It’s no secret that an online presence is a “must have” for ventures of all sizes. One of the best ways to improve your positioning across all social networks is through consistency of voice and branding — this includes finding the right social media image sizes for your campaign.

Your top priority should be making sure your voice matches the target audience for each social channel. However, providing a consistent appearance for your brand is vital, which makes determining the right size graphics necessary at the start of your project.

One of the best ways to accomplish both of these branding goals is through visual design.

As you visit the major social media platforms, you might initially see little consistency in social media image sizes. However, as these websites evolve and update their offerings, it becomes easier and easier to use your design skills to create a recognizable brand across the spectrum of sites.

Learning the best image sizes will take you far.

This “cheat sheet” offers you a brief guide to the best image sizes for multiple sites (including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok), sorted by social site. This will help you develop the best strategy for each of your campaigns.

We also provide you with basic demographic information for each social platform so you can be best informed when selecting where to post your ads and reach your ultimate goal of greater sales. You might even find some hidden gems.

With this information at your fingertips, you can develop a consistent branding presence while meeting the required dimensions of the website.

Social media image sizes and requirements

The requirements for brand social media images change regularly. Our cheat sheet assures that you are prepared to stay ahead of the learning curve in 2021.

If you design websites using GoDaddy Websites + Marketing, integration on social media is baked in. And if you need a little help growing your social networks, GoDaddy Social has your back.

Related: How to create a content calendar

Facebook image sizes

Facebook offers a wide variety of opportunities for sharing images. Although personal accounts are generally limited to profile photos and cover photos, running advertisements and using business pages creates even more opportunities for sharing visual content.

Facebook is the most popular of all social media platforms, according to a study from Statista.com (which will be referenced throughout the remainder of this cheat sheet). Facebook is primarily used by people ages 25 to 50, making it the perfect platform for advertising to a wider audience. Since the site is used rather casually (unlike workplace-centered social media platforms like LinkedIn), Facebook ads are ideal for selling home goods, clothing and gift items.

Instagram image sizes

Instagram is famous for its visuals, so the platform has very specific guidelines for what works and what doesn’t in terms of social media image sizes. While it’s easy to edit your photos directly on the app, if you’re running sponsored posts or advertisements for Instagram’s global audience, it’s smart to have them already scaled and planned before posting.

Instagram is the fourth most popular platform, making it another great contender for advertising.

Since its inception, Instagram has become a massive platform for advertisements and sponsored partner posts. Instagram is mainly used by people ages 26 to 35, making it ideal for sellers marketing to millennials .

LinkedIn image sizes

Having a distinct image on LinkedIn gives the impression of a cohesive brand, even if you’re a new small business. Ensure that you have all your bases covered on LinkedIn, including a profile photo, cover image and shareable assets for your business LinkedIn page.

LinkedIn is unique because of its angle. Where social media platforms like Facebook and Pinterest are generally geared toward casual posts, LinkedIn is all business, all the time, making it perfect for small shops looking to sell business-related supplies and/or services. Note that LinkedIn users are primarily in the 36 to 50-plus crowd.

Medium image sizes

Those of us who run articles on Medium should understand the basics of image sizing on the platform. Have your profile picture, background image, content visuals and shared link graphics all set up before posting to give your pieces a cohesive and professional look.

Medium allows its users to post long-form articles on the subject matter of their choice, providing a unique alternative to traditional blogging. Medium primarily hosts an audience of men ages 26 to 50, making it the ideal platform for marketing to guys who enjoy opinion articles.

Pinterest image sizes

Pinterest is a visual-centered platform that emphasizes photos and shareability.

If you plan on using Pinterest as a platform for sharing your work, focus on getting the board cover photos and expanded pins right.

These are the visuals that draw the eye most effectively on this platform.

Pinterest is a unique site when compared to Facebook and Twitter because it relies less on individual posting and more on sharing pins and adding them to boards. This platform is also unique in its audience, which consists mostly of women over the age of 35.

TikTok image sizes

TikTok is an excellent platform for displaying products briefly to a younger audience. Seemingly random products like lash lift kits and reversible octopus plushies have seen astronomical growth due to virality on TikTok. Make sure your photos and videos on TikTok are spot-on and study the algorithm, and you’ll be set up for viral success.

Coming in as the seventh most popular social media platform, TikTok is a HUGE platform for people in their teens and early 20s. Advertisers often sponsor posts on TikTok from famous influencers, but it’s also possible to create a business account to feature your own products.

Tumblr

Tumblr can be likened to a blend of Twitter, Pinterest and Medium. Users can share their thoughts in short micro-blogs, curate pages with aesthetically pleasing visuals or even craft long-form posts for their audience.

Tumblr hosts a range of ages across its user base, from 18 to 50 years old. This is likely because the site caters to a wide array of interests and fanbases. Keep this in mind when researching your promotion options.

Twitter image sizes

Twitter is a majorly text-based platform, but photos often help seal the deal for likes, comments and retweets on the platform. Profile pictures and headers should especially be spot-on: Make sure everything lines up the way you want before racking up the followers.

Twitter, which once hosted a very young age group, is now mostly used by men ages 26 to 50, with a not-insignificant portion of men over the age of 50. Twitter would be an effective platform for small businesses looking to amplify their products/services to this audience.

YouTube image sizes

YouTube is all about visuals, and designing your thumbnails is especially essential for a successful video.

Show off your brand’s tone and angle with bright colors and simple, eye-catching text.

YouTube caters to a younger audience, with a large portion of their viewership (17%) under age 25, and 41% between the ages of 26 and 35. YouTube runs a massive advertising operation, with businesses either purchasing ads to be played before or during videos, or directly sponsoring influencers. Much like TikTok, consider the potential virality of videos and products when planning to advertise on YouTube.

But wait — there’s more!

The visual side of social media is always evolving. Here are some additional resources that dig deeper into all of these areas:

Facebook help center

Instagram images

LinkedIn profile picture dimensions

LinkedIn Company Page image dimensions