Posting an image at the wrong size gets it cropped, blurred, or rejected. This is the current cheat sheet for the platforms that matter in 2026, with the aspect ratio to set before you generate so the crop is right the first time.
Ratios matter more than exact pixel counts on most AI image tools — you set the ratio, and the output scales cleanly. The pixel dimensions below are the recommended targets each platform uses.
| Placement | Ratio | Recommended pixels |
|---|---|---|
| Feed square | 1:1 | 1080 × 1080 |
| Feed portrait | 4:5 | 1080 × 1350 |
| Stories / Reels | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 |
| Profile photo | 1:1 | 320 × 320 |
Portrait 4:5 takes the most vertical space in the feed and generally outperforms square for reach.
TikTok
| Placement | Ratio | Recommended pixels |
|---|---|---|
| Video / cover | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 |
| In-feed ad | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 |
TikTok is vertical-first. Always design the first frame to work as a still thumbnail.
Meta ads (Facebook & Instagram)
| Placement | Ratio | Recommended pixels |
|---|---|---|
| Feed | 1:1 | 1080 × 1080 |
| Feed (portrait) | 4:5 | 1080 × 1350 |
| Stories / Reels | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 |
| Right column | 1:1 | 1080 × 1080 |
Run the same creative concept at 1:1 and 9:16 to cover feed and Stories placements from one idea.
| Placement | Ratio | Recommended pixels |
|---|---|---|
| Standard pin | 2:3 | 1000 × 1500 |
| Idea pin | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 |
Pinterest favors taller 2:3 pins; they occupy more of the discovery grid.
YouTube
| Placement | Ratio | Recommended pixels |
|---|---|---|
| Thumbnail | 16:9 | 1280 × 720 |
| Shorts | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 |
| Channel banner | 16:9 | 2560 × 1440 |
| Placement | Ratio | Recommended pixels |
|---|---|---|
| Feed image | 1.91:1 | 1200 × 627 |
| Square post | 1:1 | 1080 × 1080 |
The quick rule
- Vertical video (TikTok, Reels, Stories, Shorts) → 9:16
- Instagram / Amazon / Meta feed → 1:1 or 4:5
- Pinterest → 2:3
- YouTube thumbnail, LinkedIn, landing page hero → 16:9
In FlowPic, set the ratio before you generate so the output is composed for its placement — not cropped after the fact. If you need the same concept across placements, generate the core version once, then use image-to-image to produce the other ratios while keeping the visual language consistent.
Next steps
- How to Generate AI Ad Creatives — multi-placement ad workflow
- How to Generate AI Product Photos — ecommerce crops
- AI Image Generation Glossary — what aspect ratio and the other terms mean