Every social media platform has its own preferred image dimensions. Post the wrong size and your image gets cropped awkwardly, compressed aggressively, or displayed with ugly black bars. The fix is simple: resize to the right dimensions before uploading.
This guide lists the exact pixel dimensions for every major platform in 2026, explains when aspect ratio matters, and shows you how to resize images for free — without installing anything.
Instagram image sizes
- Square post: 1080×1080 px (1:1)
- Portrait post: 1080×1350 px (4:5) — recommended, takes more feed space
- Landscape post: 1080×566 px (1.91:1)
- Story / Reel: 1080×1920 px (9:16)
- Profile picture: 320×320 px (displayed as circle)
LinkedIn image sizes
- Feed post image: 1200×1200 px (1:1) or 1200×628 px (1.91:1)
- Article cover: 1200×644 px
- Profile photo: 400×400 px
- Banner / background: 1584×396 px
- Company page cover: 1128×191 px
X (Twitter) image sizes
- Single image post: 1600×900 px (16:9) — the ideal ratio for full display without cropping
- Two-image post: 700×800 px each (7:8)
- Profile photo: 400×400 px
- Header banner: 1500×500 px (3:1)
Facebook image sizes
- Feed post: 1200×630 px (1.91:1) — same ratio as link previews
- Square post: 1080×1080 px
- Story: 1080×1920 px (9:16)
- Cover photo: 820×312 px (desktop) / 640×360 px (mobile crop)
- Profile photo: 180×180 px (minimum, displayed as circle)
- Event cover: 1200×628 px
YouTube image sizes
- Thumbnail: 1280×720 px (16:9) — this is critical for click-through rates
- Channel banner: 2560×1440 px (safe area: 1546×423 px center)
- Profile photo: 800×800 px
Pinterest image sizes
- Standard pin: 1000×1500 px (2:3) — the recommended ratio
- Long pin: 1000×2100 px (1:2.1) — stands out in the feed
- Square pin: 1000×1000 px
- Profile photo: 165×165 px
How to resize images for any platform
Once you know the target dimensions, the process is straightforward:
- Open ImagePal's image resizer.
- Drop your image (or multiple images) into the upload area.
- Enter the target width and height from the tables above.
- Enable 'Lock aspect ratio' if you want proportional scaling, or disable it to force exact dimensions.
- Click 'Resize.' The result downloads instantly.
Aspect ratio: why it matters
Aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between width and height. Instagram posts are 1:1 (square) or 4:5 (portrait). YouTube thumbnails are 16:9 (widescreen). When you upload an image with the wrong ratio, the platform either crops it automatically — often cutting off important parts — or adds black/white bars.
The safest approach: resize to the exact pixel dimensions for each platform. If your source image has a different ratio, crop it intentionally first so you control what stays in frame.
Resize, then compress
After resizing, run the image through a compressor to reduce file size without visible quality loss. This matters because:
- Smaller files upload faster — especially on mobile connections.
- Platforms re-compress your image on upload. Starting with a smaller, cleaner file gives the algorithm less to destroy.
- LinkedIn and Facebook apply heavy compression to large files. A pre-optimized image often looks better after their processing pipeline than a bloated original.
Format recommendations by platform
- JPEG — best for photographs. All platforms accept it. Use 80–85% quality for the best size/quality balance.
- PNG — best for graphics with text, logos, screenshots, or anything with sharp edges. Larger files but no compression artifacts.
- WebP — smaller files than JPEG at equal quality. Supported by most platforms for upload now, but JPEG is still the safest default.
If you need to convert between formats, ImagePal's converter handles JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, and more — all in your browser.
The bottom line
Social media platforms are opinionated about image sizes. Fighting them with wrong dimensions means auto-cropping, compression artifacts, and wasted screen real estate. A 30-second resize before uploading makes a visible difference — and it doesn't require downloading any software.