X (Twitter) Image Sizes (2026): Profile, Header & Posts

X crops images aggressively, and the crop changes between the web, the app and the timeline preview. A header with the wrong proportions or a photo with its subject near the edge can lose the very thing you wanted people to see. Here are the sizes to use, the file limits, and how to keep your subject safe.

By the CrispPic teamUpdated September 25, 20263 min read

Resize for an X header (1500 × 500, under 2 MB)Resize for an X post (1200 × 675, under 5 MB)

X image sizes at a glance

Format	Size (pixels)	Ratio	File limit
Profile photo	400 × 400	1:1, shown as a circle	Keep under 2 MB
Header	1500 × 500	3:1	Keep under 2 MB
Photo in a post	1200 × 675 (1600 × 900 also works)	16:9	Up to 5 MB

File limits are the commonly documented ones, checked in September 2026. If an upload is rejected, check X’s help pages — these values do change.

Profile photo

Use a square 400 × 400 image. X masks it into a circle, so keep your face or logo in the middle and leave a little margin.

Header image

The header is a wide 3:1 banner at 1500 × 500. Your profile photo covers part of the lower-left corner, and the header is shown at different widths on the web and on mobile, so the edges can be trimmed. Keep anything important near the centre.

Photos in posts

A 16:9 image at 1200 × 675 displays in full on both desktop and mobile. Images with unusual proportions can be cropped in the timeline preview and shown in full only once someone opens them. When you attach several pictures, X arranges them in a grid and crops each to fit, so put the subject in the centre of every one.

Getting the file ready, step by step

Crop with the crop tool: Square for a profile photo, Widescreen for a post image, a custom 3 : 1 ratio for a header.
Resize and cap the size in one pass with the header page (1500 × 500, under 2 MB) or the post image page (1200 × 675, under 5 MB).
Check the before/after slider.
Download and upload it to your profile or post.

Common mistakes

Putting a logo or text in the lower-left of the header, where the profile photo sits on top of it.
Posting a tall or panoramic image and finding the timeline preview cuts off the subject.
Uploading a large original that exceeds the file-size limit, instead of resizing first.

Frequently asked questions

What size is an X (Twitter) header?

1500 × 500 pixels, a 3:1 ratio. Keep the file under 2 MB.

What size should a photo in an X post be?

1200 × 675 pixels (16:9) displays well everywhere; 1600 × 900 also works. Photos can be up to 5 MB.

What size is an X profile picture?

400 × 400 pixels, square. It is shown as a circle.

Does X crop images in the timeline?

Yes, images with unusual proportions can be cropped in the preview and shown in full when opened. A 16:9 image avoids most of that.

Try it with the right settings already applied

These pages open the CrispPic tool pre-configured for this exact case. Your image is processed in your own browser — it is never uploaded anywhere.