Facebook wall pictures come in a variety of sizes depending on where they are displayed on the platform. The main Facebook profile picture shows up in several places, including in the navigation bar, on your profile page, and when you comment on posts. There are also cover photos that appear at the top of your profile and timeline photos that display on your main page. Each type of Facebook photo has recommended dimensions that ensure it will look its best on desktop and mobile devices.
Facebook Profile Picture Size
The standard Facebook profile picture appears as a square cropped image in various parts of the platform. When you upload a photo to use as your profile picture, Facebook will automatically crop it to fit a 170 x 170 pixel space. However, for the highest image quality, Facebook recommends uploading a picture that is at least 180 x 180 pixels. This allows for some flexibility in cropping to get the desired framing.
Here are the ideal dimensions to use for a Facebook profile photo:
- Minimum size: 170 x 170 pixels
- Recommended size: 180 x 180 pixels
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However, square images work best for the profile picture spots. The profile photo will be cropped to a circle on the navigation bar and most other places it appears.
Facebook Cover Photo Dimensions
The Facebook cover photo sits at the top of your profile page above your main timeline. It functions as a type of banner image or header photo. Due to the width of the desktop news feed, horizontally oriented photos work best for cover images.
Here are the recommended dimensions for Facebook cover photos:
- Minimum size: 400 x 150 pixels
- Recommended size: 820 x 312 pixels
Keep in mind the cover photo will be cropped to 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels tall on desktop versions of Facebook. On mobile devices, it will be cropped to 640 pixels wide. So be sure to use an image that fits those dimensions or larger.
Facebook Timeline Photo Size
Timeline photos appear on your main profile page in the desktop view and on the top of your profile on mobile. Facebook recommends using timeline photos that are at least 400 pixels wide. The ideal timeline photo size is:
- Minimum size: 400 x any height
- Recommended size: 940 x any height
Timeline photos scroll vertically, so they work well in both landscape and portrait orientations. Like cover photos, they will be cropped to a width of 843 pixels on desktop and 640 pixels on mobile.
Image Quality Considerations
In addition to paying attention to the dimensions of Facebook photos, you also need to consider image quality. Here are some tips:
- Use high resolution images when possible – 72 ppi or higher
- Save images as JPG or PNG
- Use original source images instead of screenshots when you can
- Avoid excessive compression orblurry/pixelated images
Following Facebook’s recommended dimensions ensures your images will look as intended across different views. Optimizing for proper resolution and file types will keep them looking crisp and clear.
Photo Dimensions for Other Facebook Features
Beyond your profile and cover images, there are some additional photo sizes to keep in mind for Facebook:
Shared Image Posts
When you upload images to share in the news feed or on your timeline, Facebook recommends sizes of at least 720 pixels wide or taller for best display on desktop and mobile. The ideal is 1200 x 630 pixels.
Facebook Video Thumbnails
Video thumbnails appear in your video posts and shares. Use image sizes of at least 720 pixels wide and select a compelling frame from your video to use.
Event Images
Promote your events with custom images at least 1080 pixels wide or 20% text free space.
Page Profile Pictures
Business or brand pages should use profile pictures sized at least 180 x 180 pixels like personal profiles.
Page Cover Images
Facebook page cover photos should be sized 820 pixels wide x 312 pixels tall just like for individual profiles.
Link Shares
When you share a link on Facebook, you can customize the image that appears with it using sizes of at least 600 x 315 pixels.
Ad Images
Facebook ad images should be 1080 pixels wide with less than 20% text. Keep their file size under 30MB.
Conclusion
Understanding the optimal photo sizes for Facebook can help ensure your images look their absolute best. Cover photos, timeline images, and profile pictures all have different recommended specifications you should follow. Paying attention to both dimensions and image quality will let you showcase high-impact visuals on one of the world’s top social media platforms.