Twitter header size (X banner size) in 2026
The Twitter header, now officially the X header, is 1500 × 500 pixels at a 3:1 ratio. X accepts JPG, PNG and GIF (static) images. The commonly cited limits are 5 MB for the header and 2 MB for the profile photo; a 1500 × 500 JPG is normally a fraction of that.
| X image | Recommended size | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Header (banner) | 1500 × 500 px | 3:1 |
| Profile photo | 400 × 400 px | 1:1, shown as a circle |
| Single image in a post | 1600 × 900 px | 16:9 |
What gets covered on mobile and desktop
Your profile photo overlaps the bottom-left of the header on both desktop and the X app, so anything placed there is hidden. On phones the header is shown at a smaller size and X can trim a little from the top and bottom, depending on the screen. Desktop shows almost the full 3:1 image, with the Follow and Edit profile buttons sitting just below the right side.
The safe area is the center and right half of the header, roughly the middle 60% of its height. Put faces, logos and words there, and treat the edges as background.
- Avoid the lower-left quarter: the profile photo covers it.
- Leave around 60 px clear at the top and bottom for mobile trimming.
- Thin text disappears when the header is scaled down on phones; go bold or skip it.
Twitter banner ideas that survive a 3:1 crop
Most photos are 3:2 or 4:3, so a 3:1 Twitter banner keeps only a horizontal slice. Pick images with a horizontal subject: horizons, skylines, desks, a row of products, or a texture or gradient that reads as background. Close-up portraits rarely work; the crop cuts through the face. This tool crops and resizes but doesn't add text, so if you want your handle or tagline on the header, add it with Image Text Overlay afterwards.
Update the header when your focus changes: a launch, a tour, a new season of content. Because the crop takes seconds, it's easy to keep one master photo per campaign and cut a fresh 1500 × 500 version whenever you need it, without opening a design app.
