Crop your images for Facebook posts, ads, covers, stories, and thumbnails. Adjust aspect ratios, avoid awkward cropping, and make sure important content stays visible before you upload.
Every Facebook placement has a different aspect ratio. Using the wrong one means Facebook will auto-crop your image, often cutting off faces, text, or key details. Here are the ratios you need to know:
| Format | Aspect Ratio | Recommended Size |
|---|---|---|
| Post / Link Share | 1.91:1 | 1200 x 628 px |
| Cover Photo | 2.63:1 | 820 x 312 px |
| Story | 9:16 | 1080 x 1920 px |
| Profile Picture | 1:1 | 320 x 320 px |
| Event Cover | 16:9 | 1920 x 1080 px |
| Ad (Single Image) | 1.91:1 | 1200 x 628 px |
| Carousel Ad | 1:1 | 1080 x 1080 px |
| Square Post | 1:1 | 1080 x 1080 px |
Use the crop tool above to match any of these ratios before uploading to Facebook. Pre-cropping gives you full control over what your audience sees.
When you upload an image that doesn't match the expected aspect ratio, Facebook makes the decision for you. Its auto-crop algorithm centers the image and cuts off the edges. That means:
Pre-cropping your images puts you in control. You decide what the viewer sees instead of leaving it to an algorithm. For brands, this is the difference between a professional-looking post and one that looks like an afterthought.
Auto-crop cuts off important parts of my image
This happens when your image aspect ratio doesn't match what Facebook expects. Use the image size checker to verify your dimensions, then pre-crop to the correct ratio before uploading.
Cover photo looks different on mobile and desktop
Facebook displays cover photos at 820x312 on desktop but crops differently on mobile (640x360). Use the safe zone visualizer to see what stays visible, and the cover photo tool to preview both views.
Profile picture is cropped to a circle
Facebook displays profile pictures as circles, not squares. Even though you upload a square image, the corners will be hidden. Make sure important content (your face, logo) is centered within the square, not in the corners.
Story images are zoomed in or blurry
Stories need 1080x1920 pixels at a 9:16 ratio. If your image is smaller or a different ratio, Facebook will zoom in to fill the screen, which degrades quality. Always crop to 9:16 and use a high-resolution source image.
The format you upload matters because Facebook compresses every image. Choosing the right format minimizes the quality loss:
Avoid GIF for static images (larger file, no benefit) and BMP/TIFF (not supported). For the best results, upload at exactly the recommended dimensions so Facebook doesn't need to resize your image.
Need more control over your crop?
Open the Free Thumbnail Editor →