LinkedIn Profile Banner Size: How to Design the Perfect Header Image
LinkedIn Profile Banner Size: How to Design the Perfect Header Image
Blog Article
Your LinkedIn profile banner could be the first visual element that visitors notice after they land on the profile. It’s a substantial rectangular space that sits behind your profile photo, offering an opportunity to showcase your professional brand, personality, or specific career achievements. A well-designed LinkedIn banner can improve your profile’s overall presentation, allowing you to appear more professional and polished.
However, if your banner isn't sized properly, it could appear pixelated, distorted, or take off, setting up a negative impression. In this article, we’ll explain the ideal banner size for linkedin, the best way to design your header image, and supply tips for optimizing it for any more professional LinkedIn presence.
What can be a LinkedIn Profile Banner?
The LinkedIn profile banner (also known as the background photo) is the large horizontal image located towards the top of your profile, just behind your profile picture. Unlike your profile photo, which is really a small circular image to display you, the banner provides ample space to visually transform your profile.
While your profile picture portrays your own personal identity, the banner offers more freedom for creativity. This space is commonly used to display a business logo, an expert image, your own brand, or a visual related to your field of expertise.
Ideal LinkedIn Banner Size
To keep your banner looks crisp and professional on all devices, it’s essential to use the correct dimensions. LinkedIn recommends the following size for optimal display:
Recommended Dimensions: 1584 x 396 pixels
Aspect Ratio: 4:1 (width to height)
Maximum File Size: 8MB
File Formats: JPG, PNG, or GIF
Why These Dimensions Matter
Width (1584 pixels): This width helps to ensure that your banner image is large enough to produce well on desktop and mobile phones without becoming pixelated or blurry. A wider image allows for better resolution, especially on high-definition screens.
Height (396 pixels): The 396-pixel height is optimal for displaying the banner without distortion, whilst fitting neatly into LinkedIn’s profile layout. If the image is simply too short, it may appear stretched or cropped.
Aspect Ratio (4:1): This aspect ratio means that the image appears proportional on both desktop and mobile views. Images that follow this ratio won’t get cropped or distorted.
Best Practices for Designing Your LinkedIn Banner
Now that you know the best size to your LinkedIn banner, here are some design tips to help you create a standout background image:
1. Keep Important Elements Centered
While LinkedIn provides for some flexibility, the banner will probably be cropped differently on desktop and mobile devices. On mobile, the sides of the banner are often stop, so it’s important to keep important components—such as text, logos, or personal branding—centered inside middle of the picture to ensure visibility across devices.
2. Use High-Quality Images
To avoid a pixelated or blurry banner, use high-resolution images. A sharp and crisp image will create an experienced first impression and make sure that your banner looks clean across various screen sizes.
3. Make Your Banner Reflect Your Professional Identity
The banner is a chance to highlight your profession, career, or expertise. If you work in design, for example, you could possibly showcase several of your best work. If you’re in marketing, a banner using a compelling slogan or perhaps a call to action might be fitting. For those in corporate roles, a fairly easy but elegant design together with your company logo could possibly be ideal.
4. Choose Colors That Complement Your Profile Picture
Since your profile picture can look over the banner, take into account the colors of your profile photo when coming up with your banner. Ensure that the colours don’t clash and that your particular photo is clearly visible. Choose colors that align with your own personal brand, industry, or LinkedIn profile content.
5. Avoid Clutter
Keep your LinkedIn banner design clean and uncluttered. Too much text or overly busy images can overwhelm visitors. Instead, opt for any minimalist design with just a few key elements that communicate your professional identity without distraction.
6. Align with Your Brand or Industry
For business owners, freelancers, or those involved with creative fields, your LinkedIn banner can be quite a way to promote your services or brand. Consider incorporating your logo, slogan, or possibly a tagline. For individuals in corporate or even more traditional fields, an experienced photo linked to your industry or expertise may be a great choice.
What to Avoid inside a LinkedIn Banner
To make the most of your respective LinkedIn banner, there are a couple of things you should avoid:
Low-Resolution Images: Avoid using blurry or pixelated images, as they possibly can give a bad impression. Always use high-quality, sharp images.
Overloading the Banner with Text: Too much text may make your banner look cluttered and distract from the profile picture. Keep text minimal and legible.
Important Information Near the Edges: Since parts of the banner can get cropped on mobile phones, avoid placing important components (like text or logos) too close to the edges. Stick to the center for optimum visibility.
Irrelevant or Inconsistent Visuals: Make sure the visuals in your banner are strongly related your professional identity. Avoid images or graphics that don’t align with your career or expertise.
How to Upload and Change Your LinkedIn Banner
To upload or change your LinkedIn profile banner:
Go in your LinkedIn profile page.
Hover over your overall banner (background photo), and click the camera icon within the upper-right corner in the banner area.
Select the "Upload Photo" option.
Choose the image you want to upload out of your computer (ensure it’s the recommended size).
Adjust the style if necessary by moving or resizing it.
Click "Apply" to avoid wasting the changes.
Your LinkedIn profile banner is more than just an ornamental background—it's an effective tool to help you showcase your professional brand, highlight your expertise, and produce a polished and impressive first impression for visitors. By following the recommended sized 1584 x 396 pixels and sticking to the best practices for design, you can make your banner a compelling part of your LinkedIn profile that sticks out to clients, employers, or colleagues.