Primary-source image guide
Current image sizes for Instagram, YouTube, and Etsy
Three concise answers grounded in each platform's own help documentation, plus the practical choice between cropping to fill and fitting the entire source image.
Reviewed by Peelaway. Sources checked August 11, 2026.
1. Instagram feed images
What size should an Instagram feed image be?
Use 1,080 pixels wide for an Instagram feed photo. Meta preserves photos at their original resolution when they are 320–1,080 pixels wide and between 1.91:1 and 3:4; at 1,080px wide, that means 566–1,440px tall. Outside that ratio range Instagram crops, below 320px it enlarges, and above 1,080px it downsizes.
| Official field | Current guidance |
|---|---|
| Preserved width | 320–1,080px |
| Supported aspect ratio | 1.91:1 through 3:4 |
| At 1,080px wide | 566–1,440px tall |
Crop to fill
Choose crop when filling a 3:4 canvas matters more than preserving the long edges, and keep faces, text, and product details away from those edges.
Fit the full image
Choose fit when the entire source must remain visible. Padding keeps the composition intact while placing it on the 3:4 canvas.
2. YouTube thumbnails
What size should a YouTube thumbnail be?
YouTube currently recommends 3,840 × 2,160 pixels for a custom video thumbnail, with a minimum width of 640 pixels. Use a 16:9 canvas because that is the most common ratio in YouTube players and previews. JPG, GIF, and PNG are listed upload formats; upload-size limits differ between mobile and desktop.
| Official field | Current guidance |
|---|---|
| Recommended resolution | 3,840 × 2,160px |
| Minimum width | 640px |
| Preferred aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| Listed formats | JPG, GIF, PNG |
Crop to fill
Choose crop to fill 16:9 without distortion, then check that the subject and any text survive trimming from the long edges.
Fit the full image
Choose fit to retain every source pixel. It adds padding when the source is not already 16:9, avoiding an unintended crop.
3. Etsy listing photos
What size should an Etsy listing photo be?
For Etsy listing photos, aim for at least 2,000 pixels wide and high. Etsy describes those dimensions as a recommendation, not a publishing requirement, and does not require an exact 2,000 × 2,000 square; a landscape image can exceed one dimension. Keep the product centered with extra space because Etsy displays thumbnails in square, portrait, and landscape crops.
| Official field | Current guidance |
|---|---|
| Recommended dimensions | At least 2,000px wide and high |
| First-photo guidance | Horizontal or square |
| Listed formats | JPG, GIF, PNG, SVG, HEIC |
Crop to fill
Choose crop only when the product and its context remain clear in Etsy's square, portrait, and landscape thumbnail views.
Fit the full image
Choose fit in Peelaway's 2,000 × 2,000 preparation canvas to preserve the whole photo with padding. For Etsy's preferred horizontal presentation, start from a wide source with generous negative space.