LinkedIn Photo Sizes
The Complete 2026 Guide
A LinkedIn image can be the right size and still look wrong. Your banner gets cropped on mobile. Your square profile photo becomes a circle. And a small file turns soft the moment LinkedIn compresses it. Start with these dimensions, then give the crop something good to work with.
Profile Photo Size: Plan for the Circle
LinkedIn asks you for a square file, then shows everyone a circle. That is why a perfectly good photo can lose the top of a head, a shoulder, or half a face when uploaded. Leave a little breathing room around yourself, especially if you are starting from a tight selfie.
Need a square version first? Use the free crop tool with the 1:1 preset.
Banner Size: Treat the Edges as Borrowed Space
The default blue LinkedIn banner is not a disaster. But it says nothing about you, which is a missed piece of real estate if you are job hunting, selling a service, or publishing regularly. The tricky part is the crop: desktop and mobile do not show quite the same slice. Build for the middle and let the edges be decoration.
One practical test: open the profile on your phone after uploading. If the message only works on desktop, the banner does not work yet.
Post Image Size: Pick a Shape on Purpose
There is no magic ratio that makes a post good. The image still needs to earn the pause. But the shape changes how much room it gets in the feed. A square is the safe default for a simple graphic; use landscape when the image itself needs width, and portrait when the extra height is part of the point.
Article Cover Size: Assume It Will Be Cropped
Your article cover is often the first thing a reader sees in a share. Make it large, simple, and forgiving. Tiny type and important details near the edge are an invitation for LinkedIn to remove the useful part.
A Good Profile Photo Is Not a Corporate Costume
The job of a LinkedIn photo is modest: when someone finds you in search, reads a comment, or joins a call, they should recognise the same person. A clear face, decent light, and an uncluttered frame do most of the work.
This is where people often overcorrect. They turn a casual selfie into a stiff studio pose, wear clothes they would never actually wear, or crop so close that the circle feels crowded. You do not need to look important. You need to look credible, current, and like yourself. LinkedIn says profiles with a photo receive up to 21 times more profile views and 9 times more connection requests than profiles without one. That is a good reason to have a photo, not a reason to make it weird.
If the Photo Is the Problem, Start There
You can spend an hour getting every pixel dimension right. People will still notice the photo first. Start with one clear selfie, choose a background and attire that fit your work, and see what it looks like before you pay.
Make My LinkedIn HeadshotFree preview · No account needed · See before-and-after examples
LinkedIn Photo FAQ
What is the LinkedIn profile photo size?
LinkedIn needs at least 400 × 400 pixels. It accepts images up to 7680 × 4320 pixels and 8MB. Your photo displays as a circle, so leave a little room around your face; JPG and PNG both work.
What is the LinkedIn banner (cover photo) size?
Use 1584 × 396 pixels, a 4:1 ratio. LinkedIn changes the crop between desktop and mobile, so put text, logos, and anything important near the center rather than at either edge.
What size should LinkedIn post images be?
For a single landscape image, use 1200 × 627 pixels (about 1.91:1). Square images at 1080 × 1080 are also a solid choice and usually occupy more of the mobile feed.
What size is a LinkedIn article cover image?
LinkedIn displays article covers at 744 × 400 pixels. Upload a larger file — 2000 × 1000 pixels is plenty — and make sure the important part of the image survives the crop.
What makes a good LinkedIn profile photo?
Use an even, flattering light, a quiet background, and a crop that includes your face and shoulders. Dress roughly as you would for a meeting in your field. The goal is not to look corporate; it is to look like a person someone would recognise when they join a call.
Can I generate a LinkedIn profile photo rather than take a new one?
Yes. Start with a clear selfie and choose a background, attire, and expression. Just keep the result honest: it should look like you on a good day, not like a different person. See the LinkedIn headshots page for before-and-after examples.
Get the sizes right. Then use a photo that feels like you.
Upload one clear selfie for a free preview. If you like the result, the full-resolution file is $5.
Get My LinkedIn Headshot