Image sizes for social media: crop to the right shape, then resize
Why the shape of an image matters more than its pixels, commonly recommended sizes for posts, stories and thumbnails, and how to crop well.
Social platforms show images in fixed shapes. Upload a picture with a different shape and the platform crops it for you, often cutting off exactly what mattered. The fix is simple: crop to the right shape yourself, then resize if needed.
Shape first, pixels second
What matters most is the aspect ratio: the shape of the image. A 4:5 image looks the same whether it is 1080 × 1350 or 2160 × 2700 pixels. Pixel sizes matter less: platforms resize uploads anyway, and a slightly larger image is usually fine. A much smaller one will look soft.
Commonly recommended sizes
These are the sizes widely recommended in October 2026. Platforms change them, so treat them as a starting point.
| Use | Ratio | Pixels |
|---|---|---|
| Square post or profile picture | 1:1 | 1080 × 1080 |
| Instagram portrait post | 4:5 | 1080 × 1350 |
| Instagram portrait, profile grid | 3:4 | 1080 × 1440 |
| Stories, Reels, Shorts, TikTok | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 |
| YouTube thumbnail | 16:9 | 1280 × 720 or larger |
| Landscape post, link preview | 1.91:1 | 1080 × 566 |
Cropping without losing the subject
- Open the Image Cropper, pick the ratio, and drag the frame so the subject sits where you want it.
- Use the thirds grid: placing eyes or the horizon on a line usually looks more natural than the exact centre.
- Keep “Export at” ticked to get the recommended pixel size in the same step.
When to resize instead
If the image already has the right shape and is just too big, resize it: the whole picture is kept and only its pixel size changes. Resizing to a different shape stretches the picture, which is why the resizer locks the ratio by default. To understand how ratios relate to sizes, see Aspect ratios explained.
Open the Image ResizerChange the pixel size with the ratio locked.