When you are creating content to boost your visual brand, keeping track of all the ever-changing size specifications across multiple social media platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram can feel like a full-time job. If you’re a business owner trying to juggle this while managing everything else, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
That’s were Squark Design can help. In this article, we’ll break down the most common visual branding sizes for each platform and offer practical tips for resizing your artwork quickly and efficiently.
Let’s make this process a little less time-consuming and a whole lot easier, shall we?
Why Visual Branding Sizes Matter
Visuals are a huge part of your brand identity. They convey who you are, what you stand for, and help grab the attention of your audience. But here’s the catch: each platform has its own unique size and format requirements. What looks great on Instagram may appear distorted on Facebook, or your logo could get cut off on LinkedIn.
Inconsistent visuals across different platforms can make your business seem unprofessional, or worse, confuse potential customers. So, how do you avoid these pitfalls while saving time and effort? Let’s dive into the specifics.
1. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a professional networking platform, and your branding here needs to reflect that polished, authoritative look.
Profile Picture: 400 x 400 px
Cover Photo: 1584 x 396 px
Shared Image/Link Post: 1200 x 628 px
Banner Image (for LinkedIn Articles): 744 x 400 px
Resizing Tip for LinkedIn
When resizing your profile picture, keep it simple and professional. A logo or headshot is perfect for this, but make sure it is a clear, square image to fit properly. Your cover photo should be visually balanced, so avoid placing text or logos too close to the edges to prevent them from getting cropped.
2. YouTube
YouTube is the go-to platform for video content, but did you know it also has specific branding requirements?
Channel Icon (Profile Picture): 800 x 800 px
Channel Art (Banner): 2560 x 1440 px
Video Thumbnail: 1280 x 720 px
Resizing Tip for YouTube
The channel art can be tricky, as YouTube crops images differently on mobile vs. desktop. Use their template (available in YouTube Studio) to ensure your important elements — logo, tagline, and any text — remain within the safe area (1546 x 423 px) where they won’t get cropped.
3. Facebook
Facebook remains a powerful platform for businesses to showcase their brand, whether through images or videos. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Profile Picture: 180 x 180 px
Cover Photo: 820 x 312 px
Shared Image/Link Post: 1200 x 630 px
Event Image: 1920 x 1080 px
Video: 1280 x 720 px (minimum)
Resizing Tip for Facebook
When creating your cover photo, make sure your design is mobile-friendly, as a large portion of Facebook users will view it on their phones. Don’t overload your cover with small text — bold, simple visuals work best.
4. Instagram
Instagram is all about striking visuals, so it’s crucial to know the exact dimensions to avoid awkward cropping.
Profile Picture: 320 x 320 px
Post (Square): 1080 x 1080 px
Post (Portrait): 1080 x 1350 px
Post (Landscape): 1080 x 566 px
Instagram Stories: 1080 x 1920 px
Resizing Tip for Instagram
Instagram’s algorithm favors square images, but portrait images often have the highest engagement rates. Keep your important content (like text or branding) away from the edges to avoid cropping. And, remember: Instagram loves high-quality images — so always upload your highest resolution files.
5. BlueSky (The New Kid on the Block)
BlueSky is a relatively new social platform, but it’s already gaining attention. Here’s the scoop:
Profile Picture: 400 x 400 px
Cover Photo: 1500 x 500 px
Post Image: 1200 x 675 px
Resizing Tip for BlueSky
Because BlueSky is still evolving, the platform may change its requirements from time to time. For now, the images are very similar to Twitter, so resizing your assets for Twitter can also help with BlueSky.
6. Twitter (X)
Since Twitter recently rebranded to “X,” the visual sizes have remained relatively unchanged.
Profile Picture: 400 x 400 px
Header Image: 1500 x 500 px
Post Image: 1200 x 675 px
Video: 1280 x 720 px
Resizing Tip for Twitter (X)
Twitter is a fast-moving platform, so quick, attention-grabbing visuals work best. Keep your header image simple and focused — a busy, cluttered design won’t work here. As with other platforms, make sure your visuals fit well on mobile.
Tips to Make Resizing Faster and Easier
Okay, now that you know the sizes, let’s talk about how to make resizing your artwork less of a headache. After all, you’re already juggling multiple tasks as an SME owner.
Use a Resizing Tool
Websites like Canva, PicResize and Adobe Express offer easy drag-and-drop options for resizing your images to the correct dimensions without needing to be a graphic designer. Plus, they allow you to create templates so that once you’ve designed your artwork, you can simply resize it for multiple platforms with just a few clicks.
Create Templates
Set up your branding templates in a program like Canva or Photoshop. This way, you don’t have to design everything from scratch each time. You can just swap out the image and text to match each platform’s specifications.
Batch Resize
Don’t resize each visual one by one. Use bulk resizing tools (like Bulk Resize Photos) or the batch resize features in editing software like Lightroom to handle multiple images in one go. This will save you hours in the long run.
Stick to a Core Visual Theme
Instead of creating entirely different designs for each platform, adapt a core visual theme (colours, fonts, logo placements) across all platforms. This will ensure brand consistency without requiring you to reinvent the wheel for each post.
Conclusion
Visual branding is key to building your online presence, but it doesn’t need to be a time-consuming, frustrating process. By understanding the correct sizes for each platform and using the right tools, you can streamline your workflow, maintain brand consistency, and keep your audience engaged. So, SME owners — take a deep breath, and know that with a bit of planning and the right resources, visual branding doesn’t have to be a chore. It can actually be a fun way to showcase what makes your business unique!
Now, go ahead and resize away — with confidence
Don’t have the time?
Don’t worry. Take a look at our hours per month service. We can create your visual content for you – for as little as £120 a month. Just imagine what you could do with that spare time!
