Quick answer: The correct X (Twitter) image size for a single post in 2026 is 1200 × 675 pixels, a 16:9 ratio. That's the size that fills the timeline preview without cropping.

This page covers every X image layout, the file limits, and the two-image arrangement that keeps catching people out.

X image sizes

Layout Size (px) Ratio
Single image (recommended) 1200 × 675 16:9
Square single image 1080 × 1080 1:1
Two images (each) 700 × 800 7:8
Three images (one large + two) 1200 × 675 + 700 × 800 mixed
Four images (grid) 700 × 800 each 7:8
Header / banner 1500 × 500 3:1
Profile picture 400 × 400 1:1

The figures above match current X behavior and the third-party size guides (PostFast, Moda, Tactic Social) checked in late 2026.

The two-image trap

X displays two images side by side in tall 7:8 frames, not in 16:9. Upload two wide 1200 × 675 screenshots in a two-image post and X crops both, usually cutting off the right and left edges of each UI.

If you specifically want the two-image layout, design at 700 × 800 per image. If you only have landscape images, post them separately or build a single 16:9 comparison card instead.

File limits

  • File size: 5 MB per image (15 MB for GIFs, though X trims large GIFs).
  • Formats: JPG, PNG, WebP, and GIF.
  • PNG vs JPG: use PNG for screenshots, interfaces, and text-heavy cards, where text must stay crisp; use JPG for photos. The full logic is in PNG vs JPG for social media.

How X displays images in 2026

X runs on a 16:9 timeline frame. A 16:9 image fills the card. A square image is shown smaller, centered, with whitespace above and below. A portrait image up to 3:4 is allowed, but the visible timeline crop is roughly 16:9 until the user taps, so keep important text in the middle band of portrait cards.

Accessible posts also need alt text; X supports up to 1,000 characters per image. Write a sentence describing what the image shows, not the filename.

What goes wrong

  • The text sits at the edge. Keep text inside a safe margin of roughly 60 px on every side; X crops small amounts depending on the client (web, iOS, Android).
  • The image looks soft. Upload at 1200 × 675 or larger at 16:9. If you export smaller than 1200 wide, X upscales it and it blurs.
  • The card is wrong for link previews. When you share a link, the preview image comes from the page's Open Graph tag, which is 1200 × 630, not the post image. See Open Graph image size.

Frequently asked questions

Is 1200 × 675 the same as 16:9? 1200 ÷ 675 is 1.777, which is 16:9. Yes.

Can I post portrait images on X? You can, but the timeline shows a 16:9 crop until tapped. Use portrait for the image viewer, not the feed impression.

What is the best image size for a launch announcement? 1200 × 675. It fills the feed, and the same design can become a 1200 × 630 Open Graph image. The other sizes you need for a launch are in the social media image sizes table.

Why is my two-image post cropped? Because X uses 7:8 frames for two images. Rebuild them at 700 × 800.

Does X support WebP? It does now, though PNG is still the safest pick for text-heavy cards because older clients cache aggressively.

If you're posting one announcement image, build it at 1200 × 675 with 60 px margins, and you're done.