How to Crop Photos for Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Other Platforms
Uploading a photo with the wrong aspect ratio results in awkward cropping, cut-off faces, or black bars. Each platform has its own preferred dimensions — this guide tells you exactly what to use for every major platform and how to crop for free.
Why Crop Ratios Matter
Social platforms don't display images at their uploaded size — they crop and resize everything to fit their grid, feed, or header design. If your image doesn't match the expected ratio, the platform auto-crops it, often cutting out the most important part of your photo.
Cropping to the correct ratio before uploading gives you full control over what appears in the frame.
Crop Ratios by Platform
| Format | Ratio | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed — Square | 1:1 | 1080×1080 px | Profile grid, classic look |
| Feed — Portrait | 4:5 | 1080×1350 px | Takes up more vertical feed space — better engagement |
| Feed — Landscape | 1.91:1 | 1080×566 px | Widescreen, good for landscapes |
| Stories & Reels | 9:16 | 1080×1920 px | Full-screen vertical format |
| Format | Ratio | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile photo | 1:1 | 400×400 px (min) | Circular display — keep subject centred |
| Post image | 1.91:1 | 1200×627 px | Standard link preview size |
| Cover / banner | 4:1 | 1584×396 px | Profile header background |
▶️YouTube
| Format | Ratio | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thumbnail | 16:9 | 1280×720 px | Displayed everywhere — must be 16:9 |
| Channel art | 16:9 | 2560×1440 px | Safe area: centre 1546×423 px |
✕Twitter / X
| Format | Ratio | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single image post | 16:9 | 1200×675 px | Standard feed image |
| Profile photo | 1:1 | 400×400 px | Circular display |
| Header banner | 3:1 | 1500×500 px | Profile header |
| Format | Ratio | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post image | 1.91:1 | 1200×628 px | Feed and link preview |
| Profile photo | 1:1 | 170×170 px min | Circular on desktop |
| Cover photo | 2.7:1 | 820×312 px | Profile header |
How to Crop Your Photo for Free
Our Image Cropper lets you select a crop area with preset aspect ratios — so you can crop to exactly 1:1 for Instagram, 16:9 for YouTube thumbnails, or 9:16 for Reels and Stories.
- Open the Image Cropper and upload your photo
- Click the aspect ratio preset that matches your platform (e.g. 1:1 for Instagram square)
- Drag the crop box to frame the content correctly
- Click Crop & Preview
- Download the cropped image
After cropping, use the Image Resizer to set the exact pixel dimensions if the platform has a specific requirement (e.g., Instagram thumbnails at 1080 px wide).
Pro Tips for Social Media Photos
- Shoot with the final crop in mind — leave room around subjects so you can reframe later
- For profile photos, keep faces centred — platforms crop to a circle, cutting corners
- Instagram prioritises portrait (4:5) over square — taller images take up more feed space
- YouTube thumbnails should be legible at small sizes — test at 320×180 px (mobile view)
- Avoid important content near the edges of Facebook cover photos — the safe zone is the centre
Crop and resize your photos for free