· 4 min read
The right image size for popular social platforms in 2026
Upload an image at the wrong shape and a platform will crop it for you, often cutting off the part that mattered. Starting from the right dimensions keeps you in control. Here are common sizes and how to get an image to one.
Common sizes at a glance
| Platform and use | Size (px) | Shape |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram square post | 1080 × 1080 | 1:1 |
| Instagram portrait post | 1080 × 1350 | 4:5 |
| Instagram Story or Reel | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 |
| YouTube video thumbnail | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 |
| LinkedIn profile banner | 1584 × 396 | 4:1 |
| Facebook cover photo | 820 × 312 | about 2.6:1 |
Why the shape matters more than the exact size
Platforms resize and recompress what you upload, so a slightly different pixel size rarely matters. A different shape does: the platform will crop or pad it to fit. Match the aspect ratio first, and use the recommended pixel size to keep it sharp.
Square or portrait on Instagram?
A 4:5 portrait image is taller than a square one, so it takes up more of the screen as people scroll their feed. Square is still a safe choice when the same image will appear in a grid or on other platforms.
Resize, crop or fit?
When your original has a different shape from the target, you have three choices:
- Crop. Fills the whole frame and trims the edges. Best when the subject is centred.
- Fit. Keeps the entire image and adds padding to fill the frame. Best when nothing can be cut off.
- Stretch. Forces the image to the new shape and distorts it. Use it only when distortion doesn’t matter.
How to resize for a platform
- Open Resize Image and drop in your file.
- Choose the Social Media tab and pick a platform preset.
- Select Crop, Fit or Stretch, and a format: JPG for photos, PNG for graphics with sharp text.
- Download the result. Everything happens in your browser, so the image isn’t uploaded.
Need a specific file size as well, for a form or an upload limit? Run the result through Resize Image to KB.