Did you know that the pictures you upload to social media are supposed to have specific dimensions? Wait, what? Yep, in this case, image size really does matter. Each social media platform has its own recommended image dimensions for the different types of images (and videos) you can post.
You might think that the larger the file size, the higher quality the image would be– and you would be technically correct. However, if the file size and dimensions are too high, it can take ages to load or might even be rejected by the platform. If the file size and dimensions are too low, the quality will be pixelated and hard to view.
Each image type (think Instagram stories vs. Instagram profile pictures) is different, and that can be confusing! We know it’s not really something you want to have to think about, so we made this handy breakdown of the different image sizes you need for Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
What is the difference between file size and image dimensions?
Aren’t they the same thing? Well, not quite. Image dimensions refer to the height and width of the image, usually measured in pixels. An image that is sized as 500×800 means it is 500 pixels by 800 pixels. Pixels are like inches, but digital. And much, much smaller.
Image file size refers to how much space the image takes up on your device. File sizes are measured in bytes: Gigabytes (a big chomp), megabytes (a normal bite), and kilobytes (a little nibble). The file size depends on the file type (JPEG, PNG, etc.), the image compression, how complex the image is, and more.
Why is this important to know?
Most of the time, you won’t need to worry about file sizes when you are uploading an image to social media, but you might occasionally get an error message telling you the file is too large to upload. If that happens, you can use sites like this to compress your images.
Now, before you panic, the social media platforms you use are already equipped to crop your photos to the right ratio, which is why you wouldn’t normally think to size your images with specific dimensions. However, if you want to be extra technically savvy (and help your social media manager if you have one), it’s a good standard practice to consider if you want your images looking sharp. Adjusting the dimensions yourself also lets you crop the image exactly how you want it so that you don’t end up chopping someone’s head off in an Instagram post. You can use a number of different websites and apps for this, like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom or this website (again).
Dimensions for Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
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