X (formerly Twitter) crops and compresses images differently depending on how many you post at once and where they appear. Get the dimensions wrong, and a carefully composed photo can end up awkwardly cropped in the timeline. Here’s the complete, current size guide.
Table of Contents
Quick Reference: Recommended Twitter/X Image Sizes
| Image type | Recommended size | Aspect ratio | Max file size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile picture | 400 x 400px | 1:1 | 2MB |
| Header/banner | 1500 x 500px | 3:1 | 5MB |
| Single image (landscape) | 1600 x 900px or 1200 x 675px | 16:9 | 5MB |
| Single image (square) | 1080 x 1080px or 1200 x 1200px | 1:1 | 5MB |
| Single image (portrait) | 1080 x 1350px | 4:5 | 5MB |
| Link card (large image) | 1200 x 630px | 1.91:1 | 5MB |
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Profile Picture
- Recommended size: 400 x 400px
- Minimum: 200 x 200px
- Maximum file size: 2MB
- Shape: displayed as a circle, same as most platforms, so keep the subject centered
Header/Banner Photo
- Recommended size: 1500 x 500px
- Aspect ratio: 3:1
- Maximum file size: 5MB
- Note: the header displays differently across devices (a wider crop on desktop, a narrower one on mobile), so keep essential content centered rather than near the edges. Also keep key text away from the bottom-left corner, where your profile picture overlaps the banner.
Single Image Posts
| Orientation | Recommended size | Aspect ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape (recommended) | 1600 x 900px or 1200 x 675px | 16:9 |
| Square | 1080 x 1080px or 1200 x 1200px | 1:1 |
| Portrait | 1080 x 1350px | 4:5 |
1600 x 900px and 1200 x 675px are the same 16:9 shape at different resolutions, so either works; the larger one just holds more detail. X allows up to 4 images per post.
A note on portrait images: X supports 4:5 portrait images, but guides disagree on how they display. In some views, the timeline shows the full image, and in others it crops to a wider shape until the viewer taps to expand. Because display can vary by device and app version, keep the important content in the middle of a portrait image.
A single image posted alone typically displays larger in the timeline than when multiple images are posted together.
Multiple Image Posts (2-4 Images)
This is where X’s display behavior gets less intuitive, since the cropping changes based on how many images you post together:
- 2 images: each displays at roughly a 7:8 ratio, side by side
- 3 images: one larger image alongside two smaller stacked ones
- 4 images: displayed in an even 2×2 grid, each roughly square
Because the crop behavior changes with the total count, a photo that looks perfectly framed as a single post can end up cropped differently if you add more images to the same post. If precise framing matters, test with the actual final number of images rather than assuming a single-image crop will carry over.
In-Stream Video Thumbnails
- Recommended size: 1280 x 720px (16:9), matching standard video thumbnail conventions used elsewhere. Our YouTube thumbnail size guide covers the same format in more detail.
Twitter/X Cards (Link Previews)
When you share a link, X can display a preview card using the same Open Graph tags covered in our Open Graph image size guide:
- Summary Card with Large Image: 1200 x 630px (1.91:1), the most common card type, showing a large image with the title and description. 1200 x 627px also works.
- Summary Card (small image): 120 x 120px minimum, a smaller square thumbnail alongside text, used when a large image isn’t desired or available
X reads the same og:image tag most other platforms use, though it also supports its own twitter:card and twitter:image meta tags if you want a distinct image or card type just for X.
File Format and Size Limits
- Formats: JPG, PNG, WebP, and GIF (including animated)
- Photos: up to 5MB
- GIFs: up to 15MB
Practical Tips
- Design for the multi-image grid if you’re posting more than one photo. A 4-image post crops each image into a near-square shape regardless of its original aspect ratio, so a wide panoramic shot will lose significant content as one of four images.
- Keep essential content centered in header photos and portrait images, since the crop varies between desktop and mobile.
- Compress before uploading. X applies its own compression, and starting from an already-reasonable file reduces the visible quality loss from that second pass. It’s the same double-compression principle covered in our Facebook image size guide and Instagram guide. For the basics, see how to compress images without losing quality.
- Resize without stretching. If your image isn’t the right shape, crop first and resize second. Our guide on resizing an image without distorting it shows how.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the recommended image sizes for Twitter/X?
Profile picture: 400 x 400px. Header: 1500 x 500px. Single image posts: 1600 x 900px (16:9) for landscape, 1080 x 1080px or 1200 x 1200px for square, or 1080 x 1350px for portrait. Link cards: 1200 x 630px.
What is the recommended image size for X posts in 2026?
For a standard landscape post, 1600 x 900px (or 1200 x 675px) at a 16:9 ratio is the safest choice and displays predictably. Square (1080 x 1080px) is also reliable. Keep files under 5MB, or 15MB for GIFs.
Does 1080 x 1350 work for Twitter?
Yes, 1080 x 1350px (4:5 portrait) is supported. How it displays can vary by device and app version, so keep the key content centered in case the timeline crops it.
Does X compress uploaded images?
Yes. Like most social platforms, X applies its own compression on upload. Starting with a properly sized, reasonably compressed source file minimizes the additional quality loss.
Why did my 4-image post crop my photos into squares?
That’s expected behavior. X’s grid layout for 4-image posts displays each image in a roughly square crop regardless of its original shape. If square cropping would lose important content, post fewer images, or crop intentionally beforehand so you control what’s kept.
Is there a difference between a Twitter Card and a regular post image?
Yes. A Twitter/X Card is the preview that appears when you share a link (using Open Graph or Twitter-specific meta tags), while a regular post image is one you upload directly as part of a post. They use different dimensions and serve different purposes.
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