Why You Need To Grasp Social Media Image Aspect Ratio

What the heck is social media image aspect ratio?

More importantly, why should you care?

Because understanding this concept will make your image creation so much easier!

You will no longer have to stress over every pixel in your social media image sizes!

And, you’ll be able to communicate clearly if your image size isn’t working.

Because it’s not about the pixel size. It’s about the aspect ratio!

“My cover photo is too big!”

I get it. Facebook cover photos are confusing.

Yes, your image is cropped differently on desktop and mobile. That’s why I wrote a series of posts that have helped thousands of image creators.

Problems that may arise aren’t about the pixel size, but the aspect ratio (or shape, or proportions).

On each of these Facebook cover photos, the aspect ratio differs for desktop or mobile view.

The easiest way to deal with the Facebook cover photo size dilemma is to start with a 16:9 aspect ratio horizontal image and be prepared for plenty of cropping at the top and bottom once uploaded to Facebook.

As long as you keep text overlay or important features away from the top and bottom, you’ll be fine.

Social media image aspect ratio, simplified

From most horizontal to most vertical, here are the aspect ratios and suggested sizes that work across social media. Some shapes work across several platforms: asterisked* means it’s the preferred shape on that platform.

1.91:1 ratio

• Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter links shares*: 1200 x 628 pixels
• Instagram and Twitter photo posts: 1200 x 628 works here as well

16:9 ratio

• Twitter photos*, Facebook photos: 1200 x 675 pixels
• Facebook cover photos (allow for cropping top and bottom!): 1200 x 675 pixels or larger
• YouTube channel art*: 2560 x 1440
• YouTube video thumbnails*: 1280 x 720

1:1 ratio (square)

• Instagram photos*, Facebook photos: 1200 x 1200 pixels
• Pinterest Pins: 600 x 600 or to fit your blog
• All profile pictures* (allow cropping to circle): 500 x 500
• YouTube channel icon*: 800 x 800

4:5 ratio (portrait)

• Instagram posts (tallest allowed): 1080 x 1350
• Pinterest Pins (repurpose from Instagram)

2:3 ratio

• Pinterest Pins*, Google+ photos: 600 x 900, or width that fits your blog x 1.5

9:16 ratio

• Facebook and Instagram Story images*, Snapchat*: 1080 x 1920
• Pinterest Pins: 600 x 1067, or width that fits your blog x 1.7777

1:2.1 ratio

• Pinterest Pins (won’t crop in feed): 600 x 1260, or width that fits your blog x 2.1

Images for the web should be exported at 72dpi in the sRGB color space. (Keep reading)

Pinterest Pins aspect ratio

From square (1:1) to 2.1 times taller than wide. Per Pinterest, these shapes will be optimized for display in the feed.

Pinterest has often emphasized that the optimal shape is 2:3, or 1 1/2 times taller than wide.

Recommended width: 600 pixels, up to the width of your blog content area.

Multiply your width times 1, 1.5, or up to 2.1 to get a Pinterest-optimal image shape.

Instagram photo posts aspect ratio

From 1.91:1 (horizontal) to 4:5 (portrait). All will be center-cropped to square in your gallery.

Video aspect ratio for Facebook and Instagram

When you create a video asset for Facebook or Instagram, design for mobile first. Vertical video (formats 4:5, 2:3, and 9:16) can be most engaging, since most people hold their phone upright.

Facebook, Instagram and Audience Network support a range of aspect ratios from 16:9 to 9:16. The depictions below give a feeling for the different shapes. Note how much more impactful the taller shapes are!

Facebook ratio recommendations

For video ads on Facebook without links, full portrait (9:16) is best. When using this format, ensure the most important parts of your video also display within the vertical (2:3) aspect ratio for optimal rendering in News Feed.

For video carousel, use square (1:1) and consistent ratios for all videos in a carousel.

For in-stream ads, use full landscape 16:9 to match video inventory.

Instagram ratio recommendations

Instagram supports 1:91–4:5 for all feed videos across all objectives.

Instagram Stories only accepts and displays in full portrait (9:16).

Facebook and Instagram ratio recommendations

To optimize the placement of your vertical video campaigns across both Facebook and Instagram, use vertical (4:5) videos. source

Download the video aspect ratio guide (PDF).

Social media image aspect ratio: conclusion

I hope the illustrations I’ve provided have helped you understand what aspect ratio means!

My goal is to alleviate your confusion and simplify visual content creation.

Please Pin, share, or tweet this post about social media image aspect ratio. Thanks!

Originally published at louisem.com on April 11, 2018.