In the ever-evolving landscape of social media, your Facebook cover photo size plays a crucial role in creating a strong first impression. At System SocialZ, we understand the importance of showcasing your brand or personal style effectively. As we step into 2024, it’s essential to stay updated on the optimal dimensions and best practices for your cover photo to ensure it looks stunning across all devices. In this guide, we’ll explore the ideal sizes, common mistakes, and tips to help you create a captivating cover photo that resonates with your audience. Let’s dive in!
What are the dimensions for a Facebook cover photo in 2024?
The recommended size for a Facebook cover photo is 851 x 315 pixels for desktop and 640 x 360 pixels for mobile devices. The image should maintain a 16:9 aspect ratio, not exceed 100 kilobytes, and be saved in PNG format.
Keep in mind that the cover photo will appear differently on mobile compared to desktop. To prevent important elements from being cropped out, we suggest positioning your images, graphics, and text within the safe area at the center. This safe area measures 820 x 360 pixels, ensuring your cover photo looks appealing on any device.
Facebook event cover on desktop compared to mobile 
Let’s explore how a Facebook cover photo appears on desktop versus mobile devices. On mobile, the sides of your Facebook header will be cropped, while the height will increase. Given that 97.5% of Facebook users in the U.S. access the platform via mobile, it’s crucial to ensure your cover displays all essential elements. However, optimizing a single cover photo for both mobile and desktop can be tricky due to their differing display needs.
When designing your Facebook header, keep in mind that the profile picture will obscure the left side. Therefore, it’s best to position important information on the right side. On desktop, the cover image is wider but crops the top and bottom. To avoid cutting off vital elements like your logo, product image, tagline, or call to action, aim for a cover photo size of 820 x 360 pixels and focus your design within the safe area.
Where will your Facebook event image be displayed?
Your Facebook event cover image will be displayed in multiple locations, each playing a crucial role in attracting attention. First, it will feature prominently on the event page, serving as the main visual representation of your event. This is where attendees will get their first impression, so it’s important to make it engaging and relevant.
Additionally, your cover image will appear in the upcoming events section as a thumbnail, providing a snapshot for users browsing through various events. This smaller view still needs to convey the essence of your event effectively to encourage clicks.
Finally, the cover image will also show up in the News Feed, making it a key element for promoting your event to a wider audience. In this context, a captivating cover image can draw more attention and increase engagement, ultimately driving more attendees to your event. Therefore, it’s essential to ensure that your image is visually appealing and fits the overall theme of your event.
Top tips for designing standout Facebook event covers
Utilize Facebook Cover Photo Templates
Save time by using templates to create your cover photo instead of starting from scratch. Tools like HubSpot’s templates simplify the design process, allowing users to customize an image within minutes, even without design expertise. Just swap out the default text for your own, save the new image, and upload it to your Facebook page.
Follow Facebook’s Cover Photo Guidelines
While it may seem obvious, adhering to Facebook’s cover photo guidelines is essential for maintaining visibility on the platform. It’s worth reviewing the complete Page Guidelines, but key points include: your cover photo is public, it shouldn’t be misleading or infringe on copyrights, and you cannot encourage others to upload it to their personal timelines. Violating these rules could lead to actions against your page, so it’s important to avoid any infractions. Consider using your own product images, original text, or licensed stock photos to steer clear of copyright issues.
Ensure Your Cover Photo is the Correct Size
As mentioned previously, the ideal Facebook cover photo size is 851 pixels wide by 315 pixels tall for desktop and 640 pixels wide by 360 pixels tall for mobile. If you upload an image that is smaller, Facebook will stretch it, potentially distorting the quality. Conversely, if the image is larger, Facebook may crop it down, risking the loss of important details. To make the process easier, consider downloading pre-sized templates for Facebook cover photos.
Don’t Stress Over the “20% Text” Rule
Although Facebook eliminated the 20% text rule in 2013, it’s still wise to limit the amount of text in your design. While the previous guideline aimed to keep visuals engaging rather than text-heavy, the principle remains valid. If you do choose to include text, keep it brief and allow your images to convey the message.
Create a Focal Point in Your Cover Image
Treat your cover photo as the “above the fold” section of your page. If it’s cluttered or distracting, visitors may leave quickly. Successful Facebook cover photos typically feature a focal point and a cohesive color scheme that aligns with your brand. Your social media presence reflects your business, so aim to make a strong first impression. Incorporating negative space can also help highlight key elements and call-to-action (CTA) buttons.
Ensure Your Profile Picture Complements Your Cover Photo
Since your profile picture is separate from your cover photo, consider how these two images interact. They should share similar color schemes or contrasting styles that still adhere to your brand’s identity. For example, on the Anthropology Facebook page, the yellow in the profile picture beautifully complements the cover photo’s overall color scheme.
Highlight the Action Buttons in the Bottom Right Corner
You may have noticed that different cover photos feature varying primary CTA buttons. Depending on your business, you can customize these buttons, which appear in the bottom right corner of your cover photo. When designing, keep the placement of this button in mind. Subtly directing attention to it can enhance its visibility, but avoid using overt directional cues, as these might not appear the same way on mobile.
Right-Align Objects in Your Cover Photo
With your profile picture positioned on the left, balancing your cover photo design by placing focal elements on the right can enhance aesthetics. A balanced layout is crucial for effective design and makes your cover photos more visually appealing on mobile devices.
Consider Mobile Users
Given that 98.5% of Facebook users access the platform via mobile devices, keeping mobile users in mind when designing your cover photo is vital. On mobile, a significant portion of the cover photo may not be visible, with the right side often cut off. It’s crucial to ensure that important information isn’t too far right to avoid being cropped out on mobile screens.
Include a Shortened Link in Your Cover Photo Description
To support your page’s CTA, make sure your cover photo description includes a short text CTA with a link to the same offer. This allows users to access the link even when viewing the cover photo in isolation. For tracking purposes, consider shortening links and adding UTM codes to monitor visitor engagement.
Pin a Related Post Below Your Facebook Cover Image
Pinning a post to the top of your Timeline highlights key content. This is indicated by a “PINNED POST” label on the top right of the post. By ensuring the pinned post aligns with your cover photo design and CTA, visitors will have a clear call to action when they land on your page, increasing the chances of conversion. To pin a post, simply publish it, click the three dots in the top right corner, and select “Pin to Top of Page.”
Choose a Striking Image
Your event will appear in people’s newsfeeds, on your page, and in Facebook’s event recommendations. If you don’t have an engaging image, it’s likely your event will go unnoticed. Instead of opting for generic stock photos, select a unique image that features your guest speakers, company location, or team members. Ensure that the photo is high-quality and reflects your brand effectively.
Include the Date and Venue
While it may seem obvious, in the haste to publish your event on Facebook, some individuals might overlook this crucial detail. Always ensure that your Facebook event cover image contains all relevant information about the event before uploading it. Use a stylish, readable font that captures attention.
Incorporate Branding Elements for Easy Recognition
Utilize your brand’s logo, name, color scheme, and fonts to make your event easily identifiable. Whether you’re designing a photo cover or an illustration, incorporating these branding elements is essential.
Select an Engaging Name for Your Event
The event name is the first impression attendees will have, giving them insight into what to expect. Choose a name that is both descriptive and creative, and make sure it stands out prominently on your cover.
Essential features of an effective Facebook cover photo size
At this point, you’re familiar with the key guidelines that should shape your decisions about the ideal Facebook cover photo size. Now, it’s just a matter of selecting an image that speaks to your target audience and encourages them to click on the “follow” or “send message” button.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer for the perfect cover photo, some of the most engaging images often include:
Text: Be mindful here—using a small amount of text, such as a brief slogan, can help convey your brand, but too much could overpower the image.
Emotion: Featuring happy customers or smiling employees can attract attention and generate enthusiasm about your company, product, or service.
Relevance: The image you select should align with both your company’s identity and the interests of your audience.
Display your brand’s unique personality
Images are far more powerful than most businesses realize. In fact, we process images up to 61,000 times faster than text. With the right Facebook cover photo, you can capture your audience’s attention even before they start reading your social media posts.
With this in mind, it’s crucial that your cover photo reflects what your brand is all about. This not only reassures your customers that they’re in the right place but also helps maintain a consistent online presence for your company.
Slack’s Facebook cover subtly hints at the functionality of their product in a way that intrigues the audience without being overly polished or promotional, which aligns perfectly with Slack’s casual brand tone.
Highlight brand updates and key news
A Facebook cover photo works much like a storefront. It showcases what you’re offering to potential customers and encourages them to explore further. Your Facebook header is an ideal spot to highlight what’s new with your brand and promote upcoming events or products. As we’ve emphasized throughout this article, make sure you’re leading with a captivating visual instead of overwhelming your audience with too much information in the cover space.
Here are a few ways to achieve this:
Highlighting the latest products and events: Like the HBO example above, where they promote their newest special with striking key art.
Showcasing your team or office: Give your followers a glimpse of the people behind your organization and highlight the professional side of your business.
Displaying your product in action: Show what customers can gain by featuring a photo of a client or employee using your product.
Direct focus to the important areas
There are a few different approaches in the social media world—especially when it comes to Facebook cover photo sizing. Some believe it’s best to combine the profile picture and cover photo into a single, unified image. Others prefer to separate the visuals, distributing the focus across key areas of the page.
In some cases, the profile picture blends almost seamlessly with the cover photo by using the same design elements and colors. This creates a highly cohesive page that draws attention to the right sections.
However, when guiding audience attention, be sure to avoid using directional cues like arrows. Not only can these come across as overly forceful, but buttons and CTAs often appear differently on mobile than on desktops. This could result in an arrow pointing at nothing on mobile devices.
Effective Facebook Cover Photo Size for Your Business
Although creating a cover photo may seem straightforward, the image you choose has a significant impact on prospects visiting your page. You want to make a strong first impression on Facebook, and your cover photo is the first thing visitors will notice.
A poorly sized cover photo or video can appear unprofessional and convey the wrong message about the quality of your offerings.
With the tips provided in this article, you now have the insights needed to design a Facebook cover photo that represents your brand and engages users on the platform.
Where to Discover Amazing Cover Photos
Some great cover photos, like Buffer’s and Drip’s, are created entirely from graphics, while others make use of real photographs. Whatever you decide, there are many resources available if you don’t have a high-quality image of your own.
These include:
Free stock photo websites such as StockSnap, Pexels, and Unsplash, which offer royalty-free images that can be used for commercial purposes.
User-generated content, which is often abundant and free. Some UGC is of very high quality, and many users would feel honored if you featured their content in your cover photo.
Common Mistakes with Facebook Banners
We’ve discussed how to create engaging banner photos, but the process isn’t always foolproof. Let’s go over some common mistakes to avoid when designing your own banners.
Avoid using copyrighted material: First and foremost, make sure you have the rights to use the images you’re posting. Opt for reputable stock photo websites like Pexels or Unsplash, which offer free images for use.
Don’t overload with text: While text can play an important role in your image, avoid adding so much that it distracts viewers. Keep the text minimal, using only enough to convey your message clearly.
Steer clear of clutter: A busy cover photo can make it hard for viewers to focus. If your images, fonts, and colors aren’t cohesive, it can overwhelm viewers with too many focal points or, worse, discourage them from exploring further.
Don’t use irrelevant images: Speaking of clutter, avoid including images just for the sake of it. Your cover photo should feature visuals related to your brand. Stay away from using unrelated products or overly generic images.
Errors to Avoid in Facebook Cover Photo size
Although you can choose from a variety of images for your Page’s cover photo, there are certain practices you should avoid. Some mistakes can undermine your Page and negatively impact how new visitors perceive your business.
Here are some key Facebook cover photo mistakes to steer clear of:
Using the same cover photo everywhere: Facebook header images vary in size across events and groups. Be sure to use the correct dimensions to optimize each page.
Overloading with text: While some text can be useful for branding, having too much—like a text overlay on a solid background—usually isn’t effective. Even if you’re focusing on a powerful quote, your cover photo should mostly speak for itself as a visual.
Excessive clutter: We’ve all come across images on social media that are so busy they’re hard to look at for long. With too many colors, focal points, and elements, the image can become overwhelming and appear unorganized.
Ignoring Facebook’s current page layout: Facebook frequently updates its layout. Each time this happens, check how your cover photo appears on both desktop and mobile to ensure nothing is cut off.
Choosing something too generic: Your cover photo should stand out and grab attention. A generic image that loosely relates to your business won’t create the impact you want.
Skipping branding: When possible, include subtle branding elements like your logo. This can significantly boost brand recognition.
What is the ideal image size for Facebook?
The best image size for Facebook depends on the type of image you’re uploading:
- Profile Picture: 360 x 360 pixels is recommended, with a minimum size of 180 x 180 pixels.
- Cover Photo: 820 x 312 pixels for desktop and 640 x 360 pixels for mobile.
- Shared Images: 1200 x 630 pixels is ideal for shared images.
- Event Cover Photo: 1920 x 1080 pixels.
Using these dimensions will help ensure your images appear clear and well-formatted across different devices.
What size is recommended for a Facebook cover photo?
For a Facebook cover photo, the recommended size is 820 x 312 pixels for desktop displays and 640 x 360 pixels for mobile devices. To ensure your image looks good on all devices, it’s best to use the larger dimensions of 820 x 312 pixels. Keep in mind that when uploading, the image will be cropped to fit, so important elements should be centered and within the safe zone to avoid being cut off on mobile views.
Typical Size for Facebook Profile Pictures
Your profile picture doesn’t just appear at the top of your Facebook profile page – it also shows up beside your posts, comments, and in Facebook search results. It’s a key representation of your Facebook account.
Facebook profile pictures are displayed at different sizes depending on the device. On desktops or laptops, they appear at 132 x 132 pixels, while on Facebook Classic, they’re shown at 170 x 170 pixels.
On mobile phones, the size of your profile picture varies based on the device. On modern smartphones, it’s displayed as a 128 x 128 pixel circle, whereas older phones showed it at 36 x 36 pixels. In comments, the profile photo appears at 40 x 40 pixels.
The ideal Facebook profile picture size is 360 x 360 pixels, with the minimum allowed size being 180 x 180 pixels. The highest resolution Facebook can store is 2048 x 2048 pixels.
We recommend uploading a higher resolution image of 720 x 720 pixels with a 1:1 aspect ratio. Use JPG format for photos and PNG format for images containing logos or text.
Keep in mind that when you upload a square photo, it will be cropped into a circle.
Benefits of Having a Facebook Profile Picture
Your Facebook profile picture is how people recognize you – it’s essential.
Build trust: Without a profile picture, people may assume your account is either brand new or potentially a scam. Upload a clear, professional, and friendly profile photo to help visitors associate your posts with you and make them feel like they can trust you.
Cross-platform marketing: Using the same profile picture across multiple social media platforms strengthens your online identity, helping you connect with more people and improving your social media presence.
Easier to find: People often search for others on social media by name and photo to learn more about those they’ve met or worked with. A clear Facebook profile picture makes it easier for them to find you quickly.
How to Upload or Change Your Facebook Profile Photo?
Now that you have your ideal Facebook profile picture ready, it’s time to upload it. Changing your profile picture on Facebook is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few clicks.
- Open Facebook.com or the Facebook app on your computer. Once logged into your account, click on your profile picture in the upper right corner to access your homepage.
- Click the small camera icon in the bottom right corner of your profile photo.
- You can either choose from your already uploaded photos or click ‘Upload Photo’ to add your new profile picture.
- After uploading, you can select which part of the image to use. Simply drag the circular frame to adjust the section you want, ensuring the focus is in the center of the circle.
- Use the slider below to enlarge the photo if needed.
- Click ‘Save,’ and your new photo will be displayed on your homepage as your profile picture.
The facebook cover photo size – FAQs?
How to optimize Facebook cover photo size for both desktop and mobile?
To optimize your Facebook cover photo for both desktop and mobile viewing, use an image with a resolution of 820 x 312 pixels for desktop and ensure important elements are centered. Keep key visuals and text within the center 640 x 312 pixels to avoid cropping on mobile devices. Use high-quality images and consider the visual hierarchy for better impact.
What formats are best for a high-quality Facebook cover photo?
Recommended formats for uploading a high-quality Facebook cover photo are JPEG and PNG. JPEG is ideal for photographs, while PNG is better for images with text or graphics.
Are there tools or apps to help create the ideal Facebook cover photo size?
Yes, tools like Canva, Adobe Spark, and Snappa offer templates specifically for Facebook cover photos, ensuring the correct size and resolution.
How does Facebook cover photo size impact its appearance on different devices?
The size of a Facebook cover photo affects its appearance by determining how it is cropped and displayed on different devices. A photo that’s not the correct size may lose important elements or look pixelated, especially on mobile where the visible area is smaller. Proper sizing ensures consistent visual impact across desktop and mobile views.
What are common mistakes in choosing a Facebook cover photo size?
Common mistakes include using incorrect dimensions, not centering key elements, choosing low-resolution images, and neglecting to account for how the photo appears on both desktop and mobile. Additionally, some forget to optimize for visual clarity and relevance to their brand or message.
How often should you update your Facebook cover photo to keep it relevant?
You should update your Facebook cover photo every few months or whenever there’s a significant change, like a new season, event, or promotion, to keep it relevant and engaging for your audience.
Can you use a video for your Facebook cover, and what size is required?
Yes, you can use a video as your Facebook cover. The recommended size for a Facebook cover video is 820 x 462 pixels, and the video should be between 20 to 90 seconds long.
Conclusion
In conclusion, having the right Facebook cover photo size is vital for making a lasting impression and effectively representing your brand or personality in 2024. By following the best practices outlined in this guide, you can ensure your cover photo looks sharp and engaging across all devices. At System SocialZ, we encourage you to regularly update your cover photo to reflect current trends and events, keeping your profile fresh and relevant. With the right tools and strategies, your Facebook cover photo can be a powerful asset in building your online presence. Start creating today and watch your engagement soar!
Leave a Reply