Social Media Image Sizes (2026)
Updated 2026-08-08 · By the MakeToolz team
Quick answer: The most-used 2026 sizes are square posts at 1080x1080, vertical stories and reels at 1080x1920, YouTube thumbnails at 1280x720, and most profile pictures at 400x400. The full table is below. To hit any size exactly, drop your image into the free image resizer, or work out the shape first with the aspect ratio calculator.
Every platform crops to its own dimensions, so an image sized for Instagram looks wrong on YouTube. Upload the right size and your photo stays sharp and uncropped. Upload the wrong shape and faces get cut off or the picture turns blurry. Here is every current size in one place.
Profile picture sizes
| Platform | Size (px) | Shape |
|---|---|---|
| 320x320 | Circle | |
| TikTok | 200x200 (min) | Circle |
| YouTube | 800x800 | Circle |
| X / Twitter | 400x400 | Circle |
| 320x320 or larger | Circle | |
| 400x400 | Circle | |
| 165x165 | Circle |
Upload a square image even though it displays as a circle, since each app crops the corners itself. Want to grab someone's existing avatar at full size? Use the Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube profile picture downloaders.
Post and feed image sizes
| Platform | Format | Size (px) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square | 1080x1080 | 1:1 | |
| Portrait | 1080x1350 | 4:5 | |
| Landscape | 1080x566 | 1.91:1 | |
| Shared image | 1200x630 | 1.91:1 | |
| X / Twitter | In-stream | 1600x900 | 16:9 |
| Post image | 1200x627 | 1.91:1 | |
| Standard Pin | 1000x1500 | 2:3 |
Story and reel sizes (vertical)
Stories, reels, and short video all share the same tall 9:16 shape: 1080x1920 pixels. That covers Instagram Stories and Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Facebook Stories, and Snapchat. Keep important text and faces in the middle, because the top and bottom get covered by the app's buttons and captions.
Cover, banner, and header sizes
| Platform | Element | Size (px) |
|---|---|---|
| Cover photo | 851x315 | |
| X / Twitter | Header | 1500x500 |
| YouTube | Channel banner | 2560x1440 (safe area 1546x423) |
| Personal cover | 1584x396 | |
| Company cover | 1128x191 |
The YouTube banner is the trickiest, because it displays differently on phones, desktops, and TVs. Design the full 2560x1440 canvas but keep your logo and text inside the central 1546x423 safe area, so nothing important gets cropped on smaller screens.
Thumbnail and video sizes
- YouTube thumbnail: 1280x720 (16:9), under 2 MB.
- YouTube video: 1920x1080 for standard HD, 3840x2160 for 4K.
- Horizontal video everywhere: 1920x1080 (16:9).
- Vertical video everywhere: 1080x1920 (9:16).
Need a video's cover image? Grab it with the YouTube thumbnail downloader or the TikTok thumbnail downloader.
Quick tips for sharp images
- Always upload at the exact pixel size or larger. Scaling a small image up makes it blurry, while the platform can shrink a big one cleanly.
- Match the ratio, not just the pixels. A 1:1 image forced into a 9:16 slot gets cropped. Use the aspect ratio calculator to resize without distortion.
- Compress before uploading. Large files upload slowly and some get re-compressed hard, so shrink the file first with the image compressor.
- Keep text centered on vertical formats. App buttons cover roughly the top and bottom 250 pixels of a 9:16 screen.
Last verified August 2026. Platforms adjust these occasionally, so check the official help pages for any size that has to be perfect.
People Also Ask
What size is a social media post image?
The safest all-round post size is 1080x1080 pixels, a square. For a portrait that takes up more feed space, use 1080x1350. For a shared link or landscape image on Facebook, X, or LinkedIn, use about 1200x630.
What is the best size for a story or reel?
1080x1920 pixels, a 9:16 vertical shape. This is the same for Instagram Stories and Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Facebook Stories, and Snapchat. Keep key content in the middle so app buttons do not cover it.
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
1280x720 pixels, a 16:9 ratio, saved under 2 MB as a JPG or PNG. That is the size YouTube shows in search and suggested videos, and using it keeps your thumbnail crisp instead of stretched.
What size should a profile picture be?
Upload a square image of at least 400x400 pixels. Most apps display it as a circle and crop the corners for you. Instagram uses 320x320, YouTube 800x800, and TikTok a minimum of 200x200.
Why does my image look blurry after uploading?
Usually because it was smaller than the display size and the platform stretched it, or it was compressed too hard on upload. Upload at the exact pixel size or larger, and compress the file yourself first so the platform does not over-compress it.
What is the difference between image size and aspect ratio?
Size is the exact pixel dimensions, like 1080x1080. Aspect ratio is the shape, like 1:1 or 16:9, regardless of pixels. Matching the ratio stops cropping, and matching the pixels keeps the image sharp. You usually want both.
Can I use the same image on every platform?
Not without cropping. A square post works on most feeds, but stories need a tall 9:16 version and YouTube needs a wide 16:9 one. Resize a master image into each shape rather than forcing one size everywhere.
Sizing an image now? Drop it into the free image resizer to hit any dimension exactly, check the shape with the aspect ratio calculator, or shrink the file with the image compressor. All free, no signup, straight in your browser.