Facebook Stories have become an incredibly popular way for people and brands to share photos and short videos. When creating a Facebook Story, it’s important to understand the correct dimensions so your content looks great on all devices.
The Basics of Facebook Stories
Facebook Stories allow users to post photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. They appear at the top of the Facebook app. Facebook Stories were introduced in 2017 as a response to the popularity of Snapchat and Instagram Stories.
Some key things to know about Facebook Stories:
- They appear in a horizontal format, rather than Facebook’s classic square posts.
- Each photo or video clip can be up to 20 seconds long.
- There are creative tools like stickers, drawings, and text overlays to enhance them.
- They allow for more casual, fun, in-the-moment sharing than a typical Facebook post.
Overall, Facebook Stories provide a way to share fleeting moments from your day without cluttering up your friends’ News Feeds. The impermanent nature encourages people to post more frequently.
The Size of a Facebook Story
So what are the recommended dimensions for creating Facebook Stories?
The aspect ratio for Facebook Stories is 9:16. That means for every 9 pixels wide, your Story should be 16 pixels tall.
The specific size of a Facebook Story frame is:
1080 x 1920 pixels
That vertical 1080 x 1920 pixel size is optimized for both mobile and desktop viewing.
If you are designing Stories in Photoshop, Canva, or another graphic editing tool, just create a new 1080 x 1920 px canvas and you’ll be set.
How the Size is Displayed on Various Devices
While 1080 x 1920 px is the overall size, the appearance varies slightly depending on the device:
On Mobile:
- Fullscreen vertical format
- 1080 pixels wide
On Desktop:
- Displayed as 640 pixels wide
- Still 1080 pixels tall
- Pillarboxing on the sides to maintain 9:16 aspect ratio
So desktop viewers will see a slightly more compressed view than mobile, due to most desktop/laptop screens being wider. But the 16:9 ratio will be constant.
Image Sizes for Facebook Stories
Along with framing your overall Story canvas at 1080 x 1920 pixels, you’ll need to make sure any images and videos you include in your Story are sized properly.
Photo Image Recommendations
For standard static images, Facebook recommends:
- 720 pixels wide (for clarity on mobile screens)
- 1280 pixels tall (to fill the vertical frame)
So the ideal size for Story images is 720 x 1280 pixels.
That ensures crisp, sharp photos that work across all devices.
Video Recommendations
For videos, Facebook suggests:
- Under 720 pixels wide
- 1280 pixels tall
- Aspect ratio of 9:16
- 30 frames per second
- MP4 or MOV format
So as long as you stick with the standard 1080 x 1920 Story dimensions, a 9:16 aspect ratio, and 30 fps, your videos should work great.
The Importance of Proper Sizing
Getting the sizing right for your Facebook Stories is crucial for a few reasons:
Clarity – Improperly sized images may appear blurry, pixelated or distored on some devices. Following Facebook’s recommendations ensures crisp focus on both desktop and mobile.
Spacing – The right sizes allow you to better fill the frame and arrange elements with the appropriate spacing. Too small and details get crammed, too big and you have awkward empty space.
Legibility – Text and overlays need to be sized up sufficiently to make them easy to read on a phone screen. 720 x 1280 photos give you enough real estate.
Engagement – Content tailored for the Facebook Story dimensions simply looks more professional. This helps your Story get more views and engagement.
So keep Facebook’s best practices in mind when creating. Properly framing your content can give your Stories a polished, visually consistent look.
Tools for Facebook Story Sizing
Here are some tips for ensuring you abide by Facebook’s recommended specifications:
- Use Facebook’s own Story creation tools within the Facebook app. These default to the ideal settings.
- Change canvas size in Photoshop or Canva before designing.
- Use an online image resizer like ResizePixel.com to scale images up or down.
- Verify video resolutions before exporting from your editing program.
Taking a couple quick minutes to check your dimensions will guarantee your Facebook Stories look amazing.
Facebook Story Specifications: A Recap
To wrap up, here’s a quick recap of the key Facebook Story sizes:
- Overall Story canvas size = 1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio)
- Photo image size = 720 x 1280 pixels
- Video resolution under 720 pixels wide and 1280 pixels tall
Sticking to these straightforward guidelines will help you create impactful, professional-level Facebook Stories. Just remember 1080 x 1920 pixels for the full frame, and you’re good to go!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions people have around Facebook Story dimensions:
Why are Facebook Stories vertical?
Facebook designed Stories to be vertical to optimize them for mobile devices. Since most people use Facebook on their phones, the taller 9:16 aspect ratio allows the Story to take up the entire phone screen as users scroll through. Vertical video also looks and feels more natural on small handheld screens.
Can I upload horizontal images or videos?
You can, but horizontal formats won’t take up the full frame. They will have black bars on the sides to maintain the 9:16 aspect ratio. Sticking to vertical 1080 x 1920 pixels gives you the most impact and flexibility. Horizontal images or landscape video are not ideal.
Will my desktop viewers see the full resolution?
Not quite. On desktop, Facebook Stories are displayed at a resolution of only 640 pixels wide. But they maintain the original vertical height of 1080 pixels. So desktop viewers see a slightly compressed view, but the content remains fully visible.
Do I need special editing apps?
You can use any graphics apps you’re comfortable with! Standard programs like Photoshop and Canva work great. The key is just setting up your canvas at 1080 x 1920 pixels before you start designing. Or resizing any images to 720 x 1280.
Can I crop regular posts into a Story format?
Yes, you can take existing horizontal images or video and crop them vertically to fit the 1080 x 1920 Facebook Story dimensions. You may lose some of the top and bottom edges of the frame. But cropping is a quick way to repurpose landscape content.
Conclusion
Optimizing your Facebook Stories for 1080 x 1920 pixels ensures the best display across mobile and desktop. It allows you to take full advantage of the vertical format that makes Stories so engaging. With these tips and guidelines, you can create consistently sized, high-quality Stories that align perfectly with Facebook’s specifications. Just keep the 9:16 aspect ratio and 1080 x 1920 dimensions in mind, and your viewers will enjoy an immersive, fullscreen Story experience.