The Bronco Social Media Cheat Sheet – Updated 2020

Social media is now an integral part of brands’ and businesses’ marketing, but with so many different social channels to use, it can get confusing. Bronco has compiled a Social Media Cheat Sheet to ensure your images and videos are optimised to the correct sizes for each network.

When you’re running numerous social media accounts and having to create content for them, it can get quite confusing as to which size is needed for which social media site. You can’t just use an image with the same dimensions across every social network. Also, you need to be aware of image and text placement and the amount of text you can use. As you can see, social media image sizing is not as simple as it may seem.

Social media and digital marketing – the basics

If you’re posting to multiple social media sites and find yourself getting confused differentiating image sizes between Google+ and Facebook. Struggling to know what’s best to post on Instagram and Twitter and have no clue what you’re meant to be posting on Snapchat?  Worry not, we can help!  We have produced a social media cheat sheet to use for reference. As you’ll see image dimensions vary according to where and how it’s shared. We look at all social sites, from cover photos, to timeline images, to profile pictures and everything in between.

All the social media specs you need to know in one handy place; print and keep, download and save, Pin to share or embed on your site.

*Up to date as of January 2020.

Social Media Images – Quick reference

Facebook

Profile image: 180 x 180 pixels.
Displays 170 x 170 on desktop, 28 x 128 on smartphones, and 36 x 36 on most feature phones.

Cover image: 820 x 312 pixels.
Displays at 820 x 312 on desktop, and 640 x 360 on smartphones. It will appear on page at 820 x 312 pixels. Anything less will be stretched. To avoid text or important images being cropped, place within 640 x 312 pixels.

Shared image: 1,200 x 630 pixels.
Will appear in feed at a max width of 470 and appear on page at a max width of 504, both will scale to a max of 1:1.

Shared link: 1,200 x 628 pixels.
Square photo minimum 154 x 154 in feed and minimum 116 x 116 on-page.
Rectangular photo minimum 470 x 246 in feed and minimum 484 x 252 on-page.

Highlighted image: 1,200 x 717 pixels.
Will appear on your page at 843 x 504, ensure you choose a higher resolution image for better quality.

Event image: 1,920 x 1,080 pixels.
The image will be scaled down to a minimum dimension of 470 x 174 and shows in feed at those dimensions too.

Notes

• Promoting your posts – images must contain <20% text
• Video’s – Native video auto-plays in news feeds
• Did you know Facebook posts with images get more than double the engagement of basic text posts?
• Engage with fans on Facebook, encourage them to share their photos of your products on your company page.

Twitter

Profile image: 400 x 400 pixels.
Displays 200 x 200, maximum file size is 2 MB.

Header image: 1,500 x 500 pixels.
Displays 1,500 x 500, maximum file size 5 MB, high-resolution images recommended.
Your profile image will also cover the lower left-hand portion, so ensure it doesn’t block text both on desktop and mobile.

In-stream image: 440 x 220 pixels.
Minimum size to appear is 440 x 220 with a ratio of 2:1. Maximum size to appear expanded 1,024 x 512.
In-stream collapsed on desktop at 506 x 253.
Can share up to 4 images per Tweet.
Maximum file size of 5 MB and animated GIFs on mobile and 15 MB on the web.

Notes

• Keep details away from the lower left-hand side of your header photo
• You can add up to 4 images per tweet and tag unlimited people in images
• Recommended 1,500 x 500 pixels.
• Maximum file size of 5 MB.
• Image types include JPG, GIF or PNG.
• You can add one gif to a tweet or one social poll
• Your Twitter header and profile photo is the first opportunity to advertise your brand.
• Did you know Tweets with images get 150% more re-tweets and 18% more link clicks than those without?

Instagram

Profile image: 110 x 110 pixels.
Will appear on your profile at 110 x 110, the image should be square and maintain and aspect ratio of 1:1.

Image size: 1,080 x 1,080 pixels.
Images will be scaled to 612 x 612 and appear in feed at 510 x 510.
Images can also be sized for a portrait at 1,080 x 1,350.
All images must maintain an aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 4:5 ratio.

Instagram Stories image: 1,080 x 1,920 pixels
Recomenneded resolution is 1,080 x 1,920 with a minimum resolution of 600 x 1067 and an aspect ratio of 9:16.
Maximum file size 4 GB.
Instagram Stories video: 1,080 x 1,920 pixels
Recommended uploading the highest-resolution source video available without letter or pillar boxing (no black bars). Having a video ratio of 9:16 and 16:9 to 4:5 and consider leaving 14% (250 pixels) at the top and the bottom free from text and logos, to avoid the profile icon and call to actions covering video content.
Video length between 1 to 120 seconds, recommended 15 seconds.

Notes

• Links can only be added to your profile and Stories if you have over 10,000 followers or a verified account.
• Make the most of Instagram multiple image option, create a gallery to showcase products or your brand.
• To increase the visibility of your posts, make sure you include relevant hashtags. There is a limit of 30 hashtags per publication.
• Portrait is shown full-length instream, ideal for marketers, these images offer a better opportunity to be seen due to size.

LinkedIn

Company logo image: 300 x 300 pixels.
Recommended size 300 x 300 with a minimum of 300 x 300.
Maximum file size 4 MB.

Square logo image: 60 x 60 pixels.
Maximum file size 2 MB.
This image is used when someone searches your company, so make sure it’s easily recognisable.

Company cover image: 1,536 x 768 pixels.
Recommended size between 1,536 x 768 with a minimum of 1,192 x 220.
Maximum file size 4 MB.
Will appear as 1,400 x 425.

Company Pages banner image: 646 x 220 pixels.
Minimum size of 646 x 220.
Maximum file size 2 MB.

Hero image: 1,128 x 376 pixels.
Recommended size 1,128 x 376, the minimum size is also 1,128 x 376.
Maximum file size 2 MB
The Hero image is used to advertise career opportunities at your company. Use a good image which represents your business to attract potential employees.

Shared image and link image: 1,104 x 736 pixels.
Recommended size for images or links 1104 x 736, which is also the maximum size. Appears at 552 x 289.
Maximum file size for shared images 1,104 x 736.

Pinterest

Profile image: 165 x 165 pixels.
Will appear 165 x 165 on the home page and 32 x 32 elsewhere.
Maximum file size 10 MB

Pin image sizes: 236 pixels.
Your pin images on the main page appear as 236 with the height scaled and the same on the board.
Expanded pins (when clicked from main page or board) have a minimum width of 600 with the height scaled.
Use images with aspect ratios of 2:3 to 1:3.5.

Board images: 222 x 150 pixels.
Large thumbnail sizes for your boards are 222 x 150. With small thumbnails being 55 x 55.

Notes

• Videos and gifs will play automatically when you expand the view
• Colours which get the most shares on Pinterest are images with red, purple, and pink hues.

YouTube

Channel profile image: 800 x 800 pixels.
Recommended 800 x 800, displays at 98 x 98.

Channel cover image: 2,560 x 1,440 pixels.
Recommended 2,560 x 1,440, with a safe are without text and logo cropping 1,546 x 423 on mobile and web
Image display sizes vary by device: tablet display 1,855 x 423, mobile display 1,546 x 423, TV display 2,560 x 1,440 and desktop: 2,560 x 423.

Video uploads: 1,280 x 720 pixels minimum HD.
All videos must maintain a 16:9 aspect ratio.
To qualify for full HD your dimensions should be at least 1,280 x 720.

Notes

• Ensure you choose relevant images for your video thumbnails. They don’t have to be a still from the video, it’s a great opportunity to drive traffic to your video.

Tumblr

Profile image: 128 x 128 pixels.

Image posts: 500 x 750 pixels.
Dash image sizes max at 1,280 x 1,920, and show in feeds at 500 x 750 and images cannot exceed 10 MB.

Notes

• You can upload up to 10 photos or gifs into a photoset.
• You can paste an image’s URL from your site into the post form then the actual image appears in its place. The link will direct back to your site.

Save a copy.

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