The best image size for a single X (Twitter) post is 1200 × 675 pixels (16:9). X's own recommended sizes are 400 × 400 pixels for a profile photo and 1500 × 500 pixels for a header. Most image problems on X, though, come from cropping, not size: X fits images into frames that change with the number of images in a post and with where the post is seen.
This guide lists the sizes to use, explains how one-to-four image layouts crop, and shows how to check a post before you publish it.
Quick Answer
Single post image: 1200 × 675 px (16:9).
Profile photo: 400 × 400 px, shown as a circle (X's recommendation).
Header: 1500 × 500 px, 3:1 (X's recommendation).
Link preview image: 1200 × 628 px (about 1.91:1), set by the linked page's metadata.
Images per post: up to 4. With two or more, each image is cropped into a smaller tile, so keep the subject centred.
File size: up to 5 MB per image and 15 MB per animated GIF.
You can check the crop of every tile with WebToolsPlanet's free tweet image layout previewer before you post.
X Image Sizes (as of September 2026)
These sizes come from X's Help Center where X publishes a recommendation, and from common practice where it doesn't. X changes its layouts from time to time, so treat them as reliable defaults rather than fixed rules.
Post image: 1200 × 675 px (16:9)
A 16:9 landscape image fills the width of a single-image post with little or no cropping in the timeline. X accepts other shapes — square, portrait, panoramic — but the timeline may crop them, and the full image appears only when someone opens it. X doesn't publish a single required post-image size; 1200 × 675 is a widely used recommendation.
Profile photo: 400 × 400 px
X recommends 400 × 400 pixels for profile photos and accepts JPG, GIF, and PNG files up to 2 MB (X Help: profile photos and headers). The photo is displayed as a circle, so keep faces and logos away from the corners.
Header image: 1500 × 500 px (3:1)
X recommends 1500 × 500 pixels for headers (X Help: profile photos and headers). X notes that up to about 60 pixels at the top and bottom can be cropped on some displays, and the profile photo overlaps the lower left, so keep important content in the middle band.
Link preview image: about 1.91:1
When a post contains a link, X builds a preview card from the linked page's Open Graph or X Card metadata. Since October 2023, X has shown this card as the page's image with the domain name in the corner — the headline and description are no longer displayed in the timeline (TechCrunch). That makes the image the only visible part of the card, so it should be readable on its own. A 1200 × 628 image is the common standard.
File formats
X accepts JPG, PNG, GIF, and WebP images. Still images can be up to 5 MB and animated GIFs up to 15 MB (X developer docs: media best practices). Use PNG for screenshots, charts, and graphics with text, and JPG or WebP for photographs.
For every major network in one place, see the Social Media Image Sizes cheat sheet.
How Does X Lay Out 1, 2, 3, or 4 Images?
X allows up to four photos in a post (X Help: posting pictures or GIFs). The timeline places them in one overall frame and crops each image to fill its tile.
1 image: full width
The image fills the width of the post. Landscape images appear close to their original shape; very tall or very wide images are cropped in the timeline and shown in full when tapped.
Tip: keep text and logos away from the edges.
2 images: side by side
The frame splits into two tall, narrow tiles. Landscape photos lose much of their left and right sides.
Tip: crop both images to a similar portrait-leaning shape before uploading, with the subject centred.
3 images: one large, two small
One tall tile sits on the left and two smaller tiles stack on the right. The first image gets the most space.
Tip: put the hero image first and use simple, centred subjects for the two small tiles.
4 images: 2×2 grid
Four small tiles of equal size. Every image is cropped, and fine detail is hard to see in the timeline.
Tip: use four-image posts for sets that read at a glance — colour options, before/after pairs, event photos.
Feed View vs Opened Post
The same post looks different in two places:
Timeline (feed) view: compact layout, short relative timestamp such as "3h", and images cropped into the grid.
Opened post (detail) view: full timestamp and date, view count, and engagement totals. Tapping an image shows it uncropped.
Most people only see the feed version, so check the crop there first.
How to Prepare Images So Nothing Gets Cut Off
Pick the layout first. An image for a single-image post needs a different crop from the same image used as one of four tiles.
Crop to the tile shape yourself with an image cropper, so X doesn't choose the crop for you.
Keep a safe centre. Keep faces, products, and text in the middle of the frame.
Resize large photos with an image resizer to around 1200–2000 px wide. Upscaling a small image won't add detail.
Compress photographs with an image compressor, but keep text-heavy graphics as PNG.
Add alt text when posting. X lets you describe each image in up to 1,000 characters for screen-reader users (X Help: image descriptions).
Example: Planning a Four-Image Product Post
Input: four product photos shot at 4000 × 3000 px (4:3), with each product in the right third of the frame.
Problem: in a 2×2 grid each tile is a small, wide rectangle that shows only the centre of each photo, so the right-hand products are partly cut off.
Fix:
Crop each photo so the product is centred.
Resize each to 1200 px wide.
Preview the four-image grid and adjust the crop position of any tile where the product still touches the edge.
Result: all four products are fully visible in the timeline, and each opens uncropped when tapped.
Common Mistakes
Designing a text-heavy graphic at 16:9 and posting it as one of four. The text becomes unreadable in a small tile.
Putting the logo in a corner. Corners are cropped first.
Relying on a link preview headline. X currently shows only the image and domain, so put the key message in the post text or the image.
Uploading very small images. Small images look soft on high-density phone screens.
Forgetting alt text. Alt text makes the image accessible and helps you check that it says what you intend.
Preview the Layout Before Posting
WebToolsPlanet's Tweet Generator arranges one to four images in an X-style grid so you can:
adjust the crop position of each image,
reorder images so the strongest gets the largest tile,
switch between feed and post-detail views,
check the post in light, dim, and dark themes.
It runs entirely in your browser; images are never uploaded.
Related Tools and Guides
Tweet Generator: preview X image layouts and export a mockup.
Image Cropper: crop images to a set aspect ratio.
Image Resizer: resize images to exact pixel dimensions.
Open Graph Generator: set the image X uses for your page's link preview.
How to preview a tweet before posting: a full pre-publish checklist.
More tools for social content are in the Social Media Toolkit and the social tools category.
FAQ
What is the best image size for an X post?
The best image size for a single X post is 1200 × 675 pixels (16:9). It displays with minimal cropping in the timeline and stays sharp on most screens.
What size should an X profile picture be?
X recommends a 400 × 400 pixel profile photo in JPG, GIF, or PNG format, up to 2 MB. It is displayed as a circle.
What is the X header size?
X recommends a 1500 × 500 pixel header image (3:1). Keep key content in the middle, because the edges can be cropped and the profile photo overlaps the lower left.
How many images can I add to one X post?
Up to four photos. With two or more, X crops each image into a smaller tile, so centre the subject in every image.
What is the maximum image file size on X?
Still images (JPG, PNG, WebP) can be up to 5 MB, and animated GIFs up to 15 MB, according to X's developer documentation.
Why doesn't my link preview show a headline on X?
Since October 2023, X shows link previews as the page's image with the domain name only. The headline and description from the page's metadata aren't displayed in the timeline.
Check Your Next Post
Before you publish an image post, drop your images into WebToolsPlanet's free Tweet Generator and check every crop in the feed view.
Sources
Tools mentioned in this guide