Got the right Facebook Page Cover Photo size?
Want it to look good on both desktop AND mobile?
Smart! Optimizing your Facebook content for mobile is non-negotiable, since most FB users will only see it there.
But you can have it both ways: Here’s a Facebook Page Cover Photo mobile template that shows the 3 different croppings for phones, tablets, and computers.
Updated for 2024!
Facebook Page Cover Photo Size
The optimal Facebook business page cover photo size is 1200 x 674 pixels.
The aspect ratio is 16:9. This size will show in full on mobile.
I’ve tested this size and created a free cover photo template, so you can design around the profile picture overlays and cropping on desktop.
Because Facebook’s size recommendations are far from helpful!
Your Page’s cover photo:
Left aligns with a full bleed and a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Must be at least 400 pixels wide and 150 pixels tall.
Loads fastest as an sRGB JPG file that’s 851 pixels wide, 315 pixels tall and less than 100 kilobytes. source
This doesn’t take into account the different proportions on various devices.
And the sizes they’ve named aren’t even 16:9 aspect ratio!
Nor as wide as displayed on virtually any device used in 2024.
This article will explain how to create Facebook Business Page cover photos that are sized properly for mobile devices as well as desktop.
Facebook Page Cover Photo Template 2024
Your FB Page Cover Photo will no longer have elements rudely chopped off or covered up with this template.
Start with a 16:9 image in any size.
I recommend 1200 x 674 pixels for optimal quality. But you can start with any photo on your phone that’s at least 400 pixels wide.
Open in any graphics app, or your phone’s photo app. Crop it to 16:9 aspect ratio.
Now check the template, and pay attention to the profile picture overlap on phones and tablets. Don’t place important details where they’ll be covered.
Just right click the image below to download, and choose “Save Image As…”
Instructions for using my social media templates
Want to add type?
If you use Photoshop, or another graphics editing program that has layers, you’ll be able to design with ease.
1. Open the template in your graphic design tool.
2. Change Image > Mode to RGB (the template is an indexed color PNG).
3. Add guidelines to match template, or reduce opacity and use template as a translucent layer for guidance.
4. Add your photo and any design elements you desire.
5. Delete or hide template layer from your image file when your design is done.
If your design program doesn’t have layers, just use the templates for size and visual reference.
There are more social media templates listed on my Resources Page.
What’s New About Facebook Page Cover Photos?
All FB Pages now have the “New Facebook Page Experience.”
The mobile version is still a delightfully simple 16×9 proportion.
So why do you need a template?
The profile picture is now covering a huge portion of the cover photo!
The iPad also has a huge DP overlay but in a different spot.
And the tablet cover photo is cropped on the sides, whereas the desktop version crops top and bottom!
Facebook Page cover photo on desktop
The cropping on the desktop version is especially severe in the New Pages Experience.
Here’s how the mobile to desktop crop plays out now. The purple dotted line shows the 16×9 cover photo on mobile while the green dotted line shows how it crops on desktop:
The biggest visual differences on desktop are:
1 | The positioning of the profile picture below the banner image. There’s only a tiny bit of overlap, so this won’t mess up your banner design (unlike on mobile).
2 | The gradient bar at the sides. If you’re struggling with how it looks, read on.
New Facebook Page Cover Photo Gradient
A fairly new addition to Facebook cover photos is a gradient (or ombré) color bar to the left and right of the cover photo on desktop.
The gradient can add a nice splash of color when you have a solid background that reflects your brand colors.
Or it can look weird if your cover photo is actually – a photo! Or has different color blocks on either side.
Here’s how it works: Facebook is pulling a color from the top outer edges of your header image. And if the image is different on either side, then so is the gradient.
You can see a couple examples below to help inform your cover photo creation:
If you don’t like the mismatched gradient sides, you need to use an image with the same color on both left and right upper corners.
How to Upload your Facebook Page Cover Photo
When you upload your Cover Photo on desktop, you can adjust the top cropping so it’s positioned top-to-bottom exactly as you like it.
If you upload on mobile, it will crop to center automatically in desktop view. However, I don’t recommend this, as the compression is terrible!
Stick to uploading a PNG file via your desktop computer and it will look 10 times better.
Optimize your Facebook Cover Photos!
Don’t forget to visit these other articles for more FREE cover photo templates:
Facebook Profile Cover Photo size
Facebook Group Cover Photo size
Facebook Event Cover Photo size
For all Facebook dimensions, including ads, check out:
ALL Facebook image dimensions with infographics
For all the social media platforms in one place, with links to in-depth articles on many of the topics:
Ready to make your Facebook Page cover photo the easy way?
Try Snappa online design tool for free!
Their templates give you the perfect size, with safe zones to ensure your beautiful design looks great on both desktop and phone.
• • • Create a Facebook cover photo for free NOW! • • •
Disclosure: IF you upgrade to a paid plan, I may receive a referral fee.
What do you think? Now your Facebook Cover Photo size can rock on mobile just like on desktop! Share with a friend.
Becky H says
This is extremely helpful, but I just have one problem. My profile pic is still over the top of my cover photo! It seems FB may not have changed how everyone’s pages display? In any case, I’m still having to block out the 170×170 px area so that I don’t have important content there. Just thought I’d share. Still appreciate your helpful hints and the template!!
Louise Myers says
On a FB business page? I may not have been clear about that 😉 It would be very odd if after a year this wasn’t applied to all pages. Of course, anything’s possible with FB!
Austin says
Any tips for Facebook Group’s cover photos?
Austin says
Nevermind. I saw your previous comments. Hopefully those guides you linked work!
Louise Myers says
Hi Austin, updated info and my new FB group cover template here.
Al says
What programs do you recommend to create banners, cover photos, or just general content? I’ve messed around with a few apps, but haven’t found one that I am in love with yet.
Thanks!
Louise Myers says
Hi Al,
I go into depth here: Best Design Tools
Martin says
Just what I needed, cheers!
Clarisse says
Wow, this worked like magic, thank you very much!
Anna says
Hi Louise,
Thank you for much – worked wonders for the FB page cover photo, however could not get the template to work as well for the FB group cover photo. Do you have a similar template as the FB page cover template for FB group covers?
Driving me crazy haha 🙂
Thanks Heaps 🙂
Louise Myers says
I don’t keep up with group cover photo changes, but last time I checked, this advice worked: The Digerati
Louise Myers says
Hi Anna, updated info and my new FB group cover template here.
Hrvoje says
hey there Louise,
regarding the png, do you prefer to have it in 300 ppi or 200 or?
would really appreciate hearing your take on that.
regards
Hrvoje
Louise Myers says
It makes no difference, as the web ignores ppi. I make all web graphics at 72 – but the only factor that matters is the overall pixel size.
Hrvoje says
I appreciate the follow-up Louise.
tnx
Hrvoje
Chase Wilson says
This was extremely helpful. I’ve been trying to fix our mobile cover for a month or so now and I’m glad I found this page.
Mark says
Thanks for the post. Works brilliantly!
Nagendra Singh says
How we can get more traffic through facebook and how to choose facebook cover banner design ?
I Have run a ads on facebook but the charges experience rather than other Campinas.. how we can reduce the cost….
Louise Myers says
I would suggest Google for free info, and maybe purchase a course. Certainly more than I can answer in a comment.
Honey Soibelman says
This is great! I was struggling for so long trying to find the perfect responsive template. You rock!
Louise Myers says
Glad it helped!
jasmine says
Your writing style inspires me. It’s so clean and personal. I can hear you talking. You are a great teacher!! Kudos!!
Charles Rodmell says
Some good tips here. I’ve been trying to figure out how to take it a step further – if there’s text on the cover image, when some SHARES the business page and then that sharing post is viewed on a desktop, the page name gets plastered over the top of the image, so you need to restrict the text area quite a lot to make sure the text is still ok. Something like “no text in the lower half and none in the top 5th”
Louise Myers says
Would love to hear if you work that out.
Rose says
Hi Louise,
I’ve tried every possible sizing you recommended up above (the 828 x 315, the 830 x 315, the 1200 x 675, the 820 x 461)… And it still cuts it off on the side of my Facebook cover on mobile and tablets… Do you have any recommendations? It’s driving me dotty!!
Many thanks!
Louise Myers says
Hi Rose,
For a Facebook business page, 1200 x 675 or 820 x 461 works for me. It’s also the same proportion FB recommends for mobile. Not sure why you’re having problems, sorry.
Alan says
Banner size for PC needs to be 851 x 315 pixels. I noticed that the very edges of the my previous banner were not visible on a PC because it is reduced to 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels tall on a Page for computers. It’s awkward, but you have to design for 820 x 312, but make sure your final image is actually 851 x 315. Then again, if you want to cater for smartphones, the crucial part of your banner needs to be 560px, (with the 1st 158px of 851px on the left not shown, and the last 134px of the 851px on the right not shown)
Alan says
now see blog.bufferapp.com/facebook-cover-photo
Louise Myers says
Nice (not). I guess they took my info and wrote their own post.
Louise Myers says
Did you read my article? You’re making things way too complicated.
Barbara C Phillips says
Thanks for the template. Any idea how to get the images to save? I’m trying to update my group cover photo. I’ve tried uploading directly, but it won’t save. So I uploaded it to group photos, it still won’t save. have tried 3 different browsers – chrome, firefox and safari. Any other ideas?
Many thanks!
Louise Myers says
Oh my! Sorry, I haven’t heard of this issue.
Hezi says
Hi.
I updated my cover photo abd changed it to video. However it chopped most of it as u may be able to see on mobile view. Any ideas how to handle this?
Louise Myers says
Probably the same issues as a static cover photo. So you’d need to create your video so that it works in both shapes (desktop and mobile). I’ll have to try it.
anna says
Thank you so much! I’ve been looking for something like this for ages.
Does this apply to facebook group cover photos as well?
Anna
Louise Myers says
It seems every cover photo on FB is different. See if this post helps with the groups. I’m not sure if that’s still current – FB changes so often!
carlyn says
When creating a graphic for Facebook, was resolution/dpi do you use, and set the color to RGB when creating a new document, correct?
Louise Myers says
I use 72, but it really doesn’t matter, as graphics on the web will be shown at the viewer’s screen resolution (usually 72). This is why dimensions are provided in pixels and not inches or cm.
Yes, RGB.
Gavin says
Thank you, this just saved me a whole world of pain. Having been a graphic designer for 20 years and finally managing to quit and do something entirely different (something that makes my heart sing!) I really appreciate the time and energy you have put into this, something so simple to most but some of us know how much time you’ve spent. Thank you.
Louise Myers says
You’re welcome! And good for you! Enjoy.
Bo says
Thanks a bunch!
Just found your site – wanted to update FB cover photo.
Done.
Josie says
This was so helpful and amazing. Thank you. You don’t happen to have just as perfect of a solution for twitter do you?
Louise Myers says
Here ya go! https://louisem.com/4598/twitter-header-size-template
Elijah Nathan says
Great! that would have taken me aaages to figure out! Thanks!
Sylvia says
April 20, 2017
Hi Louise,
Thank you for the great templates. I have been having lots of fun with Facebook in the last few days.
Not only are the page sizes doing a lot of changing they are also experimenting with webP compression. According to Facebook you need to increase your page resolution from 72ppi to 251ppi and keep your page size to 851px X 351px.
This size looks great on the desktop page, terrible on the ipad – it cuts off the sides, terrible on the iphone it cuts off the sides. I will try your templates hopefully they are newer than the info I found.
Louise Myers says
251ppi? Who said that? PPI doesn’t matter when you’re designing web graphics. They’ll be displayed at the resolution of the device they’re viewed on.
The cover photos haven’t been 851 wide for a year. Try my size and let me know how it goes! It worked great for me.
Sylvia says
Sorry I can’t find the article I read on webP which suggested I work on my image at 250ppi and upload as a .png.
I also asked a photographer friend about it and she uploads all her Facebook images as 300ppi jpgs.
I had to make my own template 250ppi, 851px X 315px which they do say is the correct page size on this page https://www.facebook.com/help/1703757313215897/?helpref=hc_fnav.
Through testing I found there was an area of 140px on the left and right sides of my cover image that was getting cropped off when I viewed the image inside the Facebook app, on an iPhone . Strangely enough viewing the same page inside Facebook.com in Chrome there is no problem.
I just did the same test on my iPad with the same page and image. Viewing it inside the Facebook app, it gets cropped. Viewing it via Facebook.com, it doesn’t get cropped.
Firefox the same results.
I said ppi doesn’t matter because Facebook seems to be allowing the upload of all all resolutions as long as the file sise is under 100kb and lets webP work it’s compression magic and shows them all as 72 ppi. At least that’s my guess because all the 250ppi and 300ppi photos that I have uploaded to Facebook and downloaded to my system have opened up in Photoshop as 72ppi images.
So I am left with 2 questions.
1. What do we do tell our client’s not to use the Facebook app and just build for the web?
2. If Facebook is going to compress our images with webP why not save them with a really high ppi at the correct final size ?
By the way for anyone that needs this you can create a folder on Facebook and turn on HD and it won’t compress the images you save into it. I haven’t tried it yet.
I hope this isn’t too rambling 🙂
Louise Myers says
Hi Sylvia,
PPI is totally irrelevant for web images. We have absolutely no control over the PPI of a user’s device. Whoever told you to produce a certain PPI is misinformed.
You asked: What do we do tell our clients not to use the Facebook app and just build for the web?
People are going to use the FB app, whether your clients do or not. Read the article and use the template. It’s optimized for both.
S Chauhan says
Hi,
Thanks for sharing this post.
its really helpfull
TenaSmiley says
I used the template and specs worked great for the mobile. What I am confused about is how do I use the same photo for the desktop. I used the template and sized for mobile,
Louise Myers says
The template is to show you how much of the mobile image will show on desktop, so you don’t put any important elements in the areas that will get cut off.
Gediminas says
I dont understand one thing. How to upload desktop and mobile cover separately? Because If I will use mobile version than it will look bad on desktop and vice versa.
Louise Myers says
You can only have one cover. That’s why the template – so you can design it so the part that shows on desktop won’t cut off any important info.
Kaleb says
Just wanted to say that this post and the social media cheat sheet really helped me out with designing some stuff for my local food bank. You rock, Louise!
Louise Myers says
Glad it helped, Kaleb!
Andrew says
Awesomely helpful, particularly the download template – thank you!
Louise Myers says
You’re welcome!
Clyde says
I noticed that when I created my cover using PS, it looks great and has high quality but when I uploaded it to FB, the image turns a bit blurry. Is this how FB works or there is something I did wrong? 🙁
Louise Myers says
FB really crunches the cover photos. It’s even worse if you upload from mobile.
Mark says
Unfortunately this doesn’t work for me. I’m trying to upload from desktop and I can’t click the ‘Save’ button because it displays at the bottom corner of the image which isn’t visible because the image is too tall for the frame… Anybody else have this issue?
Louise Myers says
I haven’t heard of this. I’ll try it next week. Which browser are you using?
Mark says
Chrome and Firefox. I ended being able to do it by adding the cover photo while sitting on the ‘photos’ tab of my page because of the way the page is displayed – there was just a sliver of the save button showing that I could click. It’s pretty odd that Facebook hasn’t created an easier way to do this.
The template works really well though, thanks!
Louise Myers says
Yes, very strange! Thanks for letting us know.
carla says
Thanks so much for this info! Worked like a charm. I have used your tips on several occasions, thank you so much!
Louise Myers says
Great to hear, Carla!
Tom C says
Your trick made our event page look great.
facebook.com/capitalcitycentury/
Thanks, Louise!
Louise Myers says
Great! Glad to hear it.
Commandr says
Hi
Can I use Mobile cover size 828*465 as you told?
And will it appear on desktop computer?
Please answer, because I’m using FB just on Smart phone ?
Louise Myers says
It will appear cropped on desktop. You (or have another admin) should go in and adjust the cropping on desktop to your liking, bc I can’t guarantee FB default cropping.
MorDylTy says
Louise, I had a quick question. After downloading your template, I noticed that it was done in 200 ppi, with a Index-256 color palette and not the usual 72 ppi with an RGB 8 bit Channel. Does this make a difference or is there a reason for this? Thanks so much, was just curious. 🙂
Louise Myers says
My file is 72 dpi – I just checked. It doesn’t matter though. I saved it as a PNG-8 for small file size. For more about that, read:
https://louisem.com/6598/image-file-types-infographic
Adam says
Thank you very much for taking the time to share this information.
I tried to figure out a way solve this problem and your solution is just great.
Louise Myers says
Glad it helped!
Lahiru Siritunga says
Hi Louise,
Thanks for this, this is helpful.. (y)
Louise Myers says
Great! YW
MorDylTy says
All Hail the Queen! You ROCK! THANK YOU!
Betty says
Thanks SO MUCH for this guide! Finally, I’m able to have a decent looking Facebook cover for desktop and mobile applications.
You ROCK, Louise!
?❤
Louise Myers says
Yay! Glad it helped, Betty.
Ego Ipse says
I’ll never find enough words to thank you for this… The trick works delightfully…
Louise Myers says
Glad to hear it!
Nancy says
Thank you for this! This solved my problem and my cover photo is now mobile friendly!
Christine says
Hello Louise,
I’m not good with this stuff! So please be patient!
I’ve saved your template to my drive but what do I do now please?
Christine
Louise Myers says
Create your canvas in your favorite image editor at the full size: 828 x 465 pixels.
If you’re using Photoshop or another program that gives you the ability to add layers, add the template as a semi-transparent layer so you can see what will get cut off on desktop.
Otherwise, you can just use it as a reference to visualize what will get cut off on desktop.
Alan says
Really helpful thx Louise, was driven demented with these variables, not to mention the amount of time lost in trial and error. Thanks for the helpful share
Louise Myers says
Glad that this helped!
Jessica Raven Littlestar says
This is so helpful, Louise! I really appreciate you taking the time to put this together and delivering the information so clearly. A big help for designers like me! Much love to you!
Louise Myers says
Thanks Jessica 🙂
Hilder BOSSE says
thanks a lot. it’s help me to format the workspace when I working in something for social media.?
Mark Daniels says
This info from Facebook themselves seems to contradict this a little? https://www.facebook.com/PagesSizesDimensions/photos/a.214509701989629.48753.214500051990594/1047812085326049/?type=3&theater
Louise Myers says
That’s not from FB but from a Fan Page. It’s not contradictory but a different way to deal with the size difference that’s more desktop-focused. And also low-resolution.
Ariadne says
Hi, Louise – Using Firefox’s inspector shows that the desktop version of the Facebook cover photo is now a just a tiny amount of pixels fewer – 820 x 312. Proportionately, it probably doesn’t make too much difference with your template!
Louise Myers says
Thanks Ariadne. It never did measure out exactly right to me. I figured FB was counting a couple pixels that get covered by the border 😉
Jose Suarez says
Worked like a charm, thank you!!
Louise Myers says
Great, glad to hear it!
Steven says
Hi,
I don’t think your template is correct. I attempted to use it and I had far less vertical space than the template specified. Also noticed on your page that your own cover photo has been sliced vertically. It is also extremely distorted. I am viewing on a 2017 Lenovo ThinkPad.
Louise Myers says
Facebook is constantly changing things, making it impossible to keep up – unless it’s your full-time job 😉
I’m now seeing a bar across the top of the cover photo on desktop. But sometimes these changes release in limited areas, and then they revert back.
Interesting about the distortion. I don’t see it.
Lane Lester says
I, too, was unable to use the “official” height of 312. To get all my image displayed, I had to use 250 px. As with other users, my image displays perfectly on desktop and almost completely in Safari on mobile devices. However, the Facebook app on iPhone and iPad chops the image horribly. I’m now going to try Louise’s extra high approach and see how that works.
Lane
Louise Myers says
250? How weird (and tiny). I hope this works for you! My cover photo still looks fine.
Mike says
Thanks Louise, I spent ages perfecting our cover photo, uploaded and looked perfect on my laptop. Took me a day to realise it had cut off the sides on mobile!! But a fairly simple fix with your info.
Louise Myers says
Great! Glad to hear it, Mike.
Kim says
Hi Louise
I’m unable to download the Facebook cover photo template.
Can you please email it through?
Thanks in advance
Kim
Louise Myers says
Right click the image and choose to save to your computer. The template is right in the post.