Social Media Image Size Guide for Clean Posts

Shape matters first

Social platforms crop images into different shapes depending on where they appear. A square post, vertical story, wide cover, and video thumbnail all need different framing. Decide the destination before exporting the image.

Leave room near edges

Platform interfaces often cover the top, bottom, or corners with profile icons, buttons, captions, and rounded previews. Keep faces, products, logos, and important text away from the extreme edges so the final post does not feel accidental.

Create separate versions

One image rarely fits every platform well. Make a square version for grids, a vertical version for stories or reels covers, and a wide version for banners or thumbnails. PixelXTrim can help create these copies without changing the original.

Check after upload

Always preview the uploaded image before publishing. Some platforms recompress files or crop previews differently on mobile and desktop, so a final check catches awkward framing before the audience sees it.

How PixelXTrim can help

After you understand the format, size, or quality decision, use PixelXTrim to test the change on a copy of your image. Preview the result, download it, and check the final file in the place where it will be published.