How to resize images for social media
Upload a photo at the wrong size and the platform crops it or squashes it, often cutting off faces or text. Getting the dimensions right first means your post looks the way you planned.
Common sizes (in pixels)
Platforms change their recommendations from time to time, so treat these as good starting points and check the platform’s help page if exact sizes matter.
- Square post: 1080 × 1080.
- Portrait post: 1080 × 1350.
- Landscape or link image: 1200 × 630.
- Story or vertical video cover: 1080 × 1920.
- Profile picture: upload a square at least 400 × 400, since most sites crop it to a circle.
Resize or crop, step by step
- If the shape is wrong, crop first with Crop Image to the ratio you need.
- Open Resize Image and set the width or height. Leave Keep aspect ratio ticked so nothing stretches.
- Download the new file. Your original stays untouched.
Keep files light
Large files slow posting on mobile data and are re-compressed by the platform anyway. Run the result through the Image Compressor at about 80% quality to keep it sharp but small.
Shape first, then size
A platform shows pictures in fixed shapes, such as square, portrait and wide. Decide which shape you are posting, crop to that shape, and only then set the pixel size. If you resize before you crop, you can end up with the wrong proportions and a stretched or cut-off picture.
Keep important things away from the edges
Apps often cover or trim the edges with their own buttons, captions and rounded corners, and a feed can show only the middle of a tall or wide picture. Keep faces, text and logos well inside the frame, leaving a margin on every side, and look at the post on your phone before you publish.
Pick the right file type
- Photos: JPG, which keeps the file small.
- Graphics with text, logos or flat colours: PNG, so edges stay sharp.
- Avoid enlarging a small picture. It will look soft, because enlarging cannot add detail.
A simple workflow for a regular poster
- Keep one full-size original of each picture.
- Crop a copy to the shape you need with Crop Image.
- Set the pixel size with Resize Image.
- Compress lightly with the Image Compressor.
- Check it on your phone, then post.
Platforms change their recommended sizes from time to time, so confirm the current numbers on the help page of the site you post to.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my photo look blurry after posting?
Platforms recompress uploads. Start with a sharp image at the recommended size rather than a tiny one that gets enlarged.
Can I make a small image bigger?
The Upscale Image tool can enlarge it, but it cannot add detail that was never there, so expect a softer result.
Are my pictures uploaded to your site?
No. Resizing and cropping happen in your browser.
Should I use the same image for every platform?
You can, but each one crops differently. A copy cropped for each shape looks better than one picture stretched across all of them.
Why do my text graphics look fuzzy after posting?
Platforms recompress uploads, and JPG blurs sharp text. Save text graphics as PNG and start from a high-quality original.
Do I lose my original?
No. Resizing and cropping make new copies and leave your original as it was.