Social Media Image Sizes Cheat Sheet 2026: Every Platform, Every Format

Bookmark this page. Every social media image and video dimension, updated for 2026. Pixel sizes, aspect ratios, and the export settings that keep your content crisp across every platform.

Platforms change their image specs constantly. A size guide from 2024 is already outdated. This page is maintained with the latest dimensions as of March 2026, covering Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, and X (Twitter).

Every dimension below is the recommended size — the maximum resolution that looks sharp without being compressed into a blurry mess by the platform's upload algorithm.

Instagram

Instagram video specs: Reels and Stories accept MP4 or MOV, up to 60 seconds for Reels (up to 90 for some accounts). Recommended video resolution is 1080 x 1920 at 30fps. Keep file size under 250MB. Instagram compresses everything, so upload at the highest quality you can — it will be downgraded regardless.

Facebook

Facebook cover photo note: The cover photo displays at 820 x 312 on desktop and 640 x 360 on mobile. These crops are different, so keep your key content (logo, text) in the center area that's visible on both. Upload at 1640 x 924 and Facebook will resize.

Facebook ad specs: Facebook Ads Manager accepts 1:1, 4:5, and 9:16 ratios. For feed ads, 1:1 is safest. For story/reel placements, 9:16 is required. Keep text on images under 20% of the total area — Facebook's algorithm deprioritizes text-heavy ad images.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn carousel trick: Upload a multi-page PDF to create a carousel post. Each page becomes a slide. Design at 1080 x 1350 for maximum feed presence. Keep file size under 100MB and under 300 pages (though 8-12 slides is the sweet spot for engagement).

TikTok

TikTok video specs: MP4 or MOV, up to 10 minutes long (3-10 minutes supported since 2024). Recommended resolution is 1080 x 1920 at 30fps. Maximum file size: 287MB on mobile, 500MB on desktop. Keep key visuals and text away from the bottom 15% of the frame — that's where TikTok overlays the caption, buttons, and engagement icons.

Safe zone: Design your content within a 1080 x 1620 safe zone (centered vertically) to avoid overlap with TikTok's UI elements at the top and bottom of the screen.

Pinterest

Pinterest algorithm note: The 2:3 ratio (1000 x 1500) is Pinterest's officially recommended pin format. Longer pins (taller than 2:3) used to perform well but Pinterest now truncates them in the feed, which can cut off your text or key visuals. Stick with 2:3 for the best display.

YouTube

YouTube thumbnail tip: Thumbnails are the single most important factor in click-through rate. Design at 1280 x 720 minimum (YouTube requires at least 640px wide). Use large, readable text — your thumbnail needs to be legible at 168 x 94 pixels, which is how it appears in suggested videos on mobile. If you can't read your text at that size, make it bigger or remove it.

X (Twitter)

X image display: Single images in tweets display at 16:9. If you upload a square image, X will crop the top and bottom. To avoid unexpected cropping, either design at 16:9 or use a 2:1 ratio which also displays well. For important content, always check the preview before posting.

Quick Reference: Universal Safe Sizes

If you want to create the fewest possible assets that work across the most platforms, these three sizes cover nearly everything:

If you design everything in those three sizes, you cover 90% of use cases across all major platforms without needing custom sizing for each one.

Export Tips by Tool

Canva

• Use "Custom size" and enter exact pixel dimensions before starting your design.
• Export as PNG for images with text or sharp edges. Use JPG for photographs.
• For carousels, design a multi-page Canva document and download as PDF (for LinkedIn) or individual PNGs (for Instagram).
• Canva's "Magic Resize" feature can adapt a design to different sizes but always check the output — it often cuts off text or misaligns elements.

Photoshop

• Create new documents at 72 PPI for social media (300 PPI is for print — it just makes your files larger with no visual benefit on screen).
• Use "Export As" (not "Save for Web") for the best compression. Target 80% quality for JPGs — visually identical to 100% at one-third the file size.
• Create artboard documents with multiple artboards at different social sizes. Design once, export all sizes from one file.
• Use Smart Objects for your logo and key elements so they stay editable across artboards.

Figma

• Set up frames at exact social media dimensions. Use the community for free social media size templates.
• Export at 2x for high-DPI displays if creating for web. For social media, 1x at the correct pixel dimensions is sufficient.
• Use Auto Layout for carousel templates — add a new slide and all spacing stays consistent automatically.
• Figma's export to PNG is lossless. For smaller files, export to JPG at 80% quality.

General Export Rules

• Images with text: PNG (preserves sharp edges on text).
• Photographs without text: JPG at 80-90% quality.
• Transparent backgrounds: PNG (JPG doesn't support transparency).
• Video: MP4 with H.264 encoding. Target 8-12 Mbps bitrate for 1080p. Higher bitrate = larger file but less compression artifacting.
• File naming: Use descriptive names like "brand-instagram-post-spring-2026.png" not "export-final-v3-FINAL.png." It matters when you have 500 files in a folder.

When Platforms Change Specs

Platforms update their image specs 2-3 times per year, usually without announcement. Here's how to stay current without constantly Googling:

• Follow each platform's official creator accounts. They announce spec changes there before anywhere else.
• Test before batch-creating. Before designing 30 carousel slides, post one test slide to make sure it displays correctly. Specs that work in theory sometimes crop differently in practice.
• Design with safe zones. Keep critical content (text, faces, logos) away from the edges. Even if specs don't change, different devices and app versions crop differently.
• Bookmark this page. We update it when specs change.

Related Reading

• How to Create Social Media Graphics That Stop the Scroll
• Instagram Carousel Strategy: The Format That Gets 3x Engagement
• How to Build a Visual Brand on Instagram
• Content Repurposing Strategy: One Piece, Ten Formats