When posting photos to Facebook communities, it’s important to understand the optimal image sizes to ensure your photos look crisp and clear. The size requirements vary depending on where the photo is being displayed in Facebook. In this article, we’ll provide quick answers to common questions about Facebook community photo sizes and best practices for preparing your images.
What is the ideal photo size for Facebook community cover photos?
The recommended size for Facebook community cover photos is 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels tall. This helps ensure the key details of your photo are clear and not awkwardly cropped when displayed across different devices. Some key tips for community cover images:
- Upload high resolution images for best quality – at least 1280 pixels wide
- Do not include important text or logos too close to the edges
- Add a minor color overlay to help text stand out against busy backdrops
- Test how the photo looks on desktop and mobile to make sure the cropping looks good
What are the image dimensions for Facebook community profile pictures?
Facebook recommends uploading a community profile picture that is at least 180 pixels wide and 180 pixels tall. Square images look best in the profile picture circle. Some tips:
- Use a high resolution image if possible for clarity
- Make sure your key subject is centered
- Consider adding a minor color overlay or background color to help the photo stand out
What is the optimal photo size for Facebook community posts?
When uploading photos directly in community posts, aims for images at least 720 pixels wide. This ensures the photo utilizes the full width of the Facebook post area without being awkwardly warped or cropped. Other tips:
- Uploading larger, high-res photos (like 1080 pixels wide) can improve quality
- Square images (like 1080 x 1080 pixels) also display nicely in posts without cropping
- Avoid letterboxing by selecting a horizontal/landscape photo aspect ratio
What should I consider when creating Facebook community event cover photos?
Facebook recommends event cover photos are 1080 pixels wide by 1080 pixels tall. This 3:1 aspect ratio utilizes the full event cover space cleanly. When designing event cover images:
- Use high resolution source images for crisp quality
- Include important text/logos near the center to avoid cropping
- Make sure the photo reads well on both desktop and mobile displays
- Consider adding minor color overlays or backgrounds to help text stand out
What are the best practices for background photos in Facebook communities?
Background photos will fill the full browser window on desktop and extend the full width of the screen on mobile devices. For best results with background images in communities:
- Use photos at least 2048 pixels wide and preferably larger
- Account for cropping on different device sizes by focusing key details near the center
- Add a minor color overlay to help text stand out against busy backdrops
- Choose photos with a horizontal/landscape orientation for clean fit
What image sizes should I use for Facebook community ads?
Facebook community ads come in different formats and sizes depending on placement. Here are the recommended image dimensions:
- News Feed ads: 1200 x 628 pixels
- Right column ads: 1200 x 628 pixels
- Marketplace carousel ads: 600 x 600 pixels per image
- Instagram feed ads: 1080 x 1080 pixels
- Instagram story ads: 1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio)
- Audience Network ads: 1200 x 628 pixels
In general, you’ll want high resolution images (at least 72 dpi) for clarity. Text and logos should be positioned in the center to allow for cropping flexibility.
Should I include borders when designing Facebook community photos?
In most cases, it’s best to avoid borders on Facebook community photos. Facebook tends to crop images aggressively, which means borders may be removed in some displays. The extra pixels also reduce your usable area for key imagery. Some cases where subtle borders may work:
- Thin white borders around profile pictures and cover photos
- Tasteful photo frames around shared community albums
- Borders matching your branding colors around promotional posts
Experiment with borders carefully and check how they display across desktop and mobile to avoid a clumsy cropped appearance.
What tools can I use to check my Facebook image sizes?
Here are some useful tools for checking your Facebook community photo sizes and dimensions:
- Facebook Object Debugger – Provides size guidelines and diagnostics for how images will appear in different Facebook surfaces
- Photopea – Free online photo editor for resizing and formatting images
- Canva – Graphic design platform with pre-sized Facebook community image templates
- PicMonkey – Intuitive photo editing app with Facebook image size presets
Running your images through these tools is highly recommended to identify any size issues before posting. They can also help you overlay graphics and text appropriately for each Facebook community photo placement.
What’s better – wider or taller photos on Facebook?
In general, wider and shorter photos tend to display best across Facebook surfaces. Taller, more portrait-style images can often get awkwardly cropped or shrunk to fit. Some guidelines:
- Landscape orientation works well for cover photos, posts, ads and background images
- Square 1:1 aspect ratio can be effective for profile pictures and some ads
- Portrait orientation is usually best avoided, unless required (like Instagram story ads)
Review your community’s past posts – do wider landscape images tend to get more engagement? Testing different widths and aspects can reveal the best fit for your audience.
Should I include text on my Facebook community photos?
Including text, logos, or graphics on your Facebook photos can add helpful context for your community. However, you need to implement it carefully to avoid issues like cropping or low readability. Some tips for text on Facebook images:
- Place near the center so it’s not cut off by cropping
- Make sure it’s large enough to read clearly on both desktop and mobile
- Use high contrast colors – like white or black text
- Add minor color overlays behind text to help it stand out
- Limit text to key messages – avoid long paragraphs
Proof your images with text across device displays to ensure it appears as expected. The less text, the better – let the photo tell the story and use words sparingly.
How can I create Facebook-ready community photos?
Here are some best practices for preparing optimized photos for your Facebook community:
- Shoot high resolution photos (at least 1080 pixels wide) in landscape orientation
- Use photo editing tools to resize to exact Facebook dimensions as needed
- Focus key elements near the center to allow for cropping
- Add minor color overlays if needed for contrast/clarity
- Include only minimal text/graphics – positioned near image center
- Export photos at high quality settings (like 90%+ JPEG)
Creating templates of Facebook sizes like 1080 x 1080 pixels can streamline editing. Using the right tools and format will produce clean, optimized community images.
Should I edit my photos before uploading to Facebook?
Yes, properly editing your photos before uploading to Facebook can make a big difference in how they look. Here are some key editing tips:
- Crop to optimal Facebook size ratios
- Adjust brightness, contrast, saturation for visual appeal
- Sharpen details and reduce noise/grain for clarity
- Add minor color overlays if needed for text contrast
- Apply formatting like borders sparingly
Don’t go overboard on editing – retain a natural, realistic appearance. But properly preparing your images will maximize quality and engagement across the Facebook community.
What tools do I need to resize Facebook community photos?
You can resize photos for Facebook communities using most standard photo editing tools and apps. Some popular options:
- Adobe Photoshop – Industry standard for photo editing
- GIMP – Free open-source image editing software
- Canva – Graphic design platform with templates
- PicMonkey – Intuitive online photo editor
- Snapseed – Full-featured mobile photo editing app
- Pixelmator – Apple photo editor for Mac/iOS
Many tools also offer batch processing/resizing capabilities to improve workflow efficiency. Look for mobile apps too for easy on-the-go image optimization.
Should I use jpeg, png, or gif format images for Facebook?
JPEG is the preferred image format for most Facebook community photos. Benefits of JPEG:
- Smaller file sizes
- Universal browser support
- Lossy compression ideal for photos
PNG is recommended for images with solid blocks of color and transparency needs (logos, icons, illustrations). GIF can be used for animations.
But in most cases, high quality JPEG images balanced for minimal file size will suit Facebook community photos nicely.
How can I find the best royalty free images for my Facebook community?
Here are great sources of royalty free stock images to use in your Facebook community:
- Unsplash – Large collection of free high resolution photos
- Pexels – Free stock photos and videos shared by creators
- Pixabay – Library of over 2 million free stock images and videos
- StockSnap – Hundreds of thousands of free stock photos
- Burst – Free high resolution stock photos by Shopify
Just be sure to credit the photographer when using stock images. Review licensing terms to enable your desired type of use in communities.
What photo sizes should I use for Facebook community videos?
When uploading videos directly to your Facebook community, horizontal formats work best. Ideal video dimensions include:
- 720p (1280 x 720 pixels) – Minimum recommended size
- 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels) – Provides highest quality
- 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) – Future proofs for retina displays
For vertical community videos, 1080 x 1920 pixels is recommended. Avoid letterboxing for the cleanest fit across device displays.
How can I check what image sizes competitors use on Facebook?
Researching competitors’ Facebook presence can reveal the photo sizes and formats that work well for your niche. To analyze competitors:
- Browse through their Facebook community photos and posts
- Inspect element to view image source file sizes
- Screenshot appealing layouts to use as templates
- Test their images through Facebook’s Object Debugger
- Use Google Image Search to source original images
Determining the ideal photo styles and dimensions in your industry can help guide your own Facebook community image strategy.
Conclusion
Optimizing your photos for Facebook isn’t difficult, but it does require attention to sizes, formats, layouts and editing. By following Facebook’s recommendations, adding minor adjustments as needed, and checking your images across devices, you can present high quality, engaging photos that represent your community well. Test, research competitors, and refine your approach to discover what resonates most with your audience.