Start with 400 × 400 pixels for a profile photo and 1500 × 500 for a header. For a single post photo, X documents a display ratio range from 2:1 to 3:4. Check the actual composer and published crop instead of relying on a universal safe zone.
Quick reference: recommendations versus layout examples
| Placement | Starting point | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Profile photo | 400 × 400 px; up to 2 MB | Circular crop; static JPEG, PNG or GIF |
| Header/banner | 1500 × 500 px | Responsive crop and avatar overlap |
| Single post photo | Standard ratio between 2:1 and 3:4 | Composer preview; readable text; image description |
| Landscape design example | 1200 × 675 px, 16:9 | A useful working canvas, not a no-crop guarantee |
| Square design example | 1200 × 1200 px, 1:1 | Subject placement in feed and expanded view |
| Several photos | Prepare each at sufficient resolution | Order and grid crop in the composer |
| Link preview | Use your site’s card metadata and a clear image | Preview availability and crawler access |
Profile photo: prepare a square, inspect the circle
A square original makes cropping predictable. Center the subject, leave room around the edge and inspect the tiny avatar in a reply. X recommends 400 × 400 pixels and sets a 2 MB maximum for profile photos. Its profile documentation explicitly excludes animated GIFs for profile and header images. A static GIF is different from animation.
Use PNG for a crisp graphic or JPEG for a photograph when that produces a clean, manageable file. Do not upscale a tiny source and expect to recover detail.
Header: allow for responsive cropping
Build on a 1500 × 500 pixel canvas. Keep essential content away from edges and the avatar overlap. X warns that the displayed header can crop differently across monitors and browsers. Do not interpret one desktop screenshot or fixed margin as a universal safe zone. Check a phone, a wide desktop and a narrow browser window. Keep important contact details in profile text too.
Post photos: single-image ratios and multi-image crops
X documents full display for a single photo with a standard ratio between 2:1 and 3:4. That includes landscape, square and portrait compositions. A 1200 × 675 layout is one convenient design choice, not the only accepted shape.
Several images can use a grid with different previews. The old exact two-, three- and four-image cell dimensions are not reliable export specifications for every client. Arrange the images in the composer, inspect faces and labels in each tile, and open the expanded images. Keep text large enough to read without zooming.
Link cards are separate from attached photos
A URL preview is fetched from website metadata. Its layout can differ from an uploaded photo, and changing a source image may not immediately replace a cached preview. Use a clear focal area and inspect the actual card. Some older developer documentation URLs now redirect to the general developer site, so they do not verify current numeric card limits. See the card troubleshooting workflow for metadata and fetch checks.
Messages and video previews
For a message, send an appropriately sized copy and confirm the recipient can open it; do not treat the message thumbnail as the original file. Video posters and thumbnails are a different workflow from photo uploads. Preview the video’s actual frame and captions on the target device. This article does not claim a single video-upload limit across subscription tiers and clients.
Export and test without compression myths
- Keep the original editable file.
- Resize a copy for the placement and choose a sensible static image format.
- Inspect small text, gradients and edges after export.
- Add a useful image description and repeat essential information in post text.
- Check the uploaded result before sharing it widely.
Renaming an extension does not convert a file. Adding noise or forcing an arbitrary width does not guarantee that X will preserve your pixels. Re-export from the source if compression makes labels unreadable. Use any editor that supports explicit dimensions and a reliable preview.
Common questions
Does 16:9 guarantee no cropping? No universal preview guarantee follows from choosing one canvas. Check the actual placement.
Can an avatar animate? X does not support animated GIFs in profile or header images.
Should I export every image at the maximum possible size? No. Keep enough detail for the task without turning a simple graphic into an unnecessarily large file. Check the upload controls for current file limits.
Sources and checks
Reviewed on October 16, 2026. Help with uploading a profile photo; How to customize your profile; How to post photos or GIFs on X.