Written by Talana Morris
UPDATED JULY 26, 2017: Due to social media platforms changing their image requirements frequently, we recommend checking the FAQ pages linked below for the latest sizing updates. All sizes are measured in pixels unless noted otherwise.
Finding or creating the right profile image, cover photo, or ad graphic to use on social media can be time consuming. Even worse is taking the time to find or create a graphic only to find that it isn’t sized appropriately for the platform.
While for personal use this is only a nuisance, professionally it is an actual problem. Our clients depend on our expertise to share their brands effectively via social media, including how we use graphics. Because of this and our perfectionist tendencies, “good enough” won’t do. Images and graphics used for a business’ social media channels must be properly sized and created so that they do not appear distorted, stretched, cropped, or uneven.
Alas, there is no standard sizing for social media graphics. Each platform sets (and even updates from time to time) their own standards for pixel size and for options on where and how images are used. We’ve seen our fair share of bad images on social media with businesses cramming a logo or image that is too small or large or stretching and distorting images to fit. While it may “technically” fit, it doesn’t aesthetically fit—nor represent your brand well.
To make things easier if you go it alone, we’re sharing our latest tip sheet for creating spot-on social media graphics. Save and use this infographic to quickly reference the current size specifications for graphics on a variety of social platforms.
Once you’re armed with the specs for each platform, you can modify, resize, or create new graphics to ensure a proper fit and polished look.
We used the Facebook Ad template in Canva to create this graphic for a client event. Templates such as these are helpful because they allow you to create a graphic based on the exact size, versus trying to fit a graphic you like to a specific size.
And, if you are on the hunt for stock images or photography to use on your graphic, please refer to our blog outlining some of our favorite websites for free stock images.
Here’s to amping up your social media presence and brand with perfectly sized graphics across the channels.
