When designing visuals for Facebook ad campaigns, image resolution and aspect ratio play a key role in performance. A mismatch in size can lead to blurry displays, cut-off text, or reduced engagement. Below are recommended specifications based on ad placements.

  • Feed Ads: 1080 x 1350 pixels (4:5 ratio)
  • Stories: 1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16 ratio)
  • Right Column: 1200 x 1200 pixels (1:1 ratio)
  • Marketplace: 1200 x 628 pixels (1.91:1 ratio)

Always upload images in PNG or JPG format with a minimum width of 600 pixels to avoid pixelation.

To simplify design decisions, refer to the following table, which matches popular ad placements with their ideal dimensions and file types:

Ad Placement Recommended Size Aspect Ratio Preferred Format
Feed 1080 x 1350 4:5 JPG/PNG
Stories 1080 x 1920 9:16 PNG
Right Column 1200 x 1200 1:1 JPG
Marketplace 1200 x 628 1.91:1 JPG
  1. Use high-resolution images to maintain clarity across devices.
  2. Avoid placing text too close to the edges to prevent cropping.
  3. Test different aspect ratios based on audience and objective.

Facebook recommends keeping text coverage below 20% of the image area to maximize reach and engagement.

Optimal Dimensions for Facebook Feed Image Ads

For advertisers targeting high engagement in the Facebook News Feed, selecting the correct image resolution is crucial. Images that don’t meet the platform’s technical requirements may appear cropped, distorted, or low quality, reducing their effectiveness.

The most efficient size for feed placement aligns with Facebook’s display algorithms, ensuring your ad content is delivered as intended across all devices. Images that are too small may trigger compression, while oversized assets may be auto-cropped, cutting out key visual elements.

Recommended Specifications

  • Image resolution: 1080 x 1350 pixels for portrait, 1200 x 628 pixels for landscape
  • Aspect ratio: 1:1 for square, 4:5 for vertical, 1.91:1 for horizontal
  • Maximum file size: 30MB
  • Supported formats: JPG and PNG

Tip: Always use the highest resolution available without exceeding the 30MB limit. Facebook compresses images, so start with a sharp file.

Orientation Dimensions (px) Aspect Ratio
Square 1080 x 1080 1:1
Vertical 1080 x 1350 4:5
Horizontal 1200 x 628 1.91:1
  1. Use square or vertical images to maximize screen coverage on mobile devices.
  2. Keep essential visual content and text within the central 80% of the image to avoid cropping.
  3. Run A/B tests with different ratios to evaluate engagement across target audiences.

Recommended Image Size for Facebook Story Ads

To ensure optimal performance in vertical story placements, it's crucial to use dimensions tailored for full-screen mobile viewing. Ads that don't follow these specifications risk being automatically resized or cropped, which may reduce their visual impact and engagement rate.

The preferred format for visuals in story placements is vertical, occupying the entire screen. This immersive format enables clear visibility of your message, branding, and call-to-action without distractions.

Key Specifications for Facebook Story Visuals

Use a vertical resolution of 1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels tall to maintain clarity and prevent distortion or cropping.

  • Aspect Ratio: 9:16
  • Minimum Width: 500 pixels
  • Supported Formats: JPG, PNG
  • Maximum File Size: 30MB
  1. Design with a 250-pixel margin at the top and bottom to avoid overlay conflicts with user interface elements.
  2. Ensure important text and logos remain centered within the safe zone.
  3. Use high-resolution assets to maintain image quality across all devices.
Specification Recommended Value
Resolution 1080 x 1920 px
File Type JPG or PNG
File Size Limit 30MB

Image Requirements for Facebook Carousel Ads

Carousel ads on Facebook allow marketers to display multiple visuals within a single ad unit, each with its own link. This format is ideal for showcasing product collections, step-by-step tutorials, or multiple features of a single offering.

To ensure optimal performance and appearance across devices, each image in a carousel must follow specific technical and visual standards. Deviating from these requirements can result in distorted visuals, reduced engagement, or rejected ads.

Technical Guidelines and Dimensions

  • Image size: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
  • File types supported: JPG and PNG
  • Maximum file size: 30 MB per image
  • Number of cards: 2 to 10 per carousel

Note: All carousel cards should maintain consistent image dimensions and design style for a cohesive visual experience.

Requirement Specification
Aspect Ratio 1:1 (Square)
Minimum Image Width 600 pixels
Text-to-Image Ratio Minimal overlay text recommended
  1. Ensure all images are high-resolution and aligned with the visual identity of your brand.
  2. Avoid using excessive text overlays, as this can negatively affect ad delivery.
  3. Use consistent color tones and lighting across all carousel cards.

Facebook Right Column Ad Image Specifications

Ads displayed in the right-hand sidebar of Facebook’s desktop layout require strict adherence to specific image dimensions to maintain clarity and appeal. These placements are typically more compact than feed ads, making image precision essential for avoiding blurry or cropped visuals.

The visual space is limited, so creatives must be optimized to capture attention quickly. Since right column ads appear alongside other content and often get fewer impressions than feed placements, ensuring the right format can significantly impact their performance.

Technical Image Requirements

  • Recommended Resolution: 1200 x 1200 pixels
  • Aspect Ratio: 1:1 (square)
  • Minimum Size: 254 x 133 pixels
  • File Types Supported: JPG, PNG
  • Max File Size: 30 MB

Tip: Although square images are standard, ensuring that text occupies no more than 20% of the image space helps avoid delivery limitations.

Specification Details
Display Location Right Sidebar (Desktop Only)
Image Ratio 1:1
Visibility Lower engagement, high frequency
  1. Design for clarity at small scale.
  2. Use bold visuals with minimal text.
  3. Test different creatives to find what resonates with desktop users.

Minimum Image Resolution to Avoid Blurriness

Low-resolution visuals in Facebook ads often result in pixelation and blurred edges, significantly reducing viewer engagement. To maintain clarity and professionalism, each image should meet a specific resolution threshold tailored to its format.

Facebook recommends uploading images at a higher resolution than the bare minimum to prevent compression artifacts. This is particularly critical for feed ads, where quality directly impacts click-through rates and user perception.

Recommended Resolution Guidelines

  • Maintain a resolution of at least 1080 x 1080 pixels for square images.
  • Use a minimum of 1200 x 628 pixels for landscape formats.
  • Vertical images should be no less than 1080 x 1350 pixels.

To prevent blur, always upload images in PNG or high-quality JPG formats and avoid resizing after export.

  1. Design visuals in high resolution from the start.
  2. Export at maximum quality settings.
  3. Preview at 100% scale before uploading.
Image Type Minimum Resolution Optimal Format
Square 1080 x 1080 px PNG
Landscape 1200 x 628 px JPG (High Quality)
Portrait 1080 x 1350 px PNG

How Aspect Ratio Affects Image Cropping on Facebook

When designing visuals for Facebook ads, the proportion between width and height–known as the aspect ratio–directly influences how your content is displayed across different placements. A mismatch between the image ratio and Facebook’s display frame can result in automatic cropping, which may cut off essential parts of your creative.

Since Facebook supports multiple ad placements such as the News Feed, Stories, and Marketplace, each has its own preferred image dimensions. Using the wrong ratio often leads to reduced visual impact and message clarity, especially on mobile devices where screen space is limited.

Key Impacts of Incorrect Aspect Ratios

  • Loss of critical visual elements due to forced trimming
  • Inconsistent appearance across placements (desktop vs mobile)
  • Lower engagement from misaligned focal points

Important: Facebook may auto-crop your ad image if it doesn't match the optimal aspect ratio, which can lead to unintended visual results.

Placement Recommended Ratio Effect if Incorrect
News Feed 1.91:1 Horizontal cropping of tall images
Stories 9:16 Zoomed-in or truncated visuals
Marketplace 1:1 Uneven white space or cropping
  1. Always design with placement-specific ratios in mind.
  2. Test how your image appears in multiple formats before launching.
  3. Use Facebook’s preview tools to ensure visual integrity.

File Formats and Maximum File Size for Facebook Ad Images

When creating images for Facebook ads, it's crucial to select the appropriate file format and ensure the image size does not exceed Facebook's limits. This ensures better ad performance and compatibility across devices. Ad images must meet specific standards, so understanding these requirements can help optimize your campaigns.

The correct file format can significantly affect the quality and loading speed of your ad, while the maximum file size will determine whether your image is approved or rejected by Facebook's platform. Below are the key considerations for file formats and image sizes.

Supported File Formats for Facebook Ads

Facebook accepts several file formats for ad images. The most commonly used formats are:

  • JPEG – Ideal for photographs and images with complex color variations.
  • PNG – Best for images with transparency or simple graphics.
  • GIF – Suitable for animated images.

It’s essential to choose the right format based on the type of content you are promoting. For instance, PNG is preferred for logos or images with sharp edges, while JPEG is often used for product photos.

Maximum File Size for Facebook Ad Images

Facebook enforces a limit on the file size of images used in ads. The file size must not exceed:

  1. 30MB for standard image ads.
  2. 1MB for carousel images (each individual image within the carousel).

Exceeding the file size limit will result in the ad being rejected or taking longer to load, affecting the user experience.

Note: While larger file sizes can result in higher-quality images, they may not always perform well due to slower loading times. It's important to balance image quality and size.

Image Resolution Recommendations

For the best results, Facebook recommends uploading images with the following resolutions:

Ad Type Recommended Resolution
Single Image Ad 1200 x 628 pixels
Carousel Ad 1080 x 1080 pixels
Stories Ad 1080 x 1920 pixels

Tips for Maintaining Image Quality Across All Facebook Placements

Ensuring that your images maintain high quality across all Facebook placements is crucial for effective advertising. Different placements have specific dimensions and aspect ratios, which can cause images to appear stretched, cropped, or pixelated if not optimized correctly. By following a few key strategies, you can ensure that your visuals remain clear and impactful no matter where they appear on the platform.

Understanding the technical requirements for each Facebook placement and preparing images accordingly is essential. While the Facebook Ads Manager automatically adjusts images to fit different formats, taking control over image sizing and resolution will lead to more professional and polished results. Below are some tips to help you maintain image quality across all placements.

1. Resize and Optimize for Each Placement

Each Facebook placement comes with its own recommended image size. Using the correct dimensions helps ensure that your ads are displayed properly. Below is a table showing common image sizes for Facebook Ads:

Placement Recommended Image Size
Feed 1200 x 628 px
Stories 1080 x 1920 px
Marketplace 1200 x 1200 px
Right Column 1200 x 1200 px

2. Use High-Resolution Images

For best results, always use images with a resolution of at least 1080 x 1080 px. Images with lower resolutions may appear pixelated or blurry, especially on high-resolution screens. When preparing images for Facebook Ads, make sure the file size is large enough to maintain clarity but not too large to slow down the loading time.

3. Keep Aspect Ratios Consistent

Ensure the aspect ratio stays consistent across different placements. For example, if an image is designed for a 1:1 ratio, keep it the same across all placements to avoid unwanted cropping or stretching. When you upload your image, Facebook will automatically adjust it to fit other formats, but maintaining a consistent aspect ratio can prevent distortion.

Pro Tip: Always test your ads across different placements before finalizing your campaign to ensure optimal display.

4. Consider Text and Logo Placement

  • Keep text and logos away from the edges of the image to avoid cropping on certain placements.
  • Leave a safe margin around important elements to ensure they remain visible across all placements.
  • Use the "Text Overlay" tool to check if your text-to-image ratio meets Facebook's guidelines.

5. Utilize Image Compression Tools

Even when optimizing for size and resolution, it's important to use tools that compress images without sacrificing quality. Tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim can help you reduce file sizes while maintaining visual integrity.