Pinterest Pin Size Guide: Exact Dimensions That Actually Work
Getting Pinterest pin size right is one of the fastest ways to improve saves, clicks, and traffic from the platform. Pinterest is visual first, and the algorithm strongly favors images that match its preferred aspect ratios and quality standards.
This guide walks through the current best-practice dimensions, how they differ by pin type, and how to set up a simple workflow so every image you publish looks sharp, on-brand, and optimized.
Why Pinterest Pin Size Matters More Than You Think
Pinterest is not just a social network. It behaves like a visual search engine. When a user searches for “bathroom remodel ideas” or “vegan sheet pan dinners,” Pinterest scans through thousands of images and prioritizes pins that are clear, tall, and correctly sized.
Three things happen when your pinterest pin size is wrong:
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Cropped content – Text or key visuals get cut off on mobile feeds.
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Blurry images – Low-resolution uploads are stretched and look unprofessional.
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Lower engagement – Users scroll past pins that look awkward or hard to read.
Consider two pins about the same recipe:
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Pin A uses a 1000 × 1500 pixel image with large, readable text over a bright photo.
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Pin B uses a 600 × 600 pixel square image pulled directly from a blog post.
Pin A fills more vertical space, stands out in the feed, and gives Pinterest a clear signal that it matches the platform’s preferred pinterest image size. Pin B looks cramped, gets fewer saves, and often loses in search rankings.
Correct dimensions do not guarantee success, but they remove a major source of friction. When size, clarity, and ratio are dialed in, every pin you create has a better chance of performing.
The Best Pinterest Pin Size for Standard Pins
Pinterest regularly updates design recommendations, but the current sweet spot for most standard pins is:
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1000 × 1500 pixels
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2:3 aspect ratio
Anything that maintains a 2:3 ratio will generally work, but 1000 × 1500 px hits a good balance between quality and file size.
Why 2:3 Is the Default Pinterest Image Size
Pinterest’s grid layout is built around tall, vertical images. A 2:3 ratio pins display cleanly in the main feed, search results, and on boards without awkward cropping.
Example:
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A travel blogger promoting a “7-Day Iceland Road Trip” creates a vertical collage at 1000 × 1500 pixels.
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The main photo shows a waterfall, with a headline strip across the top and a subtle URL at the bottom.
On mobile, the image fills a large part of the screen, the text remains legible, and no key details are cut off. The pin stands out against smaller or oddly cropped images.
Minimum and Maximum Sizes That Still Work
Pinterest recommends a minimum width of 600 pixels. To maintain the 2:3 ratio:
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600 × 900 px
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800 × 1200 px
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1000 × 1500 px
All of these follow the same pinterest dimension guide, just at different resolutions. For brands and creators, 1000 × 1500 px is usually ideal because:
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It looks crisp on high-density (Retina) screens.
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It gives enough room for text overlays without clutter.
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It avoids massive file sizes that slow loading.
A quick rule: Always design at 2:3, with at least 1000 px on the short side whenever possible.
Pinterest Image Size for Different Pin Types
Pinterest now supports multiple pin formats, and each one has slightly different best practices. Using a single universal template for everything often leads to cut-off text or awkward framing.
Standard Static Pins
Recommended pinterest pin size:
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1000 × 1500 px (2:3 ratio)
Use static pins for:
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Blog posts
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Product highlights
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Simple tutorials
Example: A SaaS company promoting a “Website Speed Optimization Checklist” uses a 1000 × 1500 px pin with a clean gradient background, a short headline, and a laptop mockup. The tall format gives space for the title and a supporting subheading without reducing the font size to something unreadable.
Video Pins
Pinterest supports both vertical and square videos. For maximum reach and visibility in the main feed, vertical works best.
Recommended sizes:
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Vertical video: 1080 × 1920 px (9:16 ratio)
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Standard vertical: 1000 × 1500 px (2:3 ratio) also works, but 9:16 fills more of the screen
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Square video: 1080 × 1080 px (1:1 ratio)
Example:
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A fitness brand shares a 15-second “3 Quick Warm-Up Moves” video.
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They export it at 1080 × 1920 px and keep the main text within a centered safe zone.
On mobile, the video nearly fills the screen, commands attention, and avoids black bars or unwanted cropping.
Idea Pins (Now Often Labeled as Multi-Page Pins)
Idea Pins are multi-page, story-like formats that support video, images, stickers, and text. They are designed for mobile-first consumption.
Recommended size:
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1080 × 1920 px (9:16 ratio)
Treat Idea Pins like vertical stories:
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Keep core text in the central 80% of the frame.
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Avoid placing important elements too close to the top or bottom, where UI overlays may appear.
Example:
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A home decor account creates a 5-page Idea Pin, each page at 1080 × 1920 px, walking through “How to Style a Bookshelf in 5 Steps.”
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Each page uses large, consistent typography and clear before/after photos.
Shopping and Product Pins
Product pins often pull images directly from your site or feed, so the original pinterest image size matters.
Recommended sizes:
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1000 × 1500 px (2:3) for vertical product scenes
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1000 × 1000 px (1:1) for catalog-style product images
Square works well when you want a clean, storefront-like grid, especially for fashion, jewelry, or accessories. Vertical 2:3 images tend to perform better in search and home feeds because they occupy more space.
Example:
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An online furniture store uses 1000 × 1500 px lifestyle photos for sofas in room settings, and 1000 × 1000 px for simple product-only shots.
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Both formats stay consistent across the catalog, creating a professional, cohesive look.
Safe Zones, Text Placement, and Cropping Issues
Even when the pinterest pin size is correct, poor layout can ruin an otherwise strong design. Text too close to the edge, logos in the corner, or important details at the very top often get clipped or covered.
Build a Safe Zone Into Every Template
A practical approach is to create a visual safe zone:
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Leave at least 60–80 pixels of padding on all sides of your main content.
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Keep headlines, logos, and calls-to-action inside this inner area.
Example:
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A beauty brand designs a 1000 × 1500 px pin.
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The headline, model photo, and logo are all positioned within an 860 × 1360 px central area.
On different devices and in various placements, the design still looks balanced. Even if Pinterest slightly crops the image in some views, nothing critical disappears.
Avoid Extremely Tall Pins
Pinterest used to tolerate very tall pins, such as 1000 × 3000 px, but now long images are often truncated in the feed.
When pins get cut off, users must tap to see the rest, which reduces engagement. Pinterest has also stated that excessively long pins can be deprioritized.
Stay close to the 2:3 ratio and avoid going beyond 2:4 for most content.
File Types, Quality, and Compression
Correct dimensions are only part of the equation. Poor compression or the wrong file type can make even a perfectly sized pin look dull.
Best File Types for Pinterest
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PNG – Great for pins with text, flat colors, or simple graphics. Delivers crisp lines and sharp typography.
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JPEG (JPG) – Better for photos with gradients or complex scenes. Use high quality (80–90%) to avoid heavy artifacts.
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MP4 – Standard for video pins and Idea Pins.
Example:
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A food blogger exports recipe pins with large text and simple backgrounds as PNG at 1000 × 1500 px.
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For a photo-heavy travel pin with subtle sky gradients, JPEG at 85% quality keeps the file small and the image smooth.
Ideal File Size Targets
Pinterest does not publish strict file size caps for images, but smaller files load faster and improve user experience.
Aim for:
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Static images: under 1 MB when possible
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Video pins: under 32 MB for quicker upload and playback
Use tools like TinyPNG, Squoosh, or built-in export settings in Canva, Figma, or Photoshop to compress without noticeable quality loss.
A Practical Pinterest Dimension Guide for Your Workflow
To keep your pinterest pin size consistent, build a simple production system instead of designing each pin from scratch.
Step 1: Choose a Primary Base Size
Pick one base size for most static pins:
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1000 × 1500 px for standard pins
Use this as the default canvas in your design tool.
Example:
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A digital marketing agency sets up a shared template library in Canva with a 1000 × 1500 px master template.
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Designers and account managers all work from the same base file, so every pin maintains the same ratio and scale.
Step 2: Create Format-Specific Templates
Build separate templates for other formats:
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1080 × 1920 px for Idea Pins and vertical video
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1000 × 1000 px for product pins and profile grids
Each template should include:
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Logo or brand mark placement
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Headline area
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Subtitle or supporting copy area
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Image or illustration area
This pinterest dimension guide keeps your team from guessing sizes each time and reduces mistakes.
Step 3: Standardize Typography and Text Size
Correct pinterest image size does not help if text is unreadable on mobile.
Guidelines:
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Minimum font size 32–36 px for main headlines on a 1000 × 1500 px canvas
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Minimum 24–28 px for supporting text
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High contrast between text and background (use overlays or solid shapes if needed)
Example:
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An ecommerce brand tests two pin designs.
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Version 1 uses a 24 px headline on a busy photo background.
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Version 2 uses a 40 px headline over a semi-transparent dark overlay.
Version 2 wins on click-through rate because users can immediately read the offer while scrolling.
Step 4: Export and Test on Mobile
Before publishing, preview how each pin looks on a phone:
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Upload a test pin to a secret board.
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Check for cropped edges, tiny text, or washed-out colors.
A quick 30-second check often reveals issues that are not obvious on a large desktop monitor.
Common Pinterest Pin Size Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced designers run into the same recurring problems. Watching for these issues will save time and protect performance.
Using Landscape or Horizontal Images
Horizontal images (like 1200 × 628 px banners used on other platforms) appear small and unimpressive on Pinterest. They take up less vertical space and are easy to ignore.
If a blog or landing page only has a landscape hero image, create a dedicated vertical pinterest image size instead of reusing the same banner.
Example:
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A tech site has a 1200 × 628 px header for an article on “API Security Basics.”
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For Pinterest, the team designs a new 1000 × 1500 px graphic that stacks a code screenshot under a bold headline.
The vertical pin outperforms the recycled horizontal banner by a large margin.
Overloading the Design With Text
Pinterest favors visually clear designs. Even on a correctly sized pin, too much text makes the image feel cramped.
Guidelines:
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Keep the main headline under 10–12 words.
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Use subheadings or small supporting text sparingly.
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Let the image itself carry part of the message.
Ignoring Branding
Consistent branding across pins builds recognition. Size alone does not create trust.
Add:
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A small logo or wordmark
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Consistent color palette
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Repeated font choices
Example:
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A finance educator uses a soft blue and charcoal color scheme, plus the same two fonts, across every 1000 × 1500 px pin.
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Over time, users begin to recognize the brand in the feed before reading the text.
Pinterest Pin Size FAQ
What is the best pinterest pin size right now?
The current best pinterest pin size for standard static pins is 1000 × 1500 pixels with a 2:3 aspect ratio. This format displays well in feeds, search results, and on boards without awkward cropping.
Can square images work on Pinterest?
Yes. Square images at 1000 × 1000 px or 1080 × 1080 px can work, especially for product pins and catalog-style layouts. However, vertical 2:3 pins usually perform better because they occupy more vertical space in the feed.
Are long, infographic-style pins still effective?
Extremely long pins, such as 1000 × 3000 px, are often truncated in the feed. Users must tap to see the full image, which can reduce engagement. For infographics, keep as close to a 2:3 or 2:4 ratio as possible and consider splitting very long content into multiple pins or pages.
What pinterest image size should be used for video pins?
For video pins, use 1080 × 1920 px (9:16) for full-screen vertical or 1000 × 1500 px (2:3) for standard vertical. Square videos at 1080 × 1080 px are also supported but are less dominant in the feed.
What is the ideal size for Idea Pins?
Idea Pins perform best at 1080 × 1920 px with a 9:16 aspect ratio. This size matches mobile screens and gives enough room for text, images, and interactive elements without feeling cramped.
Which file type is best for Pinterest pins?
Use PNG for pins with text, icons, or flat graphics, and JPEG for photo-heavy pins. For video pins and Idea Pins, export as MP4. Aim to keep static images under 1 MB whenever possible to improve load times.
Will Pinterest reject pins that do not match the recommended size?
Pinterest usually accepts a wide range of sizes, but images that stray far from recommended ratios may be cropped or displayed less prominently. Sticking to 2:3 for static pins and 9:16 for vertical video or Idea Pins gives the best results.
How can pinterest pin size be standardized across a team?
Create shared templates in your design tool for each core format: 1000 × 1500 px for static pins, 1080 × 1920 px for Idea Pins and video, and 1000 × 1000 px for square product images. Document these as part of a simple pinterest dimension guide and require all new pins to use one of these templates.
Dialing in pinterest pin size is not about chasing minor algorithm tricks. It is about respecting how users browse the platform and how Pinterest surfaces content. When every pin matches the right dimensions, stays sharp, and uses clear, readable design, your content stands a far better chance of earning saves, clicks, and long-term traffic for your brand.
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