Social Media Aspect Ratio Cheat Sheet 2026
This social media aspect ratio cheat sheet gives the practical ratio, pixel size and matching RatioForge calculator for each placement. A YouTube thumbnail, an Instagram portrait post and a TikTok video all need different shapes, even when they start from the same original image, so you can size each one right before you export.
Want it offline? Press Ctrl/Cmd + P to print this cheat sheet or save it as a PDF.
Quick cheat sheet
Ratios and sizes for the placements you use most:
| Platform | Placement | Ratio | Recommended size | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feed square | 1:1 | 1080 × 1080 | 1:1 calculator | |
| Feed portrait | 4:5 | 1080 × 1350 | 4:5 calculator | |
| Reels and Stories | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 | Instagram calculator | |
| TikTok | Video | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 | TikTok calculator |
| YouTube | Standard video | 16:9 | 1920 × 1080 | YouTube calculator |
| YouTube | Thumbnail | 16:9 | 1280 × 720 | YouTube calculator |
| YouTube | Shorts | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 calculator |
| X | In-stream image | 16:9 | 1600 × 900 | 16:9 calculator |
| Shared image | 1.91:1 | 1200 × 627 | Aspect ratio calculator | |
| Standard pin | 2:3 | 1000 × 1500 | Aspect ratio calculator |
Quick tip: upload at the largest recommended size — platforms downscale gracefully but never add detail. Keep the ratio exact and let the pixel count be generous. You can check any width/height pair in the calculator.
| Placement | Size (px) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Square feed post | 1080 × 1080 | 1:1 |
| Portrait feed post | 1080 × 1350 | 4:5 |
| Landscape feed post | 1080 × 566 | 1.91:1 |
| Story / Reel | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 |
| Profile picture | 320 × 320 | 1:1 |
Need a size that is not in the table? The Instagram aspect ratio calculator covers every placement with the right preset. For individual feed formats, see the 4:5 and 1:1 calculators.
YouTube
| Placement | Size (px) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Video (HD / 4K) | 1920 × 1080 · 3840 × 2160 | 16:9 |
| Thumbnail | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 |
| Shorts | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 |
| Channel banner | 2560 × 1440 (safe area 1546 × 423) | 16:9 |
Videos, thumbnails and Shorts each have their own shape — the YouTube aspect ratio calculator covers all three, and the 16:9 aspect ratio calculator handles standard video and thumbnail dimensions.
TikTok
| Placement | Size (px) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Video | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 |
| Profile picture | 200 × 200 | 1:1 |
TikTok, Reels, Stories and Shorts all share the vertical 9:16 shape — the TikTok aspect ratio calculator and the 9:16 aspect ratio calculator convert any width or height for it.
| Placement | Size (px) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Shared / link post image | 1200 × 630 | 1.91:1 |
| Story | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 |
| Page cover (desktop) | 851 × 315 | 2.7:1 |
| Profile picture | 320 × 320 | 1:1 |
X (Twitter)
| Placement | Size (px) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| In-stream image | 1600 × 900 | 16:9 |
| Header / banner | 1500 × 500 | 3:1 |
| Profile picture | 400 × 400 | 1:1 |
| Placement | Size (px) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Shared image post | 1200 × 627 | 1.91:1 |
| Personal profile cover | 1584 × 396 | 4:1 |
| Company logo | 300 × 300 | 1:1 |
| Placement | Size (px) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Standard pin | 1000 × 1500 | 2:3 |
| Square pin | 1000 × 1000 | 1:1 |
Platforms tweak their specs from time to time, so treat these as reliable defaults rather than permanent rules. The ratios are far more stable than the exact pixel counts — if you nail the ratio, your image will fit even when a platform bumps its resolution.
Which ratio should you choose?
Pick the ratio by where the media lands, not by the file you already have. Five shapes cover almost every placement, and each maps to a calculator that gives you the exact width and height.
- 1:1 is the safest square for reuse across many feeds. A single square export drops into an Instagram grid, a profile tile or a Pinterest square without re-cropping. Size it in the 1:1 calculator.
- 4:5 takes up more vertical space in the feed, so it is stronger for Instagram feed posts than a square. Match your Instagram image size in the 4:5 calculator.
- 9:16 is the full-screen vertical shape for Instagram Reels and Stories, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts — the same ratio whether you are sizing a Reel or a Short. For Instagram specifically, work from the Instagram calculator.
- 16:9 is the widescreen shape for YouTube video, thumbnails and link previews, and it also fits X (Twitter) image size for in-stream photos. Set the YouTube thumbnail size in the 16:9 calculator.
- 2:3 is the tall shape Pinterest pins are built around, sized for a standard pin at 1000 × 1500.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best all-purpose social media ratio?
There is no perfect all-purpose ratio. 1:1 is the safest across many feeds, 4:5 is stronger for Instagram feed posts, 9:16 is best for vertical video, and 16:9 is best for YouTube and widescreen previews.
What size should I use for Reels, Stories and TikTok?
Use 9:16 at 1080×1920 for Reels, Stories, TikTok and YouTube Shorts.
What size should YouTube thumbnails be?
Use 1280×720, which is a 16:9 ratio.
Can I reuse one image across every platform?
You can, but it will be cropped, padded or underused on some platforms. Create platform-specific exports when quality matters.
Calculate your exact dimensions
Use RatioForge to calculate the missing width or height before exporting. Start with the main calculator, or use the Instagram, YouTube and TikTok calculators for platform-specific dimensions. Already have an image file? Detect its shape first with the image aspect ratio calculator.
Open the calculator