Key facts
- Meta's Ads Guide recommends 4:5 at 1440 × 1800 pixels for Facebook and Instagram feed images
- Meta recommends 9:16 at 1440 × 2560 for Instagram Stories, keeping about 14% top and 35% bottom clear
- LinkedIn Help: link post images 1200 × 627 (1.91:1), company cover 1512 × 256, logo 400 × 400, max 3 MB
- YouTube Help: thumbnails should be 16:9, at least 640 pixels wide, JPG or PNG
- Use sRGB colour and PNG for graphics with text, JPG for photos
- Platforms change specs; we checked these against official help pages in October 2026
Quick reference table
These sizes were checked in October 2026 against each platform's own help or ads pages. Platforms change their layouts often, so check again if a post crops oddly.
| Platform and placement | Recommended size | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram feed | 1440 × 1800 px (4:5); accepts 1.91:1 to 4:5 | Meta Ads Guide |
| Instagram Stories and Reels | 1440 × 2560 px (9:16) | Meta Ads Guide |
| Facebook feed | 1440 × 1800 px (4:5), minimum 600 px wide | Meta Ads Guide |
| LinkedIn link post image | 1200 × 627 px (1.91:1) | LinkedIn Help |
| LinkedIn company cover | 1512 × 256 px | LinkedIn Help |
| LinkedIn company logo | 400 × 400 px (minimum 268 × 268) | LinkedIn Help |
| YouTube video thumbnail | 16:9, minimum 640 px wide | YouTube Help |
| TikTok | 1080 × 1920 px (9:16) full screen | Common practice |
Instagram and Facebook
Meta's own Ads Guide recommends a 4:5 portrait image at 1440 × 1800 pixels for both Facebook and Instagram feed placements, as JPG or PNG up to 30 MB. Portrait takes up more of the phone screen than square or landscape, so it gets more attention as people scroll. Square 1:1 images still work and are fine for carousels where every card must match.
For Instagram Stories, Meta recommends 9:16 at 1440 × 2560 pixels and advises keeping roughly 14% of the top, 35% of the bottom and 6% of each side free of text and logos, so nothing sits under the profile name, reply bar or buttons. The same safe zones are a good rule for Reels covers.
Instagram's profile grid shows a cropped preview of each post, so keep headlines and faces in the centre of the frame.
LinkedIn's Help Centre gives these Page specs: logo 400 × 400 pixels (minimum 268 × 268), cover image 1512 × 256 pixels, and custom images on link posts at 1200 × 627 pixels, a 1.91:1 ratio. All must be PNG or JPEG and no more than 3 MB. LinkedIn warns that the logo appears on both light and dark backgrounds, so check yours works in both modes, and that cover images crop at the edges on different devices.
For standard image posts without a link, square and 4:5 portrait images display well in the feed and work on mobile, where most LinkedIn browsing happens.
YouTube and TikTok
YouTube's Help Centre says video thumbnails should be 16:9, JPG or PNG, at least 640 pixels wide, and sets a 2 MB limit when uploading from mobile. 1280 × 720 pixels is the long-standing practical size; YouTube now accepts much larger files from desktop. Shorts thumbnails should be 9:16. Bold, short text and a clear face or product read best at small sizes. See YouTube thumbnails and channel art.
TikTok is a full-screen 9:16 format, so design at 1080 × 1920 pixels and keep text away from the bottom area where captions and the music bar sit, and from the right edge where the like and share buttons appear.
File tips that stop blurry posts
- Export in sRGB. Other colour profiles can shift colours once a platform recompresses the image.
- Use PNG for graphics with text and flat colour, JPG for photographs.
- Upload at the recommended size, not smaller. Platforms enlarge small images and they turn soft.
- Keep text large: at least 40 pixels high on a 1080 pixel wide graphic is a useful minimum for mobile.
- Build templates at each size so your team only changes the words and photo.
When to call dijitul
If your posts look different every time or crop badly, dijitul can design a social media graphics pack from £99 + VAT, sized correctly for every platform you use, with editable templates in Canva or Adobe formats. Ads and paid campaigns are covered by our digital advert design. Ask for a quote.
Frequently asked questions
What size should an Instagram post be in 2026?
Meta's Ads Guide recommends a 4:5 portrait image at 1440 × 1800 pixels for Instagram feed placements, which also suits organic posts. Square 1:1 images still work. Keep key text and faces central so they survive the cropped preview on your profile grid.
What size is a LinkedIn company page banner?
LinkedIn's Help Centre lists the Page cover image at 1512 × 256 pixels, PNG or JPEG, up to 3 MB. Keep logos and text away from the edges, because LinkedIn crops the cover differently on desktop and mobile.
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
YouTube asks for a 16:9 thumbnail, JPG or PNG, at least 640 pixels wide. 1280 × 720 pixels is the usual practical size and stays under the 2 MB limit that applies to mobile uploads. Shorts thumbnails should be 9:16.
Can one image size work on every platform?
Not well. A 4:5 portrait suits Facebook and Instagram feeds, but Stories, TikTok and Reels need 9:16, and LinkedIn link images and YouTube use landscape. dijitul's social graphics packs, from £99 + VAT, include each size you need from one design.
Why do my social images look blurry?
Usually because they were uploaded smaller than the recommended size, saved as a heavily compressed JPG, or exported in a colour profile other than sRGB. Upload at full size, use PNG for text-heavy graphics, and avoid resaving JPGs repeatedly.
Do you supply editable social media templates?
Yes. dijitul can supply templates in Canva or Adobe formats at each platform size, so your team can swap photos and text while keeping fonts, colours and layout consistent. Template packs are part of our social media graphics service from £99 + VAT.
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