Are you looking for ways to optimise your social media presence? Want to ensure the images you share fit perfectly in user’s feeds?

Hootsuite share the sizes and dimensions you need to know in this infographic.

They cover the following platforms:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest
• Tumblr
• Snapchat
• YouTube
• TikTok

Check out the infographic for more detail.

 

In the fast-paced world of social media, where content is king, visual appeal plays a crucial role in capturing your audience’s attention. High-quality images are a must to stand out in the crowd, but equally important is ensuring that those images are properly optimized for the specific social media platforms you’re using. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the world of image sizes for popular social media platforms in 2021.

Introduction

Social media platforms are constantly evolving, and with these changes come new guidelines for image sizes and dimensions. Keeping up with these updates can be a daunting task, but it’s essential if you want your content to look its best and perform well on social media. In this guide, we’ll cover image sizes for some of the most popular social media platforms in 2021, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Facebook Image Sizes

Profile Picture

• Profile Picture: 170 x 170 pixels on desktop, 128 x 128 pixels on smartphones

Cover Photo

• Cover Photo: 820 x 312 pixels on desktop, 640 x 360 pixels on smartphones

Shared Image

• Shared Image: 1,200 x 630 pixels

Shared Link

• Shared Link: 1,200 x 628 pixels

Highlighted Image

• Highlighted Image: 1,200 x 717 pixels

Event Image

• Event Image: 1,920 x 1,080 pixels

Story

• Story: 1,080 x 1,920 pixels

Group Cover Photo

• Group Cover Photo: 1,640 x 856 pixels

Facebook is one of the largest social media platforms, and optimizing your images for it is crucial. Keep these dimensions in mind when creating profile pictures, cover photos, and shared content.

Instagram Image Sizes

Profile Picture

• Profile Picture: 110 x 110 pixels

Photo Post

• Photo Post: 1,080 x 1,080 pixels

Landscape Photo

• Landscape Photo: 1,080 x 608 pixels

Portrait Photo

• Portrait Photo: 1,080 x 1,350 pixels

Instagram Stories

• Instagram Stories: 1,080 x 1,920 pixels

IGTV Cover Photo

• IGTV Cover Photo: 420 x 654 pixels

Instagram Ads

• Instagram Ads: Varies depending on the ad type, so check Instagram’s official guidelines for the latest sizes.

Instagram is all about visual storytelling, and using the right image sizes will help you make the most of this platform.

Twitter Image Sizes

Profile Picture

• Profile Picture: 400 x 400 pixels

Header Photo

• Header Photo: 1,500 x 500 pixels

In-Feed Image

• In-Feed Image: 1,200 x 675 pixels

Twitter Cards

• Twitter Cards: 1,200 x 628 pixels

Twitter is known for its real-time updates, and using the correct image sizes ensures your content looks great in users’ feeds.

LinkedIn Image Sizes

Profile Picture

• Profile Picture: 300 x 300 pixels

Background Photo

• Background Photo: 1,584 x 396 pixels

Banner Image

• Banner Image: 646 x 220 pixels

Company Logo

• Company Logo: 300 x 300 pixels

Hero Image

• Hero Image: 1,128 x 376 pixels

Shared Image

• Shared Image: 1,200 x 627 pixels

Sponsored Content Image

• Sponsored Content Image: 1,200 x 627 pixels

LinkedIn is the go-to platform for professional networking, so having a polished profile with correctly sized images is essential.

Pinterest Image Sizes

Profile Picture

• Profile Picture: 165 x 165 pixels

Pin Image

• Pin Image: 1,000 x 1,500 pixels

Board Display

• Board Display: 222 x 150 pixels

Standard Board Image

• Standard Board Image: 238 x 284 pixels

Showcase Board Image

• Showcase Board Image: 222 x 150 pixels

Pinterest is a visual discovery platform, and optimizing your images can help your pins stand out and attract more engagement.

YouTube Image Sizes

Channel Cover Photo

• Channel Cover Photo: 2,560 x 1,440 pixels

Video Thumbnail

• Video Thumbnail: 1,280 x 720 pixels

Video Uploads

• Video Uploads: 1,280 x 720 pixels

YouTube Ads

• YouTube Ads: Varies depending on the ad type, so check YouTube’s official guidelines for the latest sizes.

YouTube is the world’s second-largest search engine, and using the right image sizes can help your videos get more views and engagement.

Best Practices for Social Media Image Optimization

Now that we’ve covered the specific image sizes for various social media platforms, let’s delve into some best practices for optimizing your images:

1. Use High-Quality Images

Regardless of the platform, always use high-resolution images. Blurry or pixelated images can make your content look unprofessional and unappealing.

2. Maintain Consistency

Consistency in your branding is key. Use the same profile picture and cover photo across all platforms to create a cohesive online presence.

3. Pay Attention to Aspect Ratios

Different platforms may have different aspect ratios for images. Be mindful of these ratios to avoid cropping or distortion.

4. Compress Images

To ensure faster loading times, consider compressing your images while maintaining quality. Many online tools can help with this.

5. Test and Preview

Before publishing, test your images on various devices and screen sizes to ensure they look good everywhere.

6. Stay Updated

Social media platforms can change their image size guidelines. Periodically check for updates to ensure your content remains optimized.

7. Use Alt Text

Don’t forget to add descriptive alt text to your images to improve accessibility and SEO.

8. Follow Platform-Specific Guidelines

Each platform may have its own additional guidelines or recommendations for image optimization. Be sure to follow these as well.

Conclusion

Optimizing your images for social media is a critical step in creating a strong online presence and engaging with your audience effectively. By following the image size guidelines provided for popular platforms in 2021 and adhering to best practices, you can ensure that your visual content looks its best and resonates with your target audience. Stay up-to-date with platform changes, test your images, and never underestimate the power of high-quality visuals in the world of social media. Happy posting!

Remember, while these dimensions were accurate as of 2021, social media platforms are constantly evolving. Be sure to check for the latest guidelines and updates from each platform to ensure your images are always optimized for the best performance.