LinkedIn Profile Photo Specs: Exact Dimensions and Background Rules That Work

LinkedIn stores your profile photo at 320×320 pixels, but the platform accepts and recommends uploading images that are at least 400×400 pixels. The maximum accepted size is 7680×4320 pixels, and files can be up to 8MB.

Your profile photo appears as a circle, even though you upload a square image. That means anything in the corners gets cropped out. Keep the most important part of your photo centered so it remains visible after the circular crop.

Background photos follow different rules. LinkedIn recommends 1584×396 pixels for background images, which works out to a 4:1 aspect ratio. The maximum file size for background photos is also 8MB, and only PNG or JPG formats are supported.

What size should my LinkedIn profile photo be?

LinkedIn's official documentation states that profile photos should be 400×400 pixels or larger. The platform will accept images between 400×400 and 7680×4320 pixels.

If you upload an image smaller than 320×320 pixels, LinkedIn may reject it or display it poorly. The platform stores your uploaded photo at 320×320 pixels internally, but uploading a higher-resolution image ensures better quality when LinkedIn scales it down.

For best results, upload a photo that is at least 400×400 pixels in either PNG or JPG format. Avoid GIF files, which LinkedIn does not support for profile photos.

What are the exact dimensions for LinkedIn background photos?

LinkedIn background photos (also called cover photos or banner images) should be 1584×396 pixels. This is a 4:1 aspect ratio.

Background photos display differently on mobile and desktop, so LinkedIn may crop the edges depending on the device. Keep important text, logos, or visual elements centered to avoid having them cut off.

The maximum file size for background photos is 8MB, and you must use PNG or JPG format. GIFs are not supported.

Why does my LinkedIn photo look blurry or get rejected?

If your photo looks blurry after uploading, it probably does not meet LinkedIn's minimum resolution requirements. Photos must be at least 400×400 pixels for profile images.

LinkedIn will reject photos that are too small, too large (over 7680×4320 pixels), or exceed 8MB in file size. The platform also rejects GIF files.

If you are taking a photo of a photo (for example, photographing a printed headshot or your ID badge), the resulting image often has too low a resolution. Take a fresh photo instead, preferably using the rear camera on your phone rather than the front-facing selfie camera, which typically produces lower quality images.

• File size exceeds 8MB
• Image dimensions are smaller than 400×400 pixels or larger than 7680×4320 pixels
• File format is GIF instead of PNG or JPG
• Image violates LinkedIn's content policies (company logos, emojis, landscapes, animals, or other people's likenesses)

What file format should I use for LinkedIn profile photos?

LinkedIn accepts PNG and JPG files only. GIFs are not supported for profile or background photos.

PNG files work best for images with logos or text, because PNG preserves sharp edges and does not compress as aggressively as JPG. For photographs of people, JPG typically produces smaller file sizes without noticeable quality loss.

Whichever format you choose, make sure the file size stays under 8MB. Most phone cameras produce files well under that limit, but if you edit your photo or export it at very high quality, you may need to compress it before uploading.

How do I make sure my photo fits the circular crop?

LinkedIn displays profile photos as circles, even though you upload a square image. Anything near the corners of your square photo will be cropped out.

To avoid losing important parts of your image, center your face and keep important elements within the middle 80 percent of the frame. Preview your photo after uploading to confirm that nothing critical has been cropped.

If you wear glasses, have long hair, or include any text or logo near the edge of the frame, double-check the circular preview before saving your profile photo.

What are the safe zones for LinkedIn background photos?

LinkedIn crops background photos differently on mobile and desktop. The platform recommends keeping important content away from the edges.

While LinkedIn does not publish exact safe zone measurements for background photos, the general rule is to keep text, logos, and key visual elements centered and at least 10 percent away from all four edges.

After uploading your background photo, view your profile on both desktop and mobile to confirm that nothing important has been cut off. If something is missing, re-crop the image and upload it again.

Do company pages have different photo size requirements?

Yes. LinkedIn company pages use different dimensions for logos and cover images than personal profiles.

Company logos should be 400×400 pixels (the same as personal profile photos). Company page cover images should be 1128×191 pixels, which is different from the 1584×396 pixel recommendation for personal profile background photos.

If you manage a company page, you also have Life tab images to consider. The Life tab main image should be 1128×376 pixels, custom module images should be 502×282 pixels, and company photos should be 900×600 pixels.

What about LinkedIn post images and ad sizes?

If you are sharing images in LinkedIn posts (not profile or background photos), the recommended size is 1200×627 pixels for images attached to URLs. The minimum width is 200 pixels.

LinkedIn ads use different dimensions depending on format. Landscape ads should be 1200×628 pixels, square ads should be 1200×1200 pixels, and vertical ads (mobile only) should be 720×900 pixels.

Carousel ads on LinkedIn should be 1080×1080 pixels per image, and you can include between 2 and 10 images in a carousel. The maximum file size for ad images is 5MB, which is smaller than the 8MB limit for profile photos.

Can I use a photo that does not meet these exact dimensions?

LinkedIn will reject photos that are smaller than 400×400 pixels or larger than 7680×4320 pixels. If your image falls outside that range, you need to resize it before uploading.

If your photo is within the accepted range but not exactly 400×400 or 1584×396 pixels, LinkedIn will still accept it. The platform will scale and crop the image to fit.

For best results, crop your photo to the recommended dimensions before uploading rather than relying on LinkedIn's automatic cropping. That way you control exactly what gets included and what gets cut off.