Timeline photo (recommended)
Recommended1600×900 16:9
Sharp widescreen frame for single-image posts on the timeline.
Use in toolX (Twitter) · Image size
X Post Image Size
Timeline photos look crisp at 1600×900. Keep a little margin for compression and multi-image grids, then download a ready JPG in your browser.
Based on X (Twitter) UI as of 2026-08-10. Exact crops and pixels can shift—preview before you publish.
Browser tool · nothing leaves your device
Crop your X post image
Output 1600 × 900
- 1Upload or try the sample
- 2Drag so the subject stays in the mobile guide
- 3Download 1640×624 (or your selected size)
Click to upload
Upload a photo—or try the sample—then keep the subject inside the margin before you download.
Drop an image onto the canvas, click inside it, or try the sample
Size specs
16:9 is the dependable single-image default. Multi-image grids may crop tighter—keep subjects centered inside the safe margin.
Publish
Export this for X (Twitter) upload.
Compact 16:9
1200×675 16:9
Same ratio at a lighter pixel count when the source is already soft.
Use in tool| Asset | Pixels | Ratio | Notes | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timeline photo (recommended) Recommended | 1600×900 | 16:9 | Sharp widescreen frame for single-image posts on the timeline. | Use in tool |
| Compact 16:9 | 1200×675 | 16:9 | Same ratio at a lighter pixel count when the source is already soft. | Use in tool |
One clear frame beats a stretched banner
Single-image posts on X look best as clean 16:9 frames. 1600×900 gives you sharpness after compression without looking soft on high-density phones. A banner crop (3:1) or a square avatar reused as a post almost always looks wrong in the feed.
People skim the timeline on small screens. If your headline or product sits on the extreme edge, a multi-image layout or a slight client crop can clip the first word. A modest safe margin around the subject is cheap insurance.
Link cards and attached photos are different jobs. A URL preview often lands near ~1.91:1; an attached photo post should be designed as its own 16:9 graphic. Do not assume one export covers both.
When you post two, three, or four images, secondary cells can crop more aggressively. Center the subject in every cell you care about, and keep type larger than you would on a desktop mockup.
Good vs weak crop
Same landscape card—edges and tiny type fail after compression or multi-image crop.
Reads in the timeline
- Subject centered with breathing room
- Headline large enough for mobile
- True 16:9 export, not a stretched banner
- Clear contrast on dark and light feeds
Fails after crop or compression
- 3:1 header reused as a post
- Tiny captions that vanish after compression
- Faces stuck to the edge in a multi-image grid
- Low-contrast gray type on a busy photo
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.
Post image
1600 × 900
This page. Single-image timeline default.
Header banner
1500 × 500
Profile header—3:1, not a post substitute.
Profile photo
400 × 400
Circular avatar in the timeline and profile.
Link preview card
~1200 × 628 typical
Shared URL thumbnail—separate from an attached photo.
| Surface | Typical size | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Post image | 1600 × 900 | This page. Single-image timeline default. |
| Header banner | 1500 × 500 | Profile header—3:1, not a post substitute. |
| Profile photo | 400 × 400 | Circular avatar in the timeline and profile. |
| Link preview card | ~1200 × 628 typical | Shared URL thumbnail—separate from an attached photo. |
Single image vs multi-image grids
A lone 16:9 photo usually keeps most of your frame. Grids and some clients crop tighter toward the center. If the only important detail sits in a corner, it can disappear when you attach a second image later.
Design for the strictest case you might use: center the subject, keep type inside the safe margin, and treat edge decoration as optional. That way the same file still works when you switch from one image to a carousel mid-campaign.
- Prefer one strong subject over cluttered corners.
- Keep captions inside the inner ~90% of the frame.
- Test a two-up layout before you rely on edge text.
File requirements
Prefer JPG for photographs. PNG helps when logos or flat type must stay crisp. Export sRGB so colors stay predictable after X compresses the upload.
- Recommended
- 1600 × 900 px (16:9)
- Alternate
- 1200 × 675 px (same ratio)
- Formats
- JPG or PNG (sRGB)
- File weight
- Keep it light for mobile timelines
- Not a substitute
- 1500×500 header or ~1.91:1 link cards
Post image is not the header
The profile banner is 1500×500. Forcing that strip into a post leaves huge empty bands or stretches people oddly. Crop a dedicated 16:9 frame for the timeline—even if you start from the same photo.
- Reuse the photo, not the finished banner export.
- Keep post headlines larger than banner wordmarks.
- See the Surfaces table when you are unsure which slot you are filling.
Common mistakes
- Uploading a 3:1 banner as a timeline photo.
- Tiny text that vanishes after compression.
- Subjects glued to the edge in multi-image grids.
- Using a link-card crop and expecting identical framing as an attached photo.
- Soft upscales from screenshots that look muddy on retina phones.
How to use the crop tool
Upload your photo, choose Timeline photo (or Compact 16:9), drag to protect the subject inside the margin, then download. Processing stays on your device.
- Start with 1600×900 when the source is sharp.
- Use the safe margin as a keep-in for faces and type.
- Export again if you later need a square or banner for another surface.
After you download
From this download to a live upload in a few minutes.
- 1
Download the JPG from the tool (prefer 1600×900).
- 2
Compose a post on X and attach the image as a photo—not as a random profile crop.
- 3
Avoid extra zoom in the composer if this crop is already final.
- 4
If you add more images, confirm each cell still shows the subject.
- 5
Check the published post once on your phone in the live timeline.
Frequently asked questions
What size should an X post image be in 2026?
1600×900 (16:9) is a strong default for single-image posts. 1200×675 keeps the same ratio at fewer pixels when you need a lighter file.
Does X crop post images?
Single 16:9 images usually keep most of the frame. Multi-image grids and some clients crop tighter—keep subjects centered and inside a safe margin.
Is the post size the same as the X header?
No. Headers are 1500×500 (3:1). Re-crop for posts instead of stretching the banner into the timeline.
What about link preview cards?
Shared URL thumbnails often use roughly ~1.91:1. That is separate from an attached photo post—design each surface on purpose.
JPG or PNG for timeline photos?
JPG for photographs, PNG for graphics with sharp type or logos. Prefer sRGB either way.
Can I post a vertical or square image?
X may accept other ratios, but framing can letterbox or crop unpredictably. For dependable results, start from 16:9 and keep the subject centered.
Why does my text look soft after posting?
Timelines compress images. Export a sharp 1600×900, use larger type, and avoid hairline strokes that disappear after upload.