LinkedIn Image and Video Sizes in 2026: What Works, What Does Not and Why

rebecca7313
Jul 15
7 min read

Wrong image dimensions are one of the fastest ways to make a LinkedIn post look unprofessional. Photos get cropped in awkward places. Banners stretch into pixel blur. Carousel slides chop off the bottom line of copy. And because over 57% of LinkedIn traffic now originates from mobile devices, getting dimensions wrong on a desktop preview does not mean they will look right where your audience is actually seeing them. Draftly

This guide covers every LinkedIn image and video format in 2026, explains why each size is what it is, what happens when you get it wrong and which formats are performing best right now.

Why LinkedIn Image Sizes Matter More Than Ever

LinkedIn re-compresses every image on upload. That means if your source file is already low resolution or the wrong dimensions, the platform's compression makes it worse, not better. Uploading at exactly the recommended dimensions means LinkedIn skips unnecessary resizing, reducing quality degradation. Draftly

There is also a more commercially significant reason to care about image sizes in 2026. Dwell time, not impressions, is the variable the LinkedIn ranker uses to decide who else sees your post. An image that takes up more screen space on mobile creates longer dwell time as users scroll past. And longer dwell time means broader algorithmic distribution. Getting the dimensions right is not just a design decision. It is a reach decision. Screensnap

Single Image Posts

The recommended LinkedIn post image size is 1200 x 627 pixels (1.91:1 landscape) for single-image posts. Square posts are 1200 x 1200 and vertical posts are 1200 x 1500. Postiv

But recommended and highest-performing are two different things in 2026.

LinkedIn's official documentation still lists 1200 x 627 as the recommended single-image size, and it remains technically correct. But the Q2 2026 feed weights vertical real estate more heavily than horizontal. A 1080 x 1350 portrait occupies roughly 2.15 times the pixel footprint of a 1200 x 627 landscape on a mid-size phone screen, and that difference translates directly to dwell time. Screensnap

The three options and when to use each:

1080 x 1350px portrait (4:5 ratio) — the highest engagement format

This is the power user's choice in 2026. It dominates mobile screen space, creates the longest dwell time and consistently generates the most engagement. Use this for quote cards, tip graphics, announcement visuals and any static image where maximum visibility matters.

1200 x 1200px square (1:1 ratio) — the safe all-rounder

Square images are the safest choice because they render consistently across all devices. Use this for announcement graphics, team photos and content where consistency across desktop and mobile matters more than maximising mobile screen space. PostFast

1200 x 627px landscape (1.91:1 ratio) — technically fine, strategically legacy

The reason most guides still default to landscape is legacy thinking. LinkedIn used to be desktop-first, and 1200 x 627 was optimised for the right-rail feed of 2018. That layout no longer exists. Use landscape only when you have a specific reason such as link preview thumbnails or ad placements with mandatory ratios. Screensnap

Carousel Posts (Document Posts)

Carousels, technically document posts uploaded as PDFs, are consistently one of the highest-performing organic formats on LinkedIn. Portrait carousels at 1080 x 1350 dominate more screen space on mobile and almost always get more swipes than square ones. La Growth Machine

What works:

1080 x 1350px portrait per slide is the highest engagement format. 1080 x 1080px square is consistent and clean across devices and still performs well.

What does not work and why:

Avoid 1920 x 1080 landscape for carousels. It gets letterboxed and feels small. The landscape format was designed for widescreen displays. In a mobile feed where the screen is narrow and vertical, a landscape carousel slide appears as a small rectangle surrounded by white space. It reduces impact, reduces readability and almost certainly reduces swipe-through rates. La Growth Machine

The text size rule:

LinkedIn renders document posts at 1080 pixels wide on desktop and tighter on mobile. Anything smaller than 24pt body text is hard to read on a phone. That is the top reason a document carousel flops: readers cannot read it. Postiv

Profile Photo

Profile picture: 400 x 400px minimum, accepts up to 7680 x 4320, maximum 8MB. Anything between 400 x 400 and roughly 1000 x 1000 works fine. La Growth Machine

Upload in PNG format for maximum sharpness. Position your face centred with approximately 60% facial coverage. LinkedIn's circular crop eliminates corners. Avoid uploading images smaller than 300 x 300 pixels which forces LinkedIn to upscale, creating blurriness. Draftly

Personal Profile Banner

Background and banner image: 1584 x 396 pixels. This wide rectangular space allows you to add a touch of personality. HyperClapper

The critical thing to understand about personal profile banners is how they crop on mobile. Personal profile banners display fully on desktop but crop to the centre 1200 pixels on mobile. Keep all critical content within approximately 75% of total banner width. Draftly

This means your name, tagline or key message should never sit at the very edges of your banner. On mobile, those edges will be cropped out entirely and the viewer will see a different composition to the one you designed.

Company Page Banner

This is where the most outdated information is currently circulating online. LinkedIn updated company page specs in the last year, so a lot of older guides are flat out wrong here. The current specification is 4200 x 700px. This catches a lot of people off guard. La Growth Machine

If your company banner looks blurry or stretched, it was almost certainly uploaded at the old 1128 x 191 specification which is now out of date. Recreate it at 4200 x 700px and the difference in sharpness will be immediately visible.

Company page banners crop to the centre 900 pixels on mobile. Apply the same safe zone principle as personal banners and keep critical content away from the edges. Draftly

Video Posts

LinkedIn video dimensions are 1920 x 1080 for landscape (16:9) or 1080 x 1920 for vertical (9:16). Maximum file size is 5GB and videos can be up to 10 minutes long for regular posts. PostFast

Which format to choose:

Vertical 9:16 is the format for the LinkedIn video tab and mobile-first distribution. It takes up the full screen on mobile, creates maximum dwell time and is the format LinkedIn's algorithm is actively prioritising in 2026 as part of its push toward short-form vertical video.

Landscape 16:9 is better for desktop-heavy audiences, professional presentations and educational content where the widescreen format suits the content type.

What does not work:

Uploading a YouTube link instead of a native video. Native video outperforms YouTube links, upload directly to LinkedIn for higher reach. LinkedIn's algorithm deprioritises external links because they take users off the platform. A native upload keeps users on LinkedIn and gets significantly more organic reach as a result. PostFast

Now on this instance, LinkedIn has just announced that you do not get penalised for this, but only the data will tell - so jury is out for us on this one, let us know what you find.

The File Format Question: JPG vs PNG

Use PNG for images with text or graphics, JPG for photographs. Keep files under 10MB. PostFast

The reason this matters is how each format handles compression. JPG uses lossy compression which is excellent for photographs but creates artefacts, those slightly blurry or blocky edges, around sharp lines like text and logos. PNG uses lossless compression which preserves sharp edges perfectly.

For your quote cards, tip graphics, infographics and carousel slides: PNG every time.For your photography and event images: JPG at 85 to 95% quality keeps file sizes reasonable without visible quality loss.

The Five Most Common LinkedIn Visual Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using the wrong dimensions across different image types

Using the same dimensions across all image types is one of the most common mistakes. Each format has specific requirements. A one-size-fits-all approach means something is always wrong somewhere. Draftly

Mistake 2: Ignoring mobile cropping safe zones

Designing a banner that looks perfect on desktop and then discovering the most important element has been cropped out on mobile is a preventable problem. Apply the 75% safe zone rule to every banner you create.

Mistake 3: Using an outdated company banner size

The 1128 x 191px specification is obsolete. If your company page banner looks blurry, this is almost certainly why.

Mistake 4: Text too small to read on mobile

Minimum 24pt for body copy. Minimum 32pt for headlines. Below this threshold, mobile users simply cannot read the content and will scroll past without engaging.

Mistake 5: Uploading landscape carousels

Landscape carousel slides are one of the most reliable ways to reduce engagement on what should be one of LinkedIn's highest performing formats. Portrait or square only.

Quick Reference: LinkedIn Visual Sizes 2026

Format	Optimal Size	Ratio	Notes
Single image (highest engagement)	1080 x 1350px	4:5	Portrait, mobile first
Single image (safe all-rounder)	1200 x 1200px	1:1	Consistent across devices
Single image (landscape)	1200 x 627px	1.91:1	Legacy format, link previews
Carousel slides (portrait)	1080 x 1350px	4:5	Recommended for most
Carousel slides (square)	1080 x 1080px	1:1	Consistent alternative
Profile photo	400 x 400px min	1:1	PNG for sharpness
Personal banner	1584 x 396px	4:1	Safe zone: centre 75%
Company page banner	4200 x 700px	6:1	Updated 2025/26 spec
Video (vertical)	1080 x 1920px	9:16	Best for mobile and video tab
Video (landscape)	1920 x 1080px	16:9	Desktop and presentations
Article cover	1920 x 1080px	16:9	Cropped to 16:9