Social Media Aspect Ratio Guide: Optimal Dimensions for Every Platform
Uploading images with incorrect aspect ratios causes aggressive automated cropping and compression artifacts by platform algorithms. Formatting your assets beforehand guarantees crisp presentation.
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Standard Aspect Ratio Matrix for Social Media
| Platform | Placement | Aspect Ratio | Optimal Pixel Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube | Video Thumbnail | 16:9 Landscape | 1280 x 720 px |
| Feed Post (Portrait) | 4:5 Vertical | 1080 x 1350 px | |
| Instagram / TikTok | Reels & Stories | 9:16 Fullscreen | 1080 x 1920 px |
| Company Banner | 4:1 Ultra-wide | 1584 x 396 px | |
| Universal | Avatar / Profile Pic | 1:1 Square | 800 x 800 px |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Instagram compress vertical 9:16 photos uploaded to the main feed?
Instagram's feed restricts vertical images to a maximum aspect ratio of 4:5 (1080x1350 px). Anything taller is cropped automatically unless posted to Stories or Reels.
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