Facebook group cover photo size changed Nov 27, 2017 – and again a couple weeks later.
Facebook revealed the size on November 28. But it didn’t actually work then!
And it cropped differently on every device. But now…
According to Facebook, the ideal size is 1,640px by 856px, or 1.91:1 ratio. This did not work anywhere on November 27. But now it does – on mobile.
Although it’s actually 1,640px by 859px! Not sure why they state 856, which isn’t exactly 1.91:1, nor what displays.
After changing on November 27, Facebook changed cropping on mobile again in early December. I’ve updated the post and template.
You can simply use 1,640px by 859px, or 1.91:1 ratio, which will work fine on both phones and tablets – if you allow room for Facebook’s text overlay across the bottom.
Allow cropping top and bottom on desktop. Facebook isn’t allowing full control over the cropping on desktop. A portion of the top and bottom will be cropped.
These dimensions have been verified to work as of January 24, 2018. Facebook is even providing a similar template now! If you’re having problems, provide specifics in your comment.
Why is my Facebook Group Cover Photo template 16:9?
I’m sticking with the 16:9 proportion because that’s a standard photo and video shape. You will lose a bit of height on mobile, and even more on desktop.
You should be able to find a 16:9 cropping template in any photo editing app, even free ones, like Photos on iOS. Refer to my template below as a visual guide for areas that may get cropped or covered by type.
If you go with Facebook’s suggested width of 1640, I’d make it 923 pixels tall, with the lower third kept clean for type. The exact amount covered by type will vary by number of lines in the overlay. If you’ve specified a location for your group, that adds a line on the iPhone app (but not on tablet, at this time).
Since Facebook isn’t allowing full control over the cropping on desktop, the updated template shows a default center crop.
Right-click to download template:
Instructions for using my social media templates
1. Open in Photoshop or other graphics editing program that has layers.
2. Change Image > Mode to RGB (the template is an indexed color PNG).
3. Add guidelines to match template, or use template as a translucent layer for guidance.
4. Delete template from image file when your design is done.
If your design program doesn’t have layers, you can use them for size and visual reference.
There are more social media templates in the Free Member Area.
Group cover photo info from Facebook
Now this works! Mostly…
How do I upload a cover photo to my group?
Admins can upload or change cover photos for their group.
To upload a cover photo for the first time:
- Click Upload Photo to upload a photo from your computer or click Choose Photo to choose from your Facebook photos or your group’s photos.
- Click Save Changes.
Keep in mind that the recommended size for group cover photos is 1,640px by 856px (or 1.91:1 ratio). To change an existing cover photo, hover over the photo and click Change Group Photo.
Note: If the cover photo has never been set, group members may also be able to add a cover photo. If a group member sets the cover photo for a group, and later decides they would like to remove it, they will need to delete the photo in order to remove it as the group cover photo. source
Facebook Group Cover Photo display sizes
Here are the current sizes as measured on my devices, plus the previous sizes I saw on Nov. 27:
On desktop: 1025 x 415, which is a 2.47:1 aspect ratio. This has not changed since November.
On iPhone 7 Plus: 1242 x 650 or 1.91:1. WAS 1242 x 698, which is 1.78:1 ratio (or 16:9).
On iPad: 1192 x 624 or 1.91:1. WAS 1192 x 440, about 2.6:1.
Facebook Group Cover Photo problems?
These dimensions have been verified to work as of January 24, 2018. Facebook is even providing a similar template on their Help page.
If you’re having problems, leave specifics in your comment. I can’t help if you simply say that my Facebook group cover photo size is too large. Explain the cropping problems you’re having and I’ll look into it.
Thank you, thank you thank you! You need the Nobel Peace rize just for saving me from pulling my hair out! I was ready to just delete all FaceBook accounts!
SAL
Ha! Awesome to hear.
That was driving me bonkers too, Thanks Louise 🙂
Louise, thank you. I’m a long time Photoshop Elements guy but have been really frustrated by not getting the straight poop on what FB actually wants. With your template and suggestions, I got more accomplished in 30 minutes today than several hours yesterday. A comment: for the 170×170 profile pic, you suggest at least twice that size. I ran into problems going 846×846 (which was a pic I already had), but going to 340×340 game me a great result.
Thanks for the tip, Robert!
Hi Louise,
thanks for your tips. However, somehow my group header illustration keeps getting compressed by Facebook that results in a pixelated illustration. I use your suggested ratio, convert it to a .jpg with an Alpha channel under a 100kb and still, it doesn’t look nice.
What to do about it?
Atse
I can suggest trying a LARGE PNG file size. It might work, but we unfortunately can’t control how FB decides to compress things. Would love to know if this helps though.
you save my life
So you say, if I take my present Facebook Group photo and resize it to 1640 x 859 it should work then … hhhh. but it doesn’t!
I’m trying to make it fit with picresize.com
You can “see” my present Facebook coverphoto (which is not shown correctly anymore since obviously not fitting frame) here:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/nobodyneedsmercury
Thanks in advance for your assistance!
Kind regards,
Henrik
If you follow the template, it will work. It’s not about resizing your current image. You need to keep the type out of the areas cropped top and bottom on desktop.
how do i download the template? can’t seem to figure out where to right click
On the image.
Super Helpful!
Dear Louise
Hmmm sorry, don’t really now what “follow the template” means …. all I want is for the cover photo to show correct again with all photos and the complete text … isn’t there maybe an app or online program that that make this work 1:1 for me!?
Cheers,
Henrik
I don’t think so. The online tools and apps tend to follow what FB recommends, which works on desktop only.
“Follow the template” means to keep anything you don’t want cropped to the smallest area shown (desktop cropping).
Well, all I want it to re-use my present/current image and have it shown with all photos and all text …. I’m absolutely no buff at this … so how would I go about this, dear Louise!?
Kindest regards and have a nice weeend,
Henrik
I always know to look for you to save the day! You rock! Thank you so much for this post!
I don’t know what I am doing wrong, but I have tried using these dimensions and using the pixel 1640×662 makes the image huge and when I upload it to my group it doesn’t fit at all and cuts off most of the picture. The previous dimensions that I had used on my group cover photos was 821×303. So I am not sure how it could almost double and still be able to fit in the cover photo.
What am I not understanding here?
The missing piece: Images for Facebook (and virtually all social media) need to be created to a proportion and not a specific pixel size. However if you use 1640×662 the sides WILL be cut off on mobile. I suggest you follow my template.
THANK YOU for being the ONLY one on the entire interwebs to have been able to call out the need for a compensation template to address the FB Group Photo zooming debacle. They really should be ashamed of themselves, but after all, THEY control the spin, so not addressing it is a self-preservation tactic in itself. Thank YOU for your integrity and for your service to your fellow (wo)man pulling our hair out in clumps for HOURS. *sigh* That’s billable time, as far as I’m concerned. I should send an invoice to Zuckerberg.
Thou rocketh so hard, madam. <3
Thanks 🙂
I don’t know if FB has changed it again or what. I’ve tried NINE different sizes and they’re all too large. I’ve tried 1025 x 300, 851 x 315, 1640 x 662, 1025 x 415, 820 x 428, 700 x 223, 550 x 175, 784 x 250 and 801 x 250. They all cut the sides, top and/or bottom off.
I have owned many groups over the years and have never had a problem like this before.
FB always crops cover photos differently on desktop vs mobile (whether group, page, event, or profile). There’s no size that will show in full on all devices. This is why I wrote the posts and made the templates.
Louise, I can’t tell you how much time and frustration you saved me. I don’t like FB at the best of times LOL.
Thanks so much.
Milly
Did not work!!!!
Found this site and followed instructions and it worked perfectly.
LOL that’s exactly what I said. Leave the top and bottom clear because they’ll get dropped on desktop. Don’t know how to make it any plainer than that.
We decided to leave ours oversized on all our groups rather than have to play catch up with Facebook moving the goalposts on a regular basis.
They really need to stop trying to fix things that aren’t broken.
Besides, the oversized group images serve as a reminder of their ineptitude.
Thanks for the effort you made to address this issue but if the people who created it can’t be bothered then what hope is there.:)
I hear ya, Peter!
Great Post! Quick question, do you know if it is possible to add an animated cover photo to a Group page (I know you can add it to a regular/business page). HELP. I can’t seem to figure this out and I’m seeing all these cool animated/slider-type cover photos and not sure why our group page is not able to do the same.
Thank you,
Lori, Ziglar Family
You could try uploading a GIF with the photo uploader. Videos aren’t yet supported, at least in my group.
Hi Louise!
What size/compression do you recommend exporting as? I’ve designed my file to your template, but every time I try to upload it to Facebook it comes out SUPER pixelated and messy. I’ve googled and tried everything I can think of, but nothing seems to help.
I see companies with crystal clear images as their Facebook cover photo and am wondering HOW? Any help would be greatly appreciated! 🙂
Thank you so much!
Sorry, I really don’t know. Part of the compression issues have to do with colors (reds and magentas suffer most) and just what the image is. Sharp edges get a lot of artifacts. On photos it’s less noticeable.
I’ve tried PNG 24 and sometimes that helps, but not always.
Please!! I need help. :'( I have several facebook groups and all my cover photos are now too high or too wide. There are so many different recommended sizes to see. Non of them works. There’s always a big part cut away. I tried also YOUR sizes shown on this page: 1640×856 pixel, 1640×859, 1640×662 and 1640×923. Non of them works. 🙁
WHY?? Why facebook must change always everything? I’m already so frustrated. Has anybody an idea about an actually size for watching the group’s photo on a computer?
I think you’re misunderstanding the post. There isn’t, and has never been, one size that looks the same across all devices. You need to create the larger size and allow for cropping on desktop.
Hi Louise. I am having a hard time understanding your template. I made a cover image 1640 x 630 and it’s getting cut off on the sides. Are you saying we should make our image 1640 x 859 to have it not get cut off on mobile but it will be a tad cut off on desktop?
Thanks so much!
That’s correct: make it 1640 x 859
Thank you for this! You wrote, “Facebook is even providing a similar template now!” Just out of curiosity, where do you find those?
I found it in the Help.
Thank you! No matter what I tried I could not get our group photo to show up right. Your template saved my sanity!!
Great to hear it!
Thanks for posting this – it was helpful. There’s one problem still. High saturated red/pink tones get distorted. I find this frustrating as I commonly do branding with these colours. Do you have a solution?
No, this is a known problem, unfortunately no solution (other than using different colors).
Flat colors and hard edges will always show more artifacts, and colors with a lot of red most of all.
Hello
please reply ، can we share on our website?
Thank you
Maria
You are welcome to link to my posts. Posting my images or more than a sentence of my words is NOT allowed.
Copyright policy
No matter what I try, no matter how large or small I make a photo, no matter which online tool I use, it always posts as the SAME size. It is way too big. I have tried widths ranging from 1859px to 600px. Neither side can be seen unless it is re-positioned, and then it is only one or the other; not both. The top and bottom cannot be seen or revealed even by re-positioning.
HELP!!!!
You cannot get around the fact that there WILL be cropping on either mobile or desktop. That’s why I wrote the article. You have to plan for the cropping. Making a different size in the same shape won’t make a difference.
I made a graphic design for the group cover photo in 300 ppi, I used the same dimensions that you mentioned (1640 x 859px) but then when I tried to upload it to the group, the photo became low res 🙁
Help I do not know what to do. 🙁
I doubt there’s anything you can do. We can’t maintain a PPI on the web, as it’s device-dependent. Also FB will compress any uploads. You could try a different file type, like PNG if you used JPG. Or compress it more / less before uploading.
Thank you so much! I have literally been working on this silly group cover photo all day! After reading this article, I started over completely with a canvas size of 1,640px by 859px and apparently that was the trick! It worked the first time. What a silly process! Anyway, just wanted to pop in the comments to say thanks. This solved my issue! 🙂
So glad to hear it, Alisha!
you deserve a medal!
🥇😆
What is the image size ratio when creating a doc inside the group?
Facebook now allows to add a header image to docs created within groups. I was wondering what is the cropping for that one
Sorry don’t know that one yet!
I would like to put a border around a group cover photo. If I use the ratio of 1.91×1, and then place a stroke on the photo, upload it to the FB page, the only part of the stroke that shows is both ends. I know FB crops the top and bottom. Is there away around this, in sizing?
Nope, there is not. No matter what size or shape you use, a border would be cropped on some devices.
This is great – and my question may be obvious but when I am setting up my template (using gimp) do I use 1640 x 923 OR 1640 x 859?
TIA
1640 x 859 is good!
Thanks… It’s really work! You really save the day…
With LOVE from MALAYSIA.