Best Size for Facebook Cover Photos in 2022

As Facebook gets close to reaching 3 billion monthly active users, it’s safe to say that it’s an absolute giant in the online advertising world. This platform should be your go-to destination if you’re a business owner. Crafting a brand story with the right social media images, videos, words, campaigns can take a lot of effort, but it will be worth it. Today’s blog post discusses the importance of cover photos for your business, ideal sizes, file types, and tricks to create the most engaging cover designs. Start reading now to learn how to create the perfect cover photo for your brand and learn about the best Facebook banner size.

And when you’re finished read through our other Facebook guides:

Table of Contents

Does the Facebook Cover Size Matter?

A great, high-quality branded image can do a lot for the growth of your brand. But what if that compelling image appears too distorted or Facebook crops it and hides important information? Cover photo dimensions matter a lot and can either make or break the first impression visitors have for your business. Personal profiles have it much easier when choosing a theme, size, and design elements for their banners. However, a company cover photo represents the business and should look professional.

When you visit a Facebook Page, one of the first things you notice is the banner photo located in the top part of the screen, no matter if you’re using a laptop or the mobile app. It takes quite a large portion of the screen, meaning that it is one of the best free Facebook ad examples. Most businesses use cover designs to promote their products and upcoming events, share more about the brand, score new customers, etc. As you can see, the banner you’ll upload has a significant role; therefore, you have to get familiar with preferred image sizes, types, and how to attract customers’ attention using a single photo.

What Is the Best Facebook Banner Size?

Do you have any dimensions in mind when creating your cover images for Facebook? If your answer is no, you should definitely learn more about the platform’s correct dimensions for desktop or mobile viewing. As we already mentioned, when you choose the wrong size, your cover images can look distorted, important information can be cropped, and it can appear unprofessional to potential clients. Since the banner photos are an essential part of every marketing strategy, we will discuss the types of files you can upload, sizes, and elements they should include.

Cover Image Size

The recommended Facebook banner size is 820 pixels wide and 312 pixels tall for desktop device users and 640 pixels wide and 360 pixels tall for mobile device users. So, as you can notice, one cover image size won’t appear the same on a laptop and a mobile phone screen. So, how can you optimize a photo so that everyone will see all the vital information?

The best route is to upload a cover image that is 820 × 312 pixels in size and place all the words, logos, graphics in the middle. This area is known as a safe zone, since both desktop and mobile users will see the entire content. If you prefer seeing numbers in aspect ratios, the Page cover photo is 2.63:1.

People using the desktop version of the platform will see your cover photo design cropped in the top and bottom parts, but if you keep all the information in the middle, that shouldn’t be a problem. On the other hand, when looking at a mobile display, people will see the banner cropped on the left and right sides, but again, if you keep the information in the safe zone, they’ll see all the components.

If the cover photo size is too big, Facebook users won’t see the entire image and can miss important parts of your business, such as your logo or social media handles. Additionally, when the image dimensions are too small, it will look too stretched out and appear low-quality.

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you want to share your logo on the banner of your Facebook Page, you should opt for PNG files. Otherwise, the preferred file types are either PNG or JPG. The minimum size of the banner is 400 × 150 pixels in size, the maximum size is 1958 × 745 pixels, and the maximum file size shouldn’t be bigger than 100 kilobytes. When uploading larger sizes than the recommended one, you risk Facebook cropping important components of your banner.

Cover Video Size

Another thing most businesses don’t even consider is adding cover videos. It’s a dynamic way to show bits and pieces of your company, products, and even promote events. The recommended video size is 820 × 312 pixels, while the preferred video formats are .mov or .mp4. The maximum video duration is 20 seconds, while the maximum is 90 seconds.

Event Cover Photo Size

Did you know that you can add an event cover photo on Facebook? This is the perfect way to let more people know there will be a happening and the type of event they should expect. This applies to public events, while for private events, only the people who will receive event invitations will be able to see the cover image.

In addition, the recommended event banner size is 1200 × 628 pixels, with a 2:1 image aspect ratio. Finally, we have to mention that you can’t change the event photo size once it’s uploaded. Just for comparison, the recommended size of Facebook profile pictures for your Page is 170 × 170 pixels for desktop screens and 128 × 128 for mobile screens.

Useful Tips for Designing a Facebook Cover Photo

An excellent cover photo is essential for Facebook growth, so what are the tricks you can use to create the best image for your business? Banners are powerful social media images that get a lot of attention. Here are some valuable tips to help you make an engaging cover:

1. Keep It on Brand and Simple

Aside from uploading high-quality images that follow the Facebook size recommendations, you should ensure that the design you create is on-brand with the rest of your assets. Stick to a simple but eye-catching design and avoid overwhelming it with too much information. If this is your first time designing a banner, you can try many cover photo templates online. Again, it’s imperative to create an original image that people will easily associate with your brand.

In addition, the design shouldn’t distract people’s attention from calls to action. For example, action buttons are located right below the cover photo, on the right side. Your design should subtly point towards that button, so visitors will notice it and decide to follow, message, call, etc. Finally, the color palette should be uniform with your logo and the additional features you use as a part of your strategy.

2. Add a Purpose

Once you know the correct size and specifications of a banner, you should give it a purpose. Since you can experiment with photos and videos, you can present many aspects of your business and create an entire story the visitors will want to check out. For example, the purpose of your banner can be to present new launches, promote events, promote products, show bits and pieces of your business, employees, etc.

3. Don’t Blend It with the Profile Photo

There was a time when many companies blended their cover with their profile photo. Facebook changed the layout of pages, so this option won’t work anymore if you’re a business owner. It’s only available for personal profiles; therefore, you should stay away from the idea. Although you should use the same color schemes so that the profile image and banner are on-brand, they shouldn’t be a part of the same photo.

4. Use Right Alignment

When you first look at the cover photo displays, you’ll notice that the profile image is on the left, while the right side appears emptier. Experts suggest that you use the right alignment to create a balance, meaning that you should place objects and design elements on the right side of the cover image. If you put most of the details on the left side, your page can look cramped and overwhelming. People might have trouble focusing on one or the other, and the banner will lose its purpose. On the other hand, the right alignment will deliver more aesthetically pleasing results and will attract the attention of viewers, informing them of events, products, services, your social handles, etc.

Conclusion

Facebook is an essential part of growing your brand online and should be a part of your social media marketing campaign. When people visit your Page, the first thing they see is the banner; then they scroll through your social media posts. Aside from leaving a strong first impression, the cover photo is an excellent way to convey important information such as your social media handles, events, employees, production process, new releases, etc. Facebook allows you to upload cover images, videos, and event cover images. Before you even start creating one that fits your brand image, you should look at the recommended dimensions and follow the tips we added above.