If you’ve ever wondered how big to make your Facebook header or found your uploaded photo looking pixelated, here’s the complete guide to the perfect Facebook header size and making sure it works across desktop and mobile in 2023.
FACEBOOK HEADER DIMENSIONS IN 2023
The Facebook page header size is a horizontal image in a 16:9 image ratio. Facebook recommends the image is at least 400 pixels wide and 150 pixels tall and suggests it be 851 pixels wide and 315 pixels high for the fastest loading time.
However, this image shows up differently in computer browsers to the Facebook mobile app. On browsers, you can see most of the header clearly; on the mobile app, the profile photo overlaps the the header significantly.
Here’s what that looks like:
As you can see, the image needs to have its essential elements on the top left or top right. In this example, there’s text on the top left and an example of the products on the top right. If a text-free photo had been used, it also would need to make sense with the central area missing.
BEST IMAGE FORMAT FOR FACEBOOK HEADER
Facebook suggests that the fastest loading header image is a JPG file that is less than 100 kilobytes. For header images with your logo or text, you might get a clearer result with a PNG file. Facebook also suggests using the sRGB colour space for accurate colours.
YOUR PAGE’S PROFILE PHOTO DIMENSIONS
Your page’s profile photo appears as a circle with a 176 pixel diameter on computer browsers, as a 196 pixel diameter circle on smartphones and 36 pixel diameter circle on most feature phones.
Like your Facebook header, you may want to double these dimensions to keep the images sharp. Many business owners choose to use a logo in this place rather than their face. Although this may be appropriate for larger businesses, using a friendly headshot is more welcoming.
HOW TO CREATE YOUR FACEBOOK HEADER
You can simply upload a photo that is the right dimensions and you’re done. You might also choose to add your logo and/or text that explains more about your business or what you currently have on offer.
To create either option in the correct size, you need a photo or graphics editor. My favourite for this is free online graphic design tool Canva. It has built-in Facebook templates and it’s easy to compare layout variations with one-click layout duplication.
KEY FEATURES OF A PERFECT FACEBOOK HEADER
Ideally, you want your Facebook header photo to give as much information as possible, as quickly as possible. This usually means very simple photos or layouts.
You want your photo to be super clear because Facebook users are often scrolling quickly on their phones while they’re out and about. You only have a few seconds to make it clear what you offer and most of the time, on a small mobile screen.
For example, if you’re a wedding photographer, you want a photo of you working with a couple on their wedding day, so you’re visible. Simply having a photo of newlyweds says ‘wedding’, but could also be promoting a make-up artist, florist, venue, planner or dress designer.
Apply the same principle of clarity to text or a logo. This means using five words or fewer for text and only using a logo if it’s clearly legible at a small size. Use your branding colours and fonts if possible. It helps existing fans of your business recognise you and helps build brand recognition for those who are new.
WHERE TO FIND PHOTOS FOR YOUR HEADER
The best photos for Facebook are authentic ones – some would say ‘messy’ or believable, rather than perfectly taken, photoshopped commercial images. Your clients might share perfect examples of this with you, using your product or sharing how they benefitted from your services. Just get their permission! This is also known as user generated content or UGC.
If you are going to use stock images, try to avoid the very common ones that have been seen multiple times across other businesses, especially those from free stock sites. If that’s not possible, then take a little time to think of less common search terms. For example, look for ‘designer-makers’ rather than ‘creative business owners’. And spend some time scrolling through the search results rather than picking one from the very top – it makes it less likely that the photo you choose is already familiar to your page visitors and associated with other businesses.
Also, make sure your header fits Facebook’s terms. This means avoiding misleading claims, swearing and being appropriate for all ages as the page is open to everyone on Facebook.
That’s everything you need to create a Facebook header that works flawlessly across desktop and mobile and clearly shows what your business has to offer in a few seconds.