The importance of social media is huge – it doesn’t only help a business connect with its customers, it also promotes content that people wouldn’t otherwise see.
When posting content on social media, it’s important to keep in mind what the social platform is, and make sure the image you are uploading is the optimal size. Having the wrong size can sometimes cause trouble – if the image is distorted, people won’t be able to see it properly and are therefore less likely to engage with your post.
Photo dimensions vary according to where and how the image is shared – this might include cover photos, timeline images and profile pictures. Size really does matter when it comes to social!
Helpful Image Sizing Software
Sizing images for social media sounds like an easy task, but without the right software, it can take more effort than it should. Having the right tools can save you a lot of time. Here at Cariad Marketing, we use creative software like Photoshop to create all the lovely covers.
However, if you don’t have a Creative Cloud subscription, there are free tools you can use. The one we recommend is B.I.R.M.E – a free online image resizing website which you can access here – birme.net. We’ve listed below what the best image size for each social network is. However, as social platforms are always changing, please keep in mind that the dimensions may change – these ones are up-to-date as of December 2017.
My advice is that if your business is posting or advertising on social media, it is always best to check the best image dimensions of the social platforms as this will play an important role in the success of your business.
In no particular order, here are the best sizes for each of the social platforms. All the dimensions are in pixels.
Facebook
Profile Picture 180 x 180
Cover Photo 828 x 315
Shared Image 1,200 x 630
Twitter
Profile Picture 400 x 400
Cover Photo 1,500 x 500
Shared Image 1,024 x 512
Google+
Profile Picture 250 x 250
Cover Photo 1,080 x 608
Shared Image 497 x 373
LinkedIn
Profile Picture 400 x 400
Cover Photo 1,536 x 768
Shared Image 552 x 368
Instagram
Profile Picture 110 x 110
Shared Image 1,080 x 1,080
YouTube
Profile Picture 800 x 800
Cover Photo 2,560 x 1,440
