Social media image workflow
How to check social media image sizes before publishing
Most social image mistakes are export problems. Check the final JPG, PNG, WebP, or AVIF file before publishing: width, height, aspect ratio, format, file size, and crop-prone placement.
Quick answer
Before uploading a social image, check the exported file itself. The design canvas can look right while the downloaded file has a different width, height, aspect ratio, compression level, or file format.
Start with a local dimension check, then open the matching platform guide for crop rules, safe areas, and upload notes. Do not reuse one image across feed posts, stories, banners, link previews, and product images without checking the final file for each surface.
The quick workflow
- Export the final image from your design tool.
- Check the actual width and height of the exported file.
- Check the aspect ratio.
- Check the file format and file size.
- Match the file to the publishing surface.
- Only then decide whether to resize, crop, or re-export.
The important part is checking the final downloaded file. Do not trust only the design canvas name or template preset.
Common target shapes
There is no single best social media image size for every platform. The best size depends on where the image will appear.
| Use case | Common shape | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram feed post | Square, portrait, or landscape | Feed crop and preview consistency |
| Instagram Story / Reel cover | Vertical 9:16 | Text near the top or bottom can feel cramped |
| LinkedIn profile banner | Wide horizontal | Profile image and mobile crop can hide text |
| Facebook cover photo | Wide horizontal | Desktop and mobile crops are different |
| Open Graph image | About 1.91:1 | Small text, edge logos, and cached metadata often fail |
| Product image | Usually square or high-resolution | Too-small images look soft in previews |
Use a local checker first
If you already have the exported file, start with a local dimension check. It answers the simple file questions first: real pixel width, real pixel height, aspect ratio, file type, and file size.
For broad social images, use the Social Media Image Checker. For wide banners, use the Banner Size Checker. For website share images, start with the Open Graph Image Size guide, then use the Open Graph Preview Checker.
Banners and Open Graph images need separate checks
Banner images are easy to get wrong because wide enough is not the same as safe to crop. A banner can match the expected canvas size and still fail because important text sits too close to an edge.
Open Graph images have a different failure mode. A practical default is 1200 x 630 pixels, about a 1.91:1 ratio, but the card can still look bad if the source image is too small, text is close to the edges, or the page still points to an old metadata image.
Pre-upload checklist
- Does the exported file match the intended surface?
- Is the aspect ratio close enough?
- Is the file large enough for a sharp preview?
- Is important text away from crop-prone edges?
- Is the file size reasonable?
- Do different surfaces need separate exports?
Privacy boundary
ImageSizeKit checker tools read image dimensions in the browser. They are designed for quick pre-upload checks and do not require sending selected image files to ImageSizeKit just to read basic dimensions.
ImageSizeKit is independent and is not affiliated with Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Shopify, Etsy, or Open Graph platforms.