Twitter (X) image sizes in 2026

Twitter header (banner) size: 1500x500

X's profile help page calls the header photo a "banner" and recommends 1500x500 pixels. That's a 3:1 shape. Upload JPG, GIF or PNG; X doesn't support animated GIFs for the header or the profile photo, so a moving banner won't play. X doesn't publish a maximum file size for the header, only for the profile photo, so if an upload fails, shrink the file and try again.

The important part is cropping. X says that even at the recommended size, parts of the header can be cut off because of how it displays on different monitor sizes and in different browsers, and that 60 pixels at the top and bottom could be cropped. 500 minus 60 at each end leaves a band of about 380 pixels in the middle that is always visible.

Profile photo size: 400x400

The profile photo is a 400x400 square, in JPEG, GIF or PNG, up to 2 MB. If your file is a big camera photo, it is probably over the limit; resize it to 400x400 first. As with the header, animated GIFs aren't supported for profile photos.

X's own checklist for failed uploads is worth knowing: upload from x.com or the official iOS or Android app, check the file type, check the 2 MB limit, check the dimensions, try another browser, and make sure you click Apply, because the image won't save until you do. During first-time profile setup you also can't change your display name until a profile photo and header are uploaded.

On most layouts the profile photo overlaps the lower part of the header, so check the two together before you save and keep your header text away from that corner. X doesn't publish exact overlap numbers, which is one more reason to look at the real profile.

Image sizes inside a post

X doesn't give a single recommended pixel size for images inside a post. What it does say is about shape: when you post a single photo with a standard aspect ratio, between 2:1 and 3:4, it displays in full, so what you see in the composer is what you get. In practice that means a wide image up to twice as wide as it is tall, or a tall image up to 4:3 tall-to-wide, shows without being cut.

Outside that range, expect cropping. We couldn't confirm from X's pages how multi-photo posts (2, 3 or 4 images) are cropped, so preview those in the composer before posting.

• Photos per post: up to 4. A post can carry 4 photos, 1 GIF or 1 video, not a mix.
• File types: JPG, PNG, GIF and WEBP, according to X's API documentation.
• File size: up to 5 MB per image. X's developer docs say upload limits and post limits are enforced separately, so a file can upload and still be rejected when you attach it to a post.
• Character count: photos and GIFs don't count toward the character limit. See our guide to character limits for how everything else is counted.
• Tags: you can tag people in photos, but tags can't be applied to animated GIFs and can't be removed after posting.

GIF and video limits

These come from X's media upload documentation, which says its post-video caps match the X app. For GIFs the same page lists specs for uploading through the API, so treat them as strong guidance rather than a promise about every app.

A GIF can fail even inside the size limit, so if it won't post, reduce frames or dimensions.

Checklist before you upload

Why your image looks cropped or won't upload

• Header cut off at the top and bottom: this is expected. X says 60 pixels at each end can be cropped depending on the screen. Keep text in the middle.
• Upload fails: check the file type (JPEG, GIF or PNG for profile images), the 2 MB profile limit, and that you're on x.com or an official app. Then click Apply.
• Header looks blurry: upload at 1500x500 rather than a small image stretched up.
• Tall photo is cut in the feed: a single photo outside the 2:1 to 3:4 range gets cropped. Crop it yourself first.
• Alt text: X's API allows up to 1,000 characters of image description. See the character limits guide.