Link preview (practical)
Recommended1200×600 2:1
Practical 2:1 card for Threads URL unfurls. Not the tall 4:5 feed post crop.
Use in toolThreads · Image size
Threads Link Preview Size
Threads link previews commonly land near 1200×600. Keep the headline in the center band, then download in your browser—this is not a 4:5 feed photo.
Browser crop · stays on your device
Crop your Threads link preview
1200 × 600
Add a photo to crop
Upload a story photo or flat graphic—or try the sample—then keep the headline inside the center band before you download.
Size specs
This page is for link share cards. Attaching a photo to a Threads post still prefers 1080×1350 (4:5)—export that separately.
Publish
Export this for Threads upload.
| Asset | Pixels | Ratio | Notes | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Link preview (practical) Recommended | 1200×600 | 2:1 | Practical 2:1 card for Threads URL unfurls. Not the tall 4:5 feed post crop. | Use in tool |
Link cards are wide—feed photos stay tall
When someone shares a URL in Threads, the client often pulls a wide preview card near 1200×600. That card is the click pitch—long before anyone opens the destination. Faces and headlines parked on the far edges can clip behind platform chrome.
Photo posts attached to a Threads update still prefer a tall 4:5 frame (1080×1350). Stretching a link card into the feed, or a portrait post into the OG slot, looks unfinished next to purpose-built art.
Open Graph tags on your site (og:image) usually drive the unfurl. Export a clean 1200×600 master, set it on the page, then verify the live share inside Threads. Caches linger—if you swap art mid-campaign, expect some clients to show the old card until refresh.
Profile pictures are circles. Do not stretch the avatar into this wide slot. Prefer high contrast type that still reads at chat-preview size on a phone.
Good vs weak crop
Same short banner strip—quiet lower-left for the avatar, subject in the open mid/right band.
Clear 2:1 link card
- True 1200×600 export
- Headline in the center band
- Separate from feed 4:5
4:5 post forced wide
- Portrait post stretched flat
- Micro type after compression
- Avatar circle reused as OG art
Before you upload
Tick these off against your crop preview—nothing is saved.
Related surfaces compared
Similar-looking slots often use different ratios—do not reuse one export for all of them.
Link preview
1200 × 600
This page. URL unfurl card.
Feed post
1080 × 1350
4:5 photo post—separate guide.
Profile picture
640 × 640
Circular avatar—not a link card.
| Surface | Typical size | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Link preview | 1200 × 600 | This page. URL unfurl card. |
| Feed post | 1080 × 1350 | 4:5 photo post—separate guide. |
| Profile picture | 640 × 640 | Circular avatar—not a link card. |
How Threads link unfurls pick the image
Most unfurls follow Open Graph or similar meta tags on the destination page. Cropping here is only half the job—publish the file where crawlers can read it.
- Prefer one clear subject and one short title.
- Avoid microscopic captions that only work on a desktop canvas.
- Re-check after you change the live page.
Link preview vs Threads feed post
Feed photos want height. Link cards want width. Export each ratio from a wider original when you need both.
- Threads post size — 1080 × 1350 (4:5)
- Open Graph image — 1200 × 630 cross-network habit
File requirements
JPG suits photos; PNG suits flat graphics. Prefer sRGB. Keep weight reasonable so crawlers fetch quickly.
- Link preview
- 1200 × 600 px (2:1)
- Feed post (different)
- 1080 × 1350 px (4:5)
- Formats
- JPG or PNG (sRGB)
- Best for
- URL unfurls in Threads
Common mistakes
- Uploading a 4:5 feed photo as the only og:image.
- Parking the headline on the far left or right edge.
- Soft screenshots of a phone browser as the share card.
- Forgetting to update meta tags after you swap the file.
How to use the crop tool
Upload a graphic, choose Link preview (1200×600), keep the title inside the center band, then download. Cropping stays in your browser.
- Judge the result at chat-preview size.
- Pair with a separate 4:5 export for photo posts.
- Verify the live Threads unfurl after publish.
After you download
From this download to a live upload in a few minutes.
- 1
Download the 1200×600 JPG or PNG from the tool.
- 2
Set it as og:image (or your CMS social preview) on the destination URL.
- 3
Share the link in Threads and confirm the unfurl on a phone.
- 4
If caches show old art, wait or use a fresh URL / cache buster per your stack.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Threads link preview in 2026?
A practical card is 1200×600 (2:1). Feed photo posts still prefer 1080×1350 (4:5).
Is the link preview the same as a Threads post image?
No. Posts are tall 4:5 photos. Link previews are wide URL unfurl cards.
Do I set this in Threads or on my website?
Usually on the destination page via Open Graph / social preview settings. Threads then unfurls that URL.
How is this different from Facebook 1200×630?
Close, but not identical. Threads here targets 1200×600; many OG guides use 1200×630—see the Open Graph hub for the cross-network primary.
Can I crop Threads link previews in the browser?
Yes. This guide includes an in-browser crop—files stay on your device until you download and publish yourself.