Social Media Image Sizes (2026 Cheat Sheet)

Every platform has a preferred image size, and uploading the wrong one gets your design cropped. Instagram posts are 1080 × 1350 px (portrait), X posts 1600 × 900 px, LinkedIn 1200 × 627 px, and YouTube thumbnails 1280 × 720 px. Here’s the full reference — and the one rule that prevents most cropping.

The rule that saves you

Design at the largest size the platform supports, then let it scale down. Uploading a big image is fine; uploading a small one gets stretched and looks soft.

And keep the important content centred. Every platform crops the same image differently across feed, profile grid, and mobile — so headlines and faces near the edges disappear somewhere.

Instagram

Portrait (1080 × 1350) takes the most vertical space in the feed, which is why it’s the default for reach.

Facebook

X (Twitter)

X crops to roughly 16:9 in the timeline, so the 1600 × 900 ratio displays without surprises.

LinkedIn

TikTok

TikTok is vertical-only — 9:16. Any other ratio gets letterboxed.

YouTube

Thumbnail specifics — file size limits, safe zones, and what makes one work — are covered in how to make a YouTube thumbnail.

Pinterest

A few practical notes

Use 2:3 for anything social and vertical. 1080 × 1350 sits inside Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest without cropping — the closest thing to a universal vertical size.

Keep file sizes sane. Most platforms cap uploads around 5–8 MB. Compress before uploading — see how to reduce image file size.

Use PNG for text and graphics, JPG for photos. Text and flat colour stay sharp in PNG; photos are smaller as JPG.

Safe zones are real. Profile pictures overlay the bottom-left of Reels and Stories, and the caption covers the bottom of a feed image. Keep key content out of those areas.

These change. Platforms adjust sizes quietly. If a design looks cropped, check the platform’s current spec before assuming your file is wrong.

How to build to these sizes

In Canva, most of these are preset sizes — start from the template and the dimensions are handled:

1. Create a design → search the platform name (e.g. “Instagram Post”).
2. Or use Custom size and enter the dimensions from the table.
3. Canva Pro’s Magic Resize converts an existing design to another size in one click.

For the Canva basics, see how to use Canva. And if you’re making a set of posts, how to make a flyer covers the print side of the same design skills.

FAQ

What size should a social media image be?

It depends on the platform. Instagram posts: 1080 × 1350. X: 1600 × 900. LinkedIn: 1200 × 627. YouTube thumbnails: 1280 × 720. Full table above.

What’s the best universal social media size?

1080 × 1350 (2:3 vertical) works across Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest without cropping — the safest single size for vertical posts.

Why does my image get cropped on social media?

Because the platform’s display ratio differs from your file’s. Design at the platform’s size and keep important content centred, away from the edges.

What size are Instagram Stories and Reels?

1080 × 1920 px — a 9:16 vertical ratio. Same size for TikTok videos.

What size is a YouTube thumbnail?

1280 × 720 px, 16:9, under 2 MB, as JPG or PNG. See how to make a YouTube thumbnail for the full setup.