Uploading an image at the wrong size is the fastest way to get a blurry post or a headline cut in half. Platforms resize and crop everything you upload, so starting with the right dimensions gives you control over what people actually see. This cheat sheet lists the sizes we use as defaults in the Ontools editor.
Quick reference table
| Platform | Format | Size (px) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square post | 1080 × 1080 | 1:1 | |
| Portrait post | 1080 × 1350 | 4:5 | |
| Story / Reel | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 | |
| Feed image | 1080 × 1350 or 1200 × 630 | 4:5 / 1.91:1 | |
| Page cover | 1640 × 624 (shown 820 × 312) | ~2.6:1 | |
| Event cover | 1920 × 1005 | 1.91:1 | |
| YouTube | Thumbnail | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 |
| YouTube | Channel banner | 2560 × 1440 | 16:9 |
| TikTok | Video / photo | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 |
| Standard pin | 1000 × 1500 | 2:3 | |
| Profile banner | 1584 × 396 | 4:1 | |
| Post image | 1200 × 627 or 1080 × 1080 | 1.91:1 / 1:1 | |
| X (Twitter) | Header | 1500 × 500 | 3:1 |
| X (Twitter) | Post image | 1600 × 900 | 16:9 |
| Website | Open Graph / link preview | 1200 × 630 | 1.91:1 |
Why pixel size matters less than aspect ratio
Platforms scale images, so a 2160 × 2160 square looks the same as a 1080 × 1080 one — it is just a bigger file. What really matters is the aspect ratio, the relationship between width and height. If your ratio does not match, the platform crops the image to fit, often cutting off text or faces. That is why Ontools makers start with the correct ratio and why our Resize tool keeps your elements inside the new frame.
That said, do not go below the recommended width. An 600-pixel-wide image stretched to 1080 will look soft, especially text.
Safe areas: where not to put text
- Stories, Reels and TikTok: the top 250 px hold the profile name and progress bar; the bottom 340 px hold captions, buttons and the reply field. TikTok also covers the right edge with like/comment buttons.
- Instagram grid: since the profile grid switched to 3:4 tiles, the top and bottom of 4:5 posts are trimmed in the grid view. Keep headlines in the middle.
- YouTube thumbnail: the video length appears in the lower-right corner.
- YouTube banner: only the central 1546 × 423 px are visible on all devices.
- Facebook cover: mobile crops the sides; the profile photo covers the lower left on desktop.
- LinkedIn and X headers: your profile photo overlaps the lower-left area.
PNG or JPG?
Use PNG for graphics with text, logos and flat colors — it keeps edges crisp. Use JPG for photos, or when a platform has a file size limit (YouTube thumbnails must be under 2 MB). Every platform re-compresses uploads, so starting from a clean PNG usually gives the best final result for text-heavy designs. Read more in our guide to PNG vs JPG vs PDF.
Make one design, post it everywhere
A practical workflow: design your square Instagram post first in the Instagram Post Maker. Then open the Resize panel and switch to Story, Facebook cover or YouTube thumbnail with “Scale my content” ticked. You only need to adjust spacing instead of starting over.
Open the free Ontools editor — no account, no watermark, your files stay on your device.
Open the editor