Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with billions of users. When uploading photos and videos to Facebook, it is important to use the correct aspect ratio to ensure the media displays properly on all devices. One of the most common aspect ratios used on Facebook is 9:16, which is optimized for mobile devices.
What is Aspect Ratio?
Aspect ratio refers to the proportional relationship between an image’s width and its height. It is commonly expressed as two numbers separated by a colon, such as 16:9, 4:3, 9:16. This ratio remains constant regardless of the overall size of the image.
The first number represents the horizontal width of the image, while the second number represents the vertical height. For example, an image with a 16:9 aspect ratio will have a width that is 16 units wide for every 9 units of height.
Why Does Aspect Ratio Matter?
Aspect ratio is important because it impacts how an image or video will appear on screens with different dimensions. Screens come in all shapes and sizes – desktop monitors, laptops, tablets, smartphones – and each has its own standard aspect ratio.
If the aspect ratio of an image does not match the screen it is displayed on, it will appear stretched or squished. For example, a vertical 9:16 image will look perfectly natural on a phone but truncated on a widescreen monitor.
By designing images and videos with the target screen’s aspect ratio in mind, content creators can ensure their media looks as intended across devices. The rise of mobile has made rectangle aspect ratios like 9:16 especially prevalent when creating visuals for social media.
Facebook’s 9:16 Aspect Ratio
Over the years, Facebook has transitioned to a more mobile-centric service. Its news feed is now dominated by square 1:1 images and slim, vertical videos in 9:16.
This tall, narrow 9:16 aspect ratio is optimized for mobile devices in portrait orientation. When users scroll through their Facebook feeds on a phone, images and videos in this format nicely fill the smartphone screen without any black bars or cropping.
Dimensions
So what are the actual dimensions for 9:16 images and videos on Facebook? Here are the recommended sizes:
- Minimum width: 600 pixels
- Maximum width: 1200 pixels
- Minimum height: 900 pixels
- Maximum height: 1920 pixels
By keeping images between 600-1200 pixels wide and 900-1920 pixels tall, you ensure they will look good across most mobile devices people use to access Facebook.
Image Examples
Here are some common 9:16 image dimensions that work well on Facebook:
| Width | Height |
|---|---|
| 720px | 1280px |
| 1080px | 1920px |
A 720×1280 image meets the minimum size requirements, while 1080×1920 is ideal for displaying high quality images and taking advantage of phones with higher resolutions.
Video Examples
For 9:16 videos, these dimensions are commonly used on Facebook:
| Width | Height |
|---|---|
| 720px | 1280px |
| 1080px | 1920px |
Again, 720×1280 meets the minimum video dimensions. But 1080×1920 is preferred, allowing up to 1080p resolution for crisp, high-def footage.
Tips for 9:16 Media on Facebook
Here are some tips to ensure your 9:16 media looks great when shared on Facebook:
Shoot Vertically
When capturing videos and photos destined for Facebook, shoot them vertically in portrait orientation. Hold your phone upright instead of sideways for landscape orientation. Composing shots to fit a tall 9:16 frame eliminates the need to crop or add black bars later.
Mind the Composition
Frame shots loosely and leave extra room at the top and bottom. Avoid placing subjects too close to the edges. Facebook’s algorithm crops images slightly in the news feed, so this ensures nothing gets unintentionally trimmed off.
Add Text Carefully
Avoid placing essential text too close to the 9:16 boundaries. Leave adequate margins to account for algorithmic cropping. Or, instead center text in the middle of the frame so it definitely remains visible.
Preview Before Posting
Always preview your images and videos on a mobile device before publishing to Facebook. This lets you visually confirm that the media’s 9:16 aspect ratio displays correctly.
The Bottom Line
A 9:16 vertical aspect ratio is ideal for photos and videos shared on Facebook. By designing media specifically for this slim, phone-friendly shape, you guarantee it will look and perform as intended in mobile news feeds.
Stick to Facebook’s recommended minimum dimensions of 600×900 pixels. But 720×1280 or 1080×1920 are even better tailored to today’s high-resolution devices. Following the guidelines and best practices outlined here lets you fully optimize 9:16 content for Facebook.