Facebook displays images differently across desktop, mobile, and tablet. Getting your dimensions right ensures your visuals look sharp everywhere your audience scrolls.
This guide covers every Facebook image size you'll encounter, from personal profiles to business pages and events.
Quick Reference Table
| Format | Dimensions (px) | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile Picture | 176 × 176 | 1:1 | Displays as circle |
| Cover Photo | 820 × 312 | 2.63:1 | Desktop crop differs from mobile |
| Feed Post (Link) | 1200 × 630 | 1.91:1 | Standard shared link preview |
| Feed Post (Image) | 1200 × 630 | 1.91:1 | Optimal for feed display |
| Stories | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 | Full-screen vertical |
| Event Cover | 1200 × 628 | 1.91:1 | Event page header |
| Group Cover | 1640 × 856 | 1.91:1 | Group header image |
Profile Picture
Your profile picture appears everywhere on Facebook: in comments, posts, messages, and search results. It displays at different sizes depending on context but always crops to a circle.
Personal Profile (176 × 176 display)
Upload at least 400 × 400 pixels for the best quality. Facebook compresses and crops your upload to fit various display sizes.
Key points:
- Circular crop on all displays
- Keep faces or logos centered
- Avoid text near edges (gets cut off)
→ Create a 400 × 400 profile picture canvas
Business Page Profile (176 × 176 display)
Business pages follow the same specs but your logo needs extra attention. Ensure your brand mark reads clearly at thumbnail sizes.
→ Create a business profile picture
Cover Photos
Cover photos present a unique challenge: they display at different aspect ratios on desktop versus mobile. Design with both crops in mind.
Personal Cover Photo (820 × 312)
On desktop, your cover displays at 820 × 312 pixels. On mobile, it crops to approximately 640 × 360 pixels (16:9 ratio).
Safe zone strategy: Keep essential content in the center 640 × 312 area to ensure it appears on all devices.
→ Create an 820 × 312 cover photo canvas
Page Cover Photo (820 × 312)
Business pages use the same dimensions but consider that your profile picture overlaps the bottom-left corner. Leave that area free of important content.
→ Create a page cover photo
Mobile-Optimized Cover (640 × 360)
If your audience primarily uses mobile, design for the mobile crop first. This 16:9 ratio maximizes visibility on phones.
→ Create a mobile-optimized cover
Feed Posts
Feed images compete for attention in a crowded timeline. The right dimensions ensure your content displays without awkward cropping.
Image Post (1200 × 630)
This 1.91:1 ratio is Facebook's preferred dimension for feed images. It displays fully without cropping on both desktop and mobile.
When to use: Photo posts, graphics, announcements, or any standalone image content.
→ Create a 1200 × 630 post image
Link Share Preview (1200 × 630)
When you share a link, Facebook pulls the Open Graph image from that page. Design your website's OG images at 1200 × 630 for optimal display.
→ Create a link preview image
Square Post (1080 × 1080)
Square images work well on Facebook too, especially for product photos and graphics that will also appear on Instagram.
→ Create a 1080 × 1080 square post
Facebook Stories
Stories fill the entire phone screen in vertical format. The same 9:16 ratio used by Instagram Stories works here.
Stories (1080 × 1920)
Full-screen vertical content that appears for 24 hours. Keep text and important elements away from the top and bottom edges where UI overlays appear.
Safe zone: Center your message within 1080 × 1420 pixels for maximum visibility.
→ Create a 1080 × 1920 story canvas
Events
Event covers need to convey date, time, and vibe at a glance. They display differently on the event page versus in the news feed.
Event Cover (1200 × 628)
This wide format displays at the top of your event page. On mobile, a taller portion may be visible, so design with flexibility in mind.
Include:
- Event name (if not in the title)
- Date prominently displayed
- Visual theme that sets expectations
→ Create a 1200 × 628 event cover
Groups
Group cover images identify your community and set the tone for members.
Group Cover (1640 × 856)
Larger dimensions than personal covers, giving you more canvas for community branding.
Considerations:
- Group name overlays the bottom portion
- Design for both first-time visitors and returning members
- Update seasonally to keep the group feeling active
→ Create a 1640 × 856 group cover
Facebook Ads
Advertising on Facebook requires specific dimensions for different placements. Here are the most common.
Feed Ad (1200 × 628)
Standard news feed ad format. Text on images should cover less than 20% of the image area for optimal delivery.
→ Create a feed ad image
Carousel Ad Card (1080 × 1080)
Each card in a carousel uses square dimensions. Design a cohesive series that encourages swiping.
→ Create carousel ad cards
Stories Ad (1080 × 1920)
Full-screen vertical ads that appear between organic Stories. Include a clear call-to-action in the lower third.
→ Create a Stories ad
Technical Specifications
- Formats: JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics with transparency
- Max file size: 30MB
- Color space: sRGB recommended
- Compression: Facebook recompresses uploads, so start with high quality
Common Pitfalls
- Ignoring mobile crop: Cover photos look different on phones—always preview both views
- Text overload: Facebook may reduce reach of images with excessive text
- Low resolution uploads: Aim for 2x your target display size when possible
- Forgetting overlap: Profile pictures and group names cover parts of cover photos
Summary
Facebook's image requirements vary significantly by placement. The safest approach is designing for the specific location your image will appear.
Most critical sizes:
- Profile: 400 × 400 (minimum)
- Cover: 820 × 312 (design for center safe zone)
- Feed posts: 1200 × 630
- Stories: 1080 × 1920
Design once at the correct dimensions and your content will look polished everywhere on Facebook.
