended | 1280 × 720 px | 16:9 | Min 640 × 360 px — but don't use min |
| Channel Banner | 2560 × 1440 px | 16:9 | Safe zone: 1546 × 423 px center |
| Channel Icon/Logo | 800 × 800 px | 1:1 | Displayed as circle in various sizes |
| Shorts Thumbnail | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | Vertical format, same as TikTok |
Format: JPEG preferred for thumbnails (smaller file, faster load). PNG accepted. Max 2 MB.
TikTok
TikTok is a video-first platform where image specs apply primarily to video cover photos and to TikTok Photo mode (carousel images). The platform has a strict file size limit for cover images (287 KB) — well below other platforms — making compression a mandatory step before upload.
| Element | Dimensions | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video Cover ✓ Recommended | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | Max 287 KB — must compress |
| Photo Mode Image | 1080 × 1350 px | 4:5 | Portrait preferred in carousel |
| Profile Photo | 200 × 200 px | 1:1 | Circular crop; use 800 × 800 source |
Format: JPEG only. PNG and WebP are not accepted for cover images.
Note on 287 KB limit: This is TikTok's documented limit for video cover images. Use a tool that lets you target a specific file size — see our guide on compressing images to a specific file size for the exact workflow.
Pinterest is the platform where image dimensions most directly drive algorithm performance. Taller pins occupy more rows in the masonry grid, are seen by more users while scrolling, and accumulate saves faster. The 2:3 ratio is Pinterest's documented preference. Square or landscape pins are consistently outperformed by tall portrait pins in Pinterest's Smart Feed.
| Element | Dimensions | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Pin ✓ Recommended | 1000 × 1500 px | 2:3 | Pinterest's confirmed preferred ratio |
| Long Pin | 1000 × 2100 px | 1:2.1 | Max ratio Pinterest will display |
| Square Pin | 1000 × 1000 px | 1:1 | Works but underperforms 2:3 |
| Story Pin | 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 | Used in Idea Pins format |
| Profile Photo | 165 × 165 px | 1:1 | Circle crop; use 800 × 800 source |
Format: JPEG and PNG. Max 20 MB — by far the highest limit of any platform. Animated GIF pins supported.
Cross-Posting: Which Dimensions Work on Multiple Platforms?
If you need to post the same image to multiple platforms without creating a separate version for each, use these compromise dimensions:
| Goal | Dimensions | Works On | Doesn't Work On |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single image for all platforms | 1080 × 1080 px (1:1) | Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Pinterest | YouTube thumbnails, TikTok covers (crops applied) |
| Landscape (desktop-heavy content) | 1280 × 720 px (16:9) | Twitter/X, LinkedIn article, YouTube | Instagram feed (cropped), TikTok (cropped) |
| Vertical (mobile-heavy content) | 1080 × 1350 px (4:5) | Instagram, TikTok Photo mode, Pinterest (slight crop) | YouTube, Twitter/X, LinkedIn |
| Full vertical story | 1080 × 1920 px (9:16) | Instagram Story, Facebook Story, TikTok, Shorts | Feed posts (cropped on most platforms) |
The only true "works everywhere without cropping" dimension is 1:1 square — but it underperforms on Pinterest, YouTube, and the TikTok cover slot. The right approach is to prepare 2 versions: one 4:5 portrait (Instagram + Pinterest) and one 16:9 landscape (LinkedIn + Twitter/X + YouTube).
Resize Images to Any Platform Spec in Seconds
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Open ConvertiImage Free →Frequently Asked Questions
Which platform has the strictest image size requirements?
TikTok, for cover images (287 KB max). This is far below other platforms and makes pre-compression mandatory. YouTube is second-most strict at 2 MB for thumbnails. Instagram and Facebook are both 8 MB, and Pinterest is the most permissive at 20 MB.
Can I upload WebP to Instagram or Facebook?
No. Neither Instagram nor Facebook accept WebP format for image uploads as of 2026. Twitter/X is the only major social platform that accepts WebP. For all other platforms, convert to JPEG (for photos) or PNG (for graphics with transparency) before uploading.
What's the best image size for LinkedIn posts in 2026?
1200×627px for standard post images (aspect ratio 1.91:1). For LinkedIn article covers, 1920×1080px (16:9). Square 1080×1080px also works well on mobile. LinkedIn's maximum file size is 5 MB per image, which is lower than Facebook and Instagram.
Why does Twitter/X crop my portrait photos?
Twitter/X uses a smart-crop algorithm for timeline preview that extracts a 16:9 or 2:1 landscape band from taller images. Portrait photos (9:16) are cropped to show only the center portion. To avoid this, use 16:9 landscape images (1600×900px) or click the image after upload and adjust the crop manually before posting.
