Short answer
Most social images fit one of three shapes: square (1:1), portrait (4:5) or tall vertical (9:16) for stories and reels, with wide 16:9 for YouTube and some link previews. Common working sizes are 1080 x 1080, 1080 x 1350 and 1080 x 1920 pixels. Platforms change their rules, so always confirm current specs on each platform's own help pages.
Think in shapes first, pixels second
The shape of an image, called its aspect ratio, matters more than its exact pixel size. If you upload the wrong shape, the platform crops it and your product or text may be cut off. If you upload the right shape at a reasonable size, the platform will resize it neatly.
Keep a master version of each important image at a generous size, then export the shapes you need from it.
Commonly used sizes by platform
These are widely used working sizes, not official limits. Platforms update their specs and apps from time to time, so treat this as a starting point and check each platform's current help pages before a big campaign.
- Instagram feed: square 1080 x 1080 or portrait 1080 x 1350 (4:5). Portrait takes up more of the screen in the feed.
- Instagram stories and reels: 1080 x 1920 (9:16).
- Facebook Page feed: square or portrait images work well, for example 1080 x 1080 or 1080 x 1350. Stories use 9:16.
- Link previews on Facebook and LinkedIn: a wide image around 1200 x 630 is commonly used.
- LinkedIn company page posts: square 1080 x 1080 or a wide image such as 1200 x 627.
- X: wide 16:9 images such as 1600 x 900 show without much cropping in the timeline.
- YouTube thumbnails: 1280 x 720 (16:9). YouTube Shorts video is 9:16.
Safe areas: keep important things in the middle
On stories and reels, the top and bottom of the screen are covered by the profile name, caption and buttons. Keep text, faces and products away from the edges. In grid views, Instagram may show a cropped preview of portrait images, so keep the main subject near the centre. For profile pictures, which are usually shown as circles, keep your logo small enough that the corners can be cut off.
File types and quality
- JPG suits photos. PNG suits graphics with text or flat colours.
- Export at good quality but avoid huge files; platforms compress uploads anyway.
- Use sRGB colour so colours look the same on phones.
- Avoid tiny text. If you cannot read it on your own phone at arm's length, it is too small.
- Do not upscale a small image to a big size; it will look blurry.
Carousels and multi-photo posts
Use the same shape for every slide in a carousel. Mixed shapes can be cropped to match the first one. On X, a post can carry several photos, and AI Marketing Master supports up to four photos per X post, which the timeline shows as a grid, so test how the crops look.
How AI Marketing Master handles shapes
Creative Studio makes social graphics and product images from your photos, and the reel editor exports your own clips as MP4 in 9:16 for Reels and Shorts, 1:1 for square posts, or 16:9 for YouTube. You see each post with its image before you approve it, so you can catch a crop that cuts off your logo. If a platform rejects a file, the post is marked as failed with a reason rather than shown as published.
What it does not do
- Image specs on social platforms change often. This page gives commonly used sizes, not official limits; confirm them on each platform's help pages.
- AI Marketing Master does not post to TikTok, Pinterest, Snapchat or Threads.
- The reel editor has no automatic scene detection or smart reframing, so film your clips with the final shape in mind.
Questions people ask
What is the safest single size if I only make one image?
A square 1080 x 1080 image works reasonably on most feeds. For stories and reels, make a separate 9:16 version instead of stretching the square one.
Why does my image look blurry after upload?
Usually the original was too small, was saved at low quality, or had fine text that compression smudged. Start from a larger, sharper master file.
Are these sizes official?
No. They are commonly used sizes that work well today. Each platform publishes its own current guidance, and that guidance changes, so check it before important campaigns.
We only describe what the product really does today. Results depend on your business, your market and many things no tool controls.