Those who have tried posting images on Twitter know it’s not as easy as it seems. Twitter marketers and content creators often face the hassle of posting a perfectly edited picture. However, one negligible detail that people forget to note is the size of a Twitter picture.
Contrary to some opinions, size is a very important component to consider. Using the wrong pixel size and aspect ratio will give photos on the platform an unpleasant appearance. They may appear cropped or distorted, which can, in turn, dissuade viewers from exploring that profile.
Wondering what is the right size for a picture on X? We’ve got you covered! Read on to learn all there is about profile photos on X and their ideal size.
The Best Size for Twitter Profile Pictures
A profile picture is very important to a personal or business Twitter account. As the first thing users see when they view your profile, it should be perfect. An attractive picture will encourage users to follow you even if you don’t have a brand.
The rules for selecting a nice display picture are that it should represent your content and stimulate your target audience. The picture must have perfect lighting, background, frame, and concept.
To avoid copyright offenses, use a free stock image or create a graphical image with digital design applications. Alternatively, you may take a snapshot of yourself or your products.
But all these efforts to secure a perfect profile picture will be in vain if you don’t get the size right. You’ll have to remove your Twitter profile picture if it doesn’t have the required dimensions set by the platform. Twitter, aka X, has specific layouts that the algorithm respects. Hence, using the wrong thumbnail image size will result in an improper fit.
Thus, important features in your intended profile picture will not show after you upload it. So, active Twitter users must know the best size for Twitter profile pictures. Before 2017, Twitter displayed profile pictures in a square frame.
In 2017, Twitter changed the profile picture frame from a square to a circle. As of 2024, the circle frame still has a standard aspect ratio of 1:1. Hence, the ideal image size for Twitter profile pictures is 400 by 400 pixels wide.
If you exceed this size, the app will crop out the edges of your picture, making it look clumsy. However, as long as you stick to the recommended standard, you can use JPG, GIF, or PNG files.
Twitter Profile Picture Aspect Ratio
Before 2017, the Twitter profile picture aspect ratio was 2:1. But in 2017, Twitter developers changed the platform’s user interface. Due to the changes, the aspect ratio became 1:1.
This new aspect ratio means that the width and length of your picture must be proportional. Hence, the length of your profile picture must not be more than the width or vice versa. In other words, the measurements must be equal.
If they aren’t, the picture won’t fit properly, resulting in poor quality. This will give your viewers a bad first impression and dent your image or that of your brand. People might assume your content will be substandard, just like your profile picture. They might also feel your products are of low quality.
So, adhere to Twitter’s guidelines and regulations. Your profile photo must be a perfect square, with all sides equal. Most people assume that the aspect ratio affects the image pixels. However, it doesn’t. The only implication for the pixels is that they must be identical.
For instance, a 1:1 ratio can have 500 by 500 or 400 by 400 pixels. Following this measurement will give you the best-looking profile picture representing your identity properly. However, the aspect ratio differs for header images and banner images. Keep reading to learn the perfect size requirement for all Twitter pictures.
Can I Adjust the Size of the Twitter Picture on My Profile?
Yes, you can adjust the size of pictures before posting them on Twitter. It’s almost impossible to take a picture that corresponds to all the above measurements. Hence, people desire to know whether pictures are adjustable.
It’s possible to adjust or resize pictures to fit Twitter’s standards. Several resizing tools, like Picsart, are available for this purpose. Interestingly, the process is very easy. So, here are four steps explaining how to reduce your Twitter picture with a third-party tool:
- Download or install and open the resizing tool you prefer.
- Select and upload the picture you want to use.
- To resize the picture, crop it to fit Twitter’s aspect ratio, and then click the resize button to finalize your action.
- After this, you can download the picture to your gallery and upload it on Twitter using the normal procedure.
You may not need a resizing tool. You can use your device’s built-in photo editor. Below are four steps for adjusting your Twitter picture with your device’s photo editor:
- Open your device’s gallery.
- Select the picture you want in your gallery, and then tap the edit button.
- Find the crop icon, a resizing square and tap on it to activate the tool.
- You can then drag the corners of the grid to adjust the size of your picture.
After resizing your photo, you can open your Twitter or X account and upload the image. The only issue with cropping this way is that you may overdo it and cut out parts of the image. But if you get the measurement while cropping the picture, you can upload it without issues. So this allows you to use any picture you choose for your Twitter profile.
The Twitter Image Size Requirements for a Header Image
After your profile picture, the next image people notice is your header. The Twitter header image is equivalent to the cover photos of other apps. On Twitter, the header image is much bigger than the profile photo, although it appears in a static rectangular shape.
The header picture’s shape is due to its aspect ratio of 3:1. In aspect ratios, the first number always represents the width, while the second represents the length. So, you can see that the width is longer, leading to two longer sides and two short sides.
Hence, the header image appears in landscape mode. The appropriate image dimension is 1500 by 1500 pixels. This figure shows 1500 small digital display units across each side of the header image.
These pixels determine the intensity and clarity of your picture. Since the header space is wider, people often prefer to use it for their logo. But before uploading headers or cover images, note that Twitter doesn’t allow images above 5 MB.
Also, due to the social network’s layout, the profile picture frame is in the lower-left corner of the header image. Some viewers may not take time to open your header image for a proper view.
So because of such viewers, it’s advisable to avoid using a picture with important details at the lower left end.
Like Twitter bio ideas, this rule is one of the best practices for choosing and uploading a profile picture. Hence, it’s advisable to apply it. However, it isn’t compulsory. Sticking to the Twitter image size requirements for a header image is the most important thing.
The Size of In-Stream Twitter Feed Images
For those unfamiliar with the term, an in-stream image refers to a picture that appears with a tweet. It’s different from pictures that stand alone without any tweets. Sometimes, people add pictures to their Twitter posts to humanize their content.
As a result, many people wonder if the Twitter feed images have specific rules governing their size. The rule of four images per post is already popular. However, not everyone knows the appropriate size, dimension, and aspect ratio of these posts.
Understanding all these and how they work will greatly improve the quality and aesthetics of your account. Moreover, it’s a good practice to help you grow your followers on Twitter and other social media platforms.
So, using this knowledge to select the best pictures for each post you publish on Twitter is beneficial. The appropriate size of a Twitter in-feed image is 1600 by 900 pixels. This dimension is peculiar to images in tweets alone.
But when dealing with the aspect ratio of images accompanying tweets and Twitter poll posts, you’ll realize it’s not static. Instead, the aspect ratio depends on the device you use to post. The X app supports the 3:4 and 16:9 ratios, which enable it to fit properly into the screen.
On the other hand, desktop screens are compatible with the 1:2 or, at most, 2:1 aspect ratio. These strategic sizes enable the full optimization of the screen. When you publish one picture, it’ll appear alone in full-screen view.
But two pictures will appear beside each other in equal aspect ratios. The same applies to four images but when they’re three, one will be larger than the others. So, factor this in when preparing your visual media for Twitter.
Do Twitter Ads Have Sizes?
Yes, Twitter ads have sizes just like any other image on the app. However, the size specification may vary depending on the nature of the Twitter ad. Some ads are solely to generate leads. Hence, they intend to secure prospective customers for their brands.
Lead generation ads should be 800 by 200 pixels. Such ads usually have a product offer, an information collection option, and a purchase Call to Action. You should stick to 800 by 320 pixels when dealing with website cards.
The website banner image has the same width as a lead generation image. However, the difference is in the length. Images for website ads are longer than those for lead generation.
But that’s not all; carousel ads similar to those on Instagram stories can have an aspect ratio of 1.91:1. Any carousel ad image with this picture should have 800 by 418 pixels. Alternatively, carousels can have a 1:1 aspect ratio with 800 by 800 pixels.
The Importance of Social Media Image Sizes
Sticking to the recommended size of pictures and ads will help you optimize your visual media for the platform. But to do this, you must learn the maximum and minimum image sizes. These ratios and dimensions will make your images appear nice and appealing. Overall, they will portray you or your brand in a good light.
Your aesthetic must be pleasing to make good connections on Twitter and tap into the streams of opportunities. With proper pictures and videos advertising yourself or your brand, you can monetize your Twitter as your views grow.
FAQs
What is the max size of a Twitter picture?
The maximum file size of any picture on the Twitter app is 5 MB. However, when using the website, you can upload a picture of 15 MB. If the file size exceeds this, the picture will be too big, leading to errors.
What’s the minimum size for images on X?
The minimum size of a Twitter picture file is 2 MB, which is the standard for the profile picture format. However, you can upload pictures up to 2 MB even in your feed. As for dimensions, the smallest you can use is 600 by 335 pixels.
What is the size of a Twitter profile picture?
A Twitter profile picture must be 2 MB, with an aspect ratio of 1:1 and 400 by 400 pixels. Following these requirements, you should have perfect square images. However, when you upload a picture, it’ll display in a round frame.
What is the best picture format for Twitter?
The best file type for Twitter images is JPG files. However, the platform also supports PNG and GIF images, but the GIFs must be non-animated.
Review the Size of Twitter Pictures and Keep Your X Feed Organized
Having the right size of Twitter pictures is important because photos on the platform represent you and your brand. Moreover, you must ensure that your pictures are appropriate for X and do not display offensive visual content.
If you already have posts that you may think are not appropriate for Twitter, then it is better to remove them along with any pictures. However, this can be time-consuming. This is where our tool comes in handy.
You can trust TweetEraser to protect your data and clear all ill-fitted posts or photos with sensitive media. Even if you don’t think you have the right size of Twitter pictures and just want to remove those anyway, TweetEraser is your go-to tool!
So, sign up to TweetEraser and delete all posts that don’t match with Twitter’s standards today!
