Twitter (X) Image Size 2026: Posts, Header, Profile Photo and Link Cards

Twitter (X) image size for posts: use 1600×900 pixels (16:9) for a single landscape image, or 1080×1350 (4:5) for a taller image on mobile. Posts hold up to four images. The header is 1500×500 (3:1), the profile photo 400×400, and link card images 1200×628 (1.91:1). Photos can be up to 5 MB.

X has changed how it crops images several times, and much of what you'll read online still describes the old Twitter that cut every photo to a short strip. Today single images in common shapes show uncropped in the mobile timeline, multi-image posts are still cropped into tiles, and the header crops differently on phones and desktop. This guide covers each image type, how it's cropped, and how to resize your photos for free.

What is the Twitter (X) image size for posts?

For a single image, 1600×900 pixels (16:9) displays fully on every device. 16:9 has long been the standard shape for in-stream photos, and 1200×675 is the same shape at a smaller size. Portrait and square images also work and take up more of a phone screen, but desktop and some third-party apps may crop very tall images in the preview.

X's image sizes, file limits and card specs were checked in October 2026. Marketplaces change their rules, so confirm the current requirements in your seller dashboard before you upload a large batch.

X's help center lists file types and limits but no full size chart; the tile sizes for multi-image posts come from widely tested guides. Layouts shift between app versions, so preview a test post if an exact crop matters.

What file types and sizes does X accept?

X accepts JPG, PNG, WebP and GIF. Photos can be up to 5 MB on mobile; the web app accepts somewhat larger files but compresses them. Animated GIFs can be up to 15 MB on the web. X recompresses every upload, so:

• Upload at the recommended size, not a huge original, so X has less to shrink.
• Use PNG for graphics with text (sale banners, infographics), since JPG artifacts show around letters.
• Use JPG for photos, exported in sRGB at high quality.
• Add alt text (tap Add description) so screen reader users and search engines know what the image shows; X allows up to 1,000 characters.

How does X crop images with multiple photos?

When you post two, three or four images, X shows them as tiles and crops each one toward its center. Tap any tile and the full image opens. That means:

1. Keep the product or subject in the middle of every image.
2. Avoid text near the edges of multi-image posts; it will be cut off in the preview.
3. For three images, put the tallest or most important one first, since it gets the large left tile.
4. If you need every image shown whole, post one image per post, or combine them into one collage at 16:9 or 1:1 before uploading.

What size is the X header image?

The X header is 1500×500 pixels, a 3:1 ratio, with a 2 MB file limit. It crops differently by device: phones and narrow windows trim the top and bottom, and your profile photo covers part of the lower-left corner. Keep logos and text inside a central band, roughly the middle 1500×360, and away from the left quarter of the bottom edge. Animated GIFs aren't supported for headers or profile photos.

For a shop, a simple header works best: your best-selling product in a scene, a short line of text such as what you sell, and plenty of plain space. Our Facebook cover photo size guide covers the same safe-zone idea for a platform with even more cropping.

What size is the X profile picture?

Upload a 400×400 pixel square; X shows it as a circle. Anything in the corners is hidden, so center a logo with a margin around it. A logo on a solid brand color usually reads better at the tiny sizes X shows next to replies than a detailed product photo.

What image size do X link previews use?

When you post a link, X builds a card from the page's meta tags. The large-image card (summary_large_image) uses a 1.91:1 image, so supply 1200×628 pixels in your og:image or twitter:image tag. The smaller summary card uses a square image of at least 144×144. Most store platforms, including Shopify, fill these tags from the product's main image, which is often square, so X crops it. Setting a dedicated 1200×628 social image for key product pages fixes that. Our website image sizes guide lists the other sizes a store needs.

How to resize an image for X for free

You don't need paid software to hit these sizes.

• Crop to 16:9 or 1:1: phone photo editors have ratio presets under Crop. On a computer, our free image cropper locks to 1:1, 4:5 or 16:9 and shows the pixel size.
• Exact sizes such as 1500×500 or 1600×900: the free marketplace image resizer accepts any custom width and height and either pads the photo with a color or crops to fill.
• Square without cropping: the free square image maker pads to 1080×1080 with white, a color or a blurred copy of the photo.

All three run in your browser with no sign-up. For more on choosing shapes, see our aspect ratio guide.

X image checklist

1. Single images: 1600×900 landscape, or 1080×1080 / 1080×1350 for mobile reach.
2. Multi-image posts: subject centered in every image, no edge text.
3. Header: 1500×500, text in the middle band, nothing important bottom-left.
4. Profile photo: 400×400, logo centered with margin.
5. Link pages: a 1200×628 og:image set for important URLs.
6. PNG for text-heavy graphics, JPG for photos, under 5 MB.
7. Alt text added to every image.

Making X-ready product images with AiArter

• 16:9 and 1.91:1 versions (8 credits each). The website banner size (1920×1080) is 16:9 for single-image posts, and the Facebook/Google ad size (1200×628) matches X's large link card. The AI fills new space instead of cropping.
• Scenes (8 credits). Place a product in a generated setting so it fills a wide frame naturally; the product itself is kept as photographed.
• Clean backgrounds (4 credits). White, light grey or brand-color backgrounds for a consistent look across posts.
• Text graphics. Design templates for sale announcements and launch posts.

AiArter's social scheduler (Pro and Studio) doesn't connect to X, so you download the images and post them yourself. More product photo tools are on the product photos page.

Frequently asked questions

What size should a Twitter (X) image be?

For a single image, 1600×900 pixels (16:9) shows fully on every device. Square (1080×1080) and 4:5 portrait (1080×1350) images also work and look bigger on phones.

What is the X header size?

The X header (banner) is 1500×500 pixels, a 3:1 ratio, up to 2 MB. Keep text in the center, because phones crop the top and bottom and your profile photo covers part of the lower-left.

How many images can I post on X?

Up to four images per post. They appear as tiles that crop toward the center, and tapping a tile shows the full image.

Does X crop images in 2026?

Single images in standard ratios show uncropped in the mobile timeline. Multi-image posts, headers and very tall images are still cropped in previews, so keep important content centered.

What size is the X link preview image?

Use 1200×628 pixels (1.91:1) for the large-image card, set in your page's og:image or twitter:image meta tag. The small summary card uses a square image of at least 144×144.

What is the maximum image file size on X?

Photos can be up to 5 MB on mobile, and animated GIFs up to 15 MB on the web. X compresses uploads, so PNG often keeps text graphics sharper than JPG.