Quick answer: The Twitter (X) banner size is 1500 × 500 pixels (3:1 aspect ratio). Upload at 1200 × 400 px minimum. Max file size 5 MB. Keep content away from the bottom-left corner — your profile picture overlaps there.
Tips
- Avoid the bottom-left — Your 200×200 px profile picture overlaps this corner [1]
- Center key content — Edges get cropped on smaller screens and the mobile app [1]
- Keep text large — Small text becomes unreadable on mobile devices [1]
- Update regularly — Swap your banner for promotions, launches, or seasons [2]
- Match your brand — Use colors that complement your profile picture and pinned post [2]
Looking for the correct Twitter banner size? Whether you call it a banner, header image, or cover photo, it's the large landscape image displayed at the top of every Twitter (X) profile. Getting the dimensions right ensures your banner looks sharp on desktop, tablet, and mobile without unexpected cropping. Below you'll find the exact pixel dimensions, safe zones, and free downloadable templates.
Quick Reference
What is the Twitter banner size in pixels?
The Twitter banner (also called header image or header photo) displays at 1200 × 400 pixels on your profile. Twitter recommends uploading at 1500 × 500 pixels for the sharpest result on high-resolution screens. The minimum accepted size is 600 × 200 pixels, but using the full resolution avoids blurriness on Retina and 4K displays.
The 3:1 aspect ratio is unique to Twitter/X — no other major platform uses this exact proportion. If you're repurposing banners from other platforms you'll likely need to resize. Our free templates at the top of this page are already set to the correct dimensions so you can start designing immediately.
Twitter banner vs. cover photo vs. header — what's the difference?
Nothing. “Twitter banner,” “Twitter header image,” “Twitter cover photo,” and “X banner” all refer to the same thing: the wide landscape image at the top of your profile page. Twitter's own documentation uses “header photo” and “header image” interchangeably. Regardless of what you call it, the dimensions are always 1500 × 500 pixels.
See our detailed Twitter (X) Cover Photo Size page for additional tips on profile picture overlap and mobile cropping.
X banner size — did the rebrand change anything?
No. When Twitter rebranded to X in July 2023, the banner dimensions stayed exactly the same. The size is still 1500 × 500 pixels with a 3:1 aspect ratio and a 5 MB file size limit. If you had a Twitter banner that worked before the rebrand, it still works on X without any changes.
People now search for both “Twitter banner size” and “X banner size” — both lead to the same answer. If you're designing a new banner, use 1500 × 500 pixels and it'll display correctly regardless of whether you or your audience still call the platform Twitter or X.
Profile picture overlap — the banner safe zone
Your circular profile picture (200 × 200 px) overlaps the bottom-left corner of your banner. It sits roughly 24 pixels from the left edge and 24 pixels from the bottom edge. This creates an area of about 220 × 220 pixels in the bottom-left that you should treat as a dead zone — no logos, text, or important visuals there.
Some designers use this overlap creatively, making the profile picture appear to interact with banner elements. But the safest approach is to simply keep that corner clear and center your key content horizontally.
How to create a Twitter banner
You can create a Twitter banner with any design tool that supports custom canvas sizes. Popular options include:
- Canva — Free Twitter header templates built in
- Figma — Precise layout control, great for teams
- Photoshop — Professional photo editing and compositing
- Illustrator — Vector-based banner designs
- GIMP — Free and open-source Photoshop alternative
- Snappa — Quick social media graphic creation
If you want a free option with the correct size pre-configured, use our 100% Free Social Image Maker. The Twitter banner size is already available out of the box — no need to manually set up the canvas dimensions.
Design tips for a high-impact Twitter banner
- Use high-contrast colors that stand out against both light and dark mode
- Keep text to a minimum — a tagline or URL at most
- Avoid the bottom-left 220 × 220 px zone (profile picture overlap)
- Center important content horizontally for mobile compatibility
- Use your brand colors to complement your profile picture
- Test on both desktop and mobile before publishing
- Keep file size under 5 MB (JPG for photos, PNG for graphics)
- Update your banner for product launches, events, or seasonal campaigns
How to upload or change your Twitter (X) banner
- Go to your profile on Twitter / X
- Click the camera icon on your current banner image
- Select “Choose existing photo” or drag an image in
- Upload your 1500 × 500 px image (under 5 MB, JPG/PNG/GIF)
- Drag to reposition if needed
- Click “Apply” to save
The change is instant — no approval process or delay. You can swap your banner as often as you like.
Common mistakes with Twitter banners
The most common issue is placing a logo or important text in the bottom-left corner where the profile picture covers it. The second most common mistake is using an image that's too small — anything below 1200 × 400 pixels will look noticeably blurry on modern screens.
Another frequent problem is not testing on mobile. The Twitter app crops the banner slightly differently than the desktop site, and content near the edges may be cut off. Always preview your banner on a phone before going live.
Finally, avoid uploading files larger than 5 MB. Twitter will reject them or compress them aggressively, leading to visible artifacts, especially around text and sharp edges.
Twitter banner size vs. other platforms
Every social platform uses different banner dimensions, so you can't reuse the same image everywhere without resizing:
- Twitter / X banner: 1500 × 500 px (3:1)
- Facebook cover photo: 820 × 312 px (~2.6:1) — see guide
- YouTube channel banner: 2560 × 1440 px (16:9)
- LinkedIn banner: 1584 × 396 px (4:1)
If you manage multiple social profiles, create separate banners for each platform or use a design tool that supports multiple artboard sizes. Our downloadable templates include the correct sizes for all major platforms.
What if the banner size changes?
Want to know the moment Twitter/X changes the banner dimensions? Subscribe to updates at the top of this page. Enter your email and click “Get notified” — we'll email you when any social media size changes. We also update our templates automatically so you always have the correct dimensions ready to go.
Contact
info@socialsizes.io
