Social media is constantly changing – therein lies the beauty and the frustration of it. What’s posted today is gone tomorrow (or many times even sooner than that).
A few months ago, I posted an infographic on the image size requirements for multiple social media sites. With profile pictures and cover photos for so many platforms, it’s difficult to keep them all straight and updated. As photographers, though, it’s important that our online presence shows our best work. It gives a terrible impression for potential clients if our images are pixelated or blurry (prime example – Google Tim Cook Blurry Super Bowl Photo and feel the wrath of the Internet).
Well, that last infographic was soooo last year – a whole two months old, which equates to YEARS in internet time – and since then, some of the image requirements have already been updated.
The digital marketing team at Mainstreethost has posted a new infographic with image dimensions for the following networks in a detailed infographic. You can see the infographic below or click on the following links to be taken to the Mainstreethost site for your specific platform. The infographic itself just shows the various dimensions, but the site gives simple tips on how to better leverage each platform for marketing your business.
This actually is an updated version of an infographic they posted two years ago, which, of course, is pretty much irrelevant today. To combat the fast-moving force of the internet, the folks at Mainstreethost also will be doing all the legwork for us by constantly updating a Google doc with the ever-changing dimensions. Click here to access that doc so your social image sizes will always be optimal!
Note: Some of these sizes already need updating or are incorrect – Instagram should be 1080px.
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I don’t think the info for facebook is correct.
On their help page they recommend 2048px, 960px, and 720px as the default sizes for uploading images. If you choose other sizes facebook will resize and & compress.
Great article. But Instagram image size needs to be updated:
Instagram Image Size: 1080px in width by 1080px in height
Thank you! I’ve been looking for an all in one for a long time!
Facebook recommends 2048px on the long edge not 1200px
Yes, it was 2048px on the long edge when I was working on a big client account about a year ago. I find it hard to believe that Facebook is using smaller sizes today.
Thank you so much for this info, Hanssie!
You wouldn’t believe how much time it has saved!!!
I can’t speak for all social media platforms. But when it comes to Facebook it is more important to keep an eye on the ratios. In many cases Facebook is using much larger image sizes to provide a better image quality and user experience on high pixel density screens. This is called Responsive Images and Facebook is using this technique. For example you can upload a much larger image for my cover picture for your personal page. The visible size will be 851 x 315 pixel but the browser will request a much larger version and therefore will support HDPI screens with a much sharper image. As a web developer I can proof this with a screenshot but I can not upload it here.
This is good to have. I’m being asked to format images for different social media platforms, so having this in one place saves me a lot of time. Thank you Hanssie!
You’re welcome, John! I love that they have an up-to-date Google doc, too. I’m too lazy to figure it out for myself!
such a great article Hanssie, TY TY!
I’m always having to Google the dimensions for certain social media outlets. It’s nice to have it in just one info graphic.
Esp. since they change constantly! It’s hard to keep up on these things :)