Twitter/X Header Image Size: The Complete Practical Guide

Getting the Twitter/X header image size right looks simple at first. Then the platform crops your beautifully designed banner on mobile, hides your logo behind the profile photo, and compresses the file until the text turns fuzzy.

A clean header instantly makes a profile look credible. A sloppy one does the opposite.

This guide walks through the exact Twitter/X header image size to use, how it behaves on different screens, and how to design a banner that stays sharp and readable everywhere.

Official Twitter/X Header Image Size (And What Actually Works)

Twitter/X currently recommends a header image size of 1500 × 500 pixels with a maximum file size of 2 MB.

That is the official number. But if you design a header that fills the entire 1500 × 500 area with important content, parts of it will get cropped or hidden on some screens.

A more reliable working size for safe content is:

Canvas size: 1500 × 500 px
Safe content area: roughly 1200 × 400 px centered

For example, if you create a header for a SaaS brand called “LaunchGrid”:

Set the design file to 1500 × 500 px.
Place the “LaunchGrid” logo and main tagline inside a centered 1200 × 400 px zone.
Keep logos, faces, and text at least 150 px away from the left edge to avoid the profile photo overlap on desktop.

This way, the header respects the official Twitter/X header image size while protecting the important parts from cropping.

How Twitter/X Crops Your Header on Desktop vs Mobile

The same header image behaves differently across devices. A banner that looks perfect on a 27-inch monitor can look cramped or oddly cropped on a phone.

Desktop layout behavior

On desktop, Twitter/X:

Shows the full width of the 1500 px image.
Locks the visible height to about 500 px, but the top and bottom edges can shift slightly depending on the screen and zoom.
Places the circular profile photo toward the left side, overlapping the header.

A concrete example:

You upload a 1500 × 500 px header with your logo on the far left.
On desktop, the circular profile image (at around 160–200 px diameter) overlaps that left area.
If the logo sits 50 px from the left edge, the profile photo covers it.

To avoid this, treat the area roughly 0–300 px from the left edge as a danger zone for key content.

Mobile layout behavior

On mobile, Twitter/X still uses the same underlying Twitter/X header image size, but displays a narrower slice:

The header scales down to fit the screen width.
Some top and bottom portions can be cropped, depending on the device’s aspect ratio.
The profile photo still overlaps, but slightly differently positioned.

A typical issue:

A creator adds a slogan close to the bottom of the header.
On desktop, the text is visible.
On mobile, the lower strip of the image gets cropped, so the slogan is cut off.

To keep designs safe:

Keep critical text and logos in the central 60–70% of the height.
Avoid placing important elements right at the top or bottom edges.

When you design with these behaviors in mind, the same header looks stable on a 13-inch laptop, a 4K monitor, and a small phone.

Ideal Dimensions, Ratios, and File Types

The Twitter/X header image size is not only about pixel counts. Aspect ratio and file format also shape how sharp and clean the final result looks.

Aspect ratio and sizing

The 1500 × 500 px recommendation equals a 3:1 aspect ratio.

If you work in a tool that prefers ratios over pixel values, set the canvas to any 3:1 size and export at or near 1500 × 500 px. For example:

3000 × 1000 px (then downscale to 1500 × 500 px on export)
1800 × 600 px (Twitter/X will downscale slightly)

A practical approach:

Design at 3000 × 1000 px for extra detail.
Export a copy at 1500 × 500 px.
Upload the 1500 × 500 px version to Twitter/X.

This method keeps edges crisp while meeting the platform’s expected Twitter/X header image size.

File formats: PNG vs JPG

Twitter/X supports JPG and PNG for headers.

PNG works better for graphics, logos, and text-heavy designs with flat colors.
JPG can work for photo-based headers but may show compression artifacts.

For most brands and creators:

Use PNG-24 for the cleanest result.
Keep the final file under 2 MB to avoid extra compression.

For example, a design with a gradient background, logo, and tagline usually looks sharper in PNG than in JPG, especially around text edges.

Designing a Header That Actually Fits the Space

Knowing the Twitter/X header image size is only the first step. The next is to arrange elements so they look intentional and balanced.

Use a clear visual hierarchy

A good header answers three questions at a glance:

Who is this?
What do they do?
Why should anyone care?

Take a profile for a newsletter called “WebTechMatrix Weekly” as an example:

Center the newsletter name in bold type.
Add a short line under it, such as “Practical breakdowns of web tech every Monday”.
Place small icons or illustrations of browsers, devices, or code near the right side.

The design stays simple, but the hierarchy makes it easy to understand.

Protect a central safe zone

Within the 1500 × 500 px canvas, build a safe zone where nothing gets cut off or hidden.

A practical layout:

Draw an imaginary rectangle from 150 px in from the left to 1350 px on the right.
Limit important content vertically to 50–450 px.

That gives a 1200 × 400 px safe area.

Inside that area, place:

Logo or name
Tagline or value statement
Simple visual or product mockup

Outside that area, you can still add background textures, gradients, or subtle patterns.

Avoid clutter and tiny text

The Twitter/X header image size encourages wide, shallow designs. That makes it tempting to fill the space with icons, screenshots, and long taglines.

Resist that.

For example, a B2B analytics startup could try to show a full dashboard, list of features, and three customer logos. On a phone, that turns into a mess of unreadable text.

A stronger approach:

Show a single cropped dashboard mockup on the right.
Add one short line of text, such as “Analytics that ship in hours, not weeks”.
Leave breathing room around everything.

The header then feels focused and legible on any screen.

Safe Zones and Layout Templates You Can Reuse

To speed up header creation, use simple templates based on the Twitter/X header image size. These templates help you place content without guessing.

Template 1: Brand-first layout

Best for companies and products.

Structure:

Left: background only (behind profile photo)
Center: logo and brand name
Right: supporting visual or short tagline

Example for a product called “FlowBoard”:

Center: “FlowBoard” logo at about 80–100 px height.
Under logo: “Project boards that stay up to date” in smaller text.
Right: a blurred, cropped interface preview.

Keep all of this inside the 1200 × 400 px safe area. The left 150 px can be a gradient or solid color that looks fine behind the profile photo.

Template 2: Creator or personal brand layout

Best for consultants, creators, and solo founders.

Structure:

Left: profile photo overlap area with simple background.
Center: name and role.
Right: proof or positioning.

Example for a security engineer:

Center: “Alex Rivera” in bold.
Under it: “Security engineer helping SaaS teams pass audits”.
Right: subtle icons of a shield, checklist, and cloud.

The Twitter/X header image size stays the same, but the layout emphasizes identity and value in a single glance.

Template 3: Campaign or event layout

Best for launches, conferences, and time-bound campaigns.

Structure:

Center: event or campaign name.
Right: date, location, or key call to action.

Example for a virtual event:

Center: “WebTechMatrix Live”.
Right: “March 28 • 10 AM PT” and a small icon of a live broadcast.

When the event ends, you can revert to a brand-first header while keeping the same base template.

Common Mistakes With Twitter/X Header Image Size

Most broken headers fail for predictable reasons. Avoiding a few common patterns saves time and frustration.

Mistake 1: Placing key text under the profile photo

Many new profiles place their logo or name in the top-left corner, just where the profile photo lands.

On a 1500 × 500 px header, expect the profile image to cover roughly:

From 0–250 px horizontally.
From about 200–450 px vertically (varies slightly by device).

If a podcast puts its title in that area, the profile image hides half of it.

Mistake 2: Using a header that is too small

Uploading an image that is narrower than the recommended Twitter/X header image size leads to stretching and blur.

For example:

A 1024 × 256 px banner exported from an old website.
When uploaded, Twitter/X scales it up to fill the 1500 × 500 px slot.
The result looks soft and pixelated, especially around text.

Always start at 1500 × 500 px or larger, then scale down.

Mistake 3: Overly compressed JPGs

Saving a header at very low JPG quality to save a few kilobytes backfires.

In practice:

A designer exports a 1500 × 500 px JPG at 40% quality.
The file size is small, but banding appears in gradients and edges look rough.

The better approach is:

Use PNG for graphics with text.
Use a balanced JPG quality (70–80%) if the header is a photo.

Mistake 4: Ignoring dark mode and light mode

Twitter/X supports both themes. A header that looks perfect on light mode can fade into the background in dark mode.

Example:

A brand uses a dark gray header with small black text.
On dark mode, the text almost disappears.

To avoid this:

Use strong contrast between text and background.
Test the header on both themes by toggling your Twitter/X app or browser.

How to Create a Twitter/X Header Image Step by Step

Here is a simple workflow that respects the Twitter/X header image size and reduces trial and error.

Step 1: Set up the canvas

Open your design tool (Figma, Canva, Photoshop, or similar).
Create a new file at 1500 × 500 px.
Add guides to mark:
- 150 px from the left edge.
- 1350 px from the left edge.
- 50 px from the top and bottom.

These guides frame the 1200 × 400 px safe area.

Step 2: Choose a clear background

Pick a background that supports the content instead of fighting it.

Examples:

Solid color that matches your brand palette.
Soft gradient from left to right.
Light pattern or blurred product screenshot with reduced opacity.

Avoid busy photos with many colors and details behind text.

Step 3: Add your core message

Inside the safe area, place:

Logo or name (usually center or slightly right of center).
One short line of copy that explains what you do.

For example:

“WebTechMatrix” as the main text.
Under it: “Clear breakdowns of web technology that save you time”.

Keep the font size large enough to read on a small phone. As a rough rule, design the main text at 48–72 px in your 1500 × 500 px file.

Step 4: Add supporting visuals

Use one or two supporting visuals at most.

Ideas:

A product mockup on the right.
Simple icons that hint at your niche (browser, mobile, cloud, etc.).
A subtle shape or wave that leads the eye toward the logo.

Make sure these visuals do not compete with the text.

Step 5: Export and compress correctly

Export as PNG for sharp text.
Check the file size. If it is above 2 MB, reduce dimensions slightly or apply light compression.
Keep the final version at or near 1500 × 500 px.

Tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh can reduce file size without visible quality loss.

Step 6: Upload and test on multiple devices

After uploading to Twitter/X:

View your profile on desktop at full screen and at 90% zoom.
Check it on at least one phone.
Switch between light and dark mode.

If text looks too close to the edges or sits under the profile photo, adjust the design and re-upload.

Frequently Asked Questions About Twitter/X Header Image Size

What is the recommended Twitter/X header image size?

The recommended Twitter/X header image size is 1500 × 500 pixels with a maximum file size of 2 MB.

What aspect ratio should a Twitter/X header use?

A Twitter/X header should use a 3:1 aspect ratio, which matches the 1500 × 500 px recommendation.

Why does my Twitter/X header look blurry?

Headers often look blurry when the source image is smaller than 1500 × 500 px or heavily compressed. Always design at or above the recommended Twitter/X header image size and export as a high-quality PNG or JPG.

How can I stop Twitter/X from cropping my header?

You cannot fully control cropping on every device, but you can reduce problems by keeping important content inside a central 1200 × 400 px safe area and away from the top, bottom, and left edges.

Where should I place text in a Twitter/X header?

Place text in the center area, at least 150 px from the left edge and away from the very top and bottom. This keeps it clear of the profile photo overlap and most cropping.

Is PNG or JPG better for a Twitter/X header image?

PNG usually works better for Twitter/X header images with logos and text because it keeps edges sharp. JPG can work for photo-based headers but may introduce compression artifacts.

Can I use animated GIFs as Twitter/X headers?

No. Twitter/X does not support animated GIFs as header images. Headers must be static images in PNG or JPG format.

How often should I update my Twitter/X header image?

Update your header when your brand, offer, or focus changes, or when running a specific campaign. Many brands refresh their header every few months to match current messaging while keeping the same core Twitter/X header image size and layout.

Twitter/X Header Image Size: The Complete Practical Guide

Official Twitter/X Header Image Size (And What Actually Works)