Image Resize for Social Media: Common Sizes
A practical size checklist for major platforms—plus tips to avoid pixelation and blurry uploads.
Why sizing matters
Social platforms automatically compress and crop images. If you upload the wrong aspect ratio or a low-resolution file, your post can look soft, cut off, or stretched. The goal is simple: export at the right aspect ratio and enough pixels so the platform has less work to do.
Recommended sizes (quick table)
| Platform | Type | Best size (px) | Aspect ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square post | 1080 × 1080 | 1:1 | |
| Portrait post | 1080 × 1350 | 4:5 | |
| Instagram / TikTok | Story / Vertical | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 |
| TikTok | Vertical video cover | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 |
| YouTube | Thumbnail | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 |
| Shared image | 1200 × 630 | 1.91:1 | |
| X (Twitter) | In-feed image | 1200 × 675 | 16:9 |
| Shared image | 1200 × 627 | 1.91:1 |
Note: platforms change recommendations occasionally. These sizes are practical, widely used exports that tend to look good in real feeds.
Export settings that look sharp
- Photos: JPG quality 80–88 or WebP quality 75–85.
- Graphics/text: PNG (or WebP lossless) to keep edges crisp.
- Color: use sRGB for consistent display across devices.
- Don’t upscale: increasing size after export usually makes images softer.
How to avoid blurry uploads
- Start with a clean source: use the original photo or a high-resolution export.
- Resize to the target dimensions: don’t rely on the platform to scale.
- Keep text large: small text gets destroyed by compression on mobile.
- Leave safe margins: stories and reels can be covered by UI elements (buttons/captions).
- Test on phone: check the post on a real device before publishing important graphics.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Uploading a portrait image where the platform expects landscape (cropping).
- Exporting screenshots as JPG at low quality (text becomes fuzzy).
- Adding thin lines or tiny fonts that won’t survive compression.
- Re-saving the same image repeatedly (compression artifacts compound).
Quick checklist
- Pick the right aspect ratio (1:1, 4:5, 9:16, 16:9).
- Export at a standard size (1080px wide for most social posts).
- Photos → JPG/WebP, Text/graphics → PNG.
- Keep important content away from edges (safe margins).
- Verify on mobile before you post.
FAQ
Is 1080px still enough in 2026?
Yes for most platforms. 1080px wide exports remain a reliable standard for crisp social posts without huge file sizes.
Should I use PNG or JPG for Instagram?
Use JPG for photos. Use PNG for graphics with text or sharp edges.
Why does my text look blurry after upload?
The platform is compressing the image. Use larger font sizes, avoid thin strokes, and export PNG for text-heavy designs.