Whether you are creating Facebook ads, posting stories, or posts for your news feed; you want them to pop and look as awesome as you intended them to be. To achieve this, you need to know the correct dimensions to use.
Those ideal dimensions can change often, making it a bit frustrating to stay on top of them. For example, you take the time to create a nice banner for your Facebook page, and then a few months later it looks off because the new dimensions crop the image.
When you search for the right dimensions, it may be hard to know if you are looking at the newest requirements. It can also be exhausting to search through endless Facebook help pages.
To alleviate those problems, we’ve updated our comprehensive “Facebook Image Sizes and Ad Dimensions Cheat Sheet” for 2021. You don’t have to go searching for the answers every time you need the latest dimension requirements. Photos, GIFs, Video and Story dimensions are all right here.
Why do Facebook image size and Ad dimension matter?
The importance of images has been discussed. However, what about the image sizes and dimensions?
Images on Facebook are different sizes, depending on your profile picture, cover photo, or ad. An image that is too small will get resized to the point of being pixelated and distorted, which will reflect negatively on your brand. As one of the first things a visitor or potential prospect sees, a cover photo of the right size is critical to any business. The size and dimensions of images are important for a few reasons:
- Using the correct size for your Facebook profile can avoid blurry, distorted, and stretched images.
- Your Ads will look better and stand out if you use the proper image size!
- Accurate image sizes improve Ad placement and targeting across multiple platforms.
- Can increase engagement for the events created on Facebook.
Facebook’s 20% Rule
Facebook’s 20% rule is a guideline for the advertisers to limit the amount of text on an ad to no more than 20% of the image. If the text on the image exceeds this, the ad would go inactive or just wouldn’t run.
You can check out our free tool to see if your post meets Facebook’s image policy guidelines: Facebook Image Checker for Promoted Posts.
This rule applies to Instagram Ads as well!
Facebook Image Sizes and Dimensions for 2021.
JPG or PNG files are accepted.
Sizes for Facebook Feed ads
At least 1080 x 1080 pixels. Minimum size 600 x 600 pixels.
Ratio 1.91:1 to 1:1.
Maximum file size of 30 MB.
Maximum video length: 240 minutes
Maximum video file size: 4GB
Sizes for Facebook Right Column Ads
At least 1080 x 1080 pixels.
Minimum size 254 x 133 pixels.
Ratio 1:1. (Available for desktop ads only)
Facebook image sizes for Instant Articles
At least 1080 x 1080 pixels.
Ratio 1.91:1 to 1:1.
Maximum file size of 30 MB.
Image sizes for Facebook Marketplace ads
At least 1080 x 1080 pixels.
Ratio 1:1.
Maximum file size of 30 MB.
Image sizes for Facebook Search
At least 1080 x 1080 pixels.
Minimum size 600 x 600 pixels.
Ratio 1.91:1 to 1:1.
Maximum file size of 30 MB.
Facebook image sizes for Sponsored Messages
At least 1080 x 1080 pixels.
Ratio 1.91:1 to 1:1.
Maximum file size of 30 MB.
Sizes for Messenger inbox ads
At least 1080 x 1080 pixels.
Ratio 1:1.
Minimum size 254 x 133 pixels.
Maximum file size of 30 MB.
Sizes for Messenger Stories ads
At least 1080 x 1080 pixels.
Ratio 9:16.
Minimum width of 500 pixels.
Audience Network Native Ads
At least 1080 x 1080 pixels.
Ratio 16:9.
Minimum width of 398 x 208 pixels.
Maximum video length: 120 seconds
Maximum video file size: 4GB
Facebook image sizes for profile photos
170 x 170 pixels
Displays at 170 x 170 pixels on desktop.
Displays at 128 x 128 pixels on mobile devices.
Facebook image sizes for cover photos
851 x 315 pixels (recommended)
Displays at 820 x 312 pixels on desktop.
Displays at 640 x 360 pixels on mobile devices.
Minimum size: 400 x 150 pixels
Ideal file size: Less than 100KB
Useful Tips:
- For the fastest loading times, use the recommended pixel sizes.
- PNG files are best for profile pictures and cover photos with logos or text.
- Once you have uploaded your cover photo, don’t drag to reposition.
Facebook image sizes for posts and timeline photos
Recommended size: 1200 x 630 pixels
Minimum size: 600 x 315 pixels
Avoid pixelation or slow load times by using the recommended sizes.
Facebook automatically resizes and formats your photos when uploaded for the timeline to be 500 pixels wide and fit the 1.91:1 aspect ratio.
Useful Tips:
- Use 1200 x 1200 (1:1 ratio) images if you use 2-10 images for a carousel display.
Facebook image sizes for event cover photos
1200 x 628 pixels (recommended)
Useful Tips:
- This is about a 2:1 ratio.
- You cannot edit the size of your event cover photo after it’s been added to an event.
Facebook image sizes for panorama or 360 photos:
Minimum image size: Facebook says it should be “30,000 pixels in any dimension, and less than 135,000,000 pixels in total size.”
Aspect ratio: 2:1
Useful Tips:
- Facebook will automatically recognize and process these images based on “camera-specific metadata generated by 360-ready devices.”
- JPEGs images can be up to 45 MB or 60 MB for PNGs.
- Facebook recommends using JPEGs for 360-degree photos that are bigger than 30 MB.
Facebook image sizes for Facebook Stories
1080 x 1920 pixels (recommended)
Maximum video length: 120 seconds
Maximum video file size: 4GB
Tips
- The aspect ratio for Facebook Stories is 9:16, which covers the full screen of a smartphone.
- Don’t use an image smaller than 500 pixels in width.
- For Stories with text, it’s best to leave 14% of the top and bottom text-free. (That’s 250 pixels.) This will ensure that if you have important text or a CTA, it won’t be covered by your brand’s profile photo or buttons.
- Image-to-text: 5:1 — If your Facebook Story has text overlay text, keep it less than 20% of the image size to optimize it for the Story’s audience potential.
In this post, we will cover the UP-TO-DATE image sizes and dimensions for Facebook.
Let’s dive in!
Have any suggestions or tips for marketing on Facebook using visual content? Feel free to share in the comments below!
Dave Glud has enjoyed a long career in web development and marketing. He takes pride in keeping up with all the latest technology trends a writes for several online publications. When he’s not busy on the web, he loves to cook and take his dog for long walks along with his wife.