The short version
- The Twitter header size on X is 1500×500 pixels, a 3:1 ratio.
- The profile photo overlaps the lower left of the header, so keep words and logos out of that corner.
- Different screens show slightly different crops of the header, so keep important content in the middle band, away from the top and bottom edges.
- X post images work best at 1600×900 for landscape (16:9) or 1080×1350 for portrait (4:5).
- A header works best as a simple, recognisable background with one short line, not a crowded poster.
On this page
The Twitter header size on X is 1500×500 pixels, a wide 3:1 banner. Your profile photo sits over its lower left corner, and different screens crop a little from the top and bottom, so keep words and logos in the centre and right of the banner, away from the edges. For images inside posts, use 1600×900 for landscape or 1080×1350 for portrait.
X image sizes at a glance
| Format | Size (px) | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Header | 1500×500 | 3:1 | Profile photo overlaps lower left |
| Post image, landscape | 1600×900 | 16:9 | The classic timeline shape |
| Post image, portrait | 1080×1350 | 4:5 | Takes more height in the timeline on phones |
| Link card image | 1200×630 | 1.91:1 | Comes from the linked page's Open Graph image |
Header 3:1
1500 × 500
Post 16:9
1600 × 900
Portrait post 4:5
1080 × 1350
Where the profile photo covers the header
Your round profile photo overlaps the bottom left of the header on both phones and desktops. Anything you put there, such as a logo, a date or the end of a headline, will be hidden or look cramped against the photo's edge. On top of that, the header isn't shown at exactly 3:1 on every screen, so a strip at the top and bottom can be trimmed.
Avoid
- Text or a logo in the lower left quarter
- Words running close to the top or bottom edge
- Small text that only reads on a large monitor
- A busy photo that fights the profile picture
Do
- Words in the centre or right half, in the middle band
- Generous space above and below any text
- One short line, large enough to read on a phone
- A calm area where the profile photo lands
A useful trick is to make the background itself leave room for the photo. Put the darkest or calmest part of your gradient in the lower left, where the photo sits, and let the colour open up towards the right, where your words go.
What to put on an X header
A header is seen every time someone visits your profile, often right after reading one of your posts. It should confirm who you are at a glance, not tell your whole story. These work well.
- Your look, and nothing else. A distinctive background in your brand's colours or material is often the strongest header.
- One line. What you do or what you're working on, in a few words.
- Something current. A launch, a book, an event date, changed when it's over.
- A consistent pair. The same look as your LinkedIn banner and website, so people recognise you across platforms. See LinkedIn banner size.
- 1
Start at 1500×500
Set up the canvas at the exact size. Designing in another shape and cropping later is how logos end up under the profile photo.
- 2
Mark the no-go corner
Block out the lower left quarter as a reminder that the photo will cover it.
- 3
Lay the background first
Choose a background that is calm where the photo lands and more interesting where the eye travels.
- 4
Add one line, right of centre
Keep it short and set it large, with clear space above and below.
- 5
Check on a phone
Upload it and look at your profile on a phone and a laptop. Adjust anything that sits too close to an edge.
A header with one line set right of centre, in the middle band, leaving the lower left calm for the profile photo.
X post image sizes
For images in posts, choose the shape by what you're sharing. Landscape 1600×900 suits screenshots, charts and wide photos, and matches the frame many other platforms use. Portrait 1080×1350 takes up more of the timeline on phones, which gives a designed post more presence. Twitter image design covers layout in more depth.
Landscape 1600×900: good for wide layouts and side-by-side content.
Portrait 1080×1350: more height in the timeline, better for a single strong headline.
Export headers and post images as PNG when they contain text or gradients, in sRGB, at exactly the sizes above. X recompresses uploads, and smooth gradients show it first as banding; a little grain helps. The full list of platform sizes is in social media image sizes.
Questions people ask
What is the Twitter header size?
1500×500 pixels, a 3:1 ratio, on X.
Why does my X header look cropped?
X shows the header at slightly different proportions on different screens, trimming a little from the top and bottom, and the profile photo covers the lower left. Keep important content in the middle band and away from that corner.
What size should images in X posts be?
1600×900 for landscape (16:9) or 1080×1350 for portrait (4:5).
Where should text go on an X header?
In the centre or right half of the banner, in the middle band, with space above and below. Keep it out of the lower left, where the profile photo sits.
What file type should an X header be?
PNG for headers with text, flat colour or gradients, and a high-quality JPEG for photographs, both in the sRGB colour profile.
Is the X header the same size as a LinkedIn banner?
No. The X header is 1500×500 (3:1), while a LinkedIn profile banner is 1584×396 (4:1), so each needs its own layout.
Written by Gradiently
The team behind Gradiently, a design tool built around Marks: living gradients that make everything you design look like yours.
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