Facebook profile picture size
Facebook shows your profile picture as a circle: about 176 px across on your profile on a computer and 196 px on a phone, and much smaller next to your posts, comments and messages. For a sharp picture it should be at least 320 × 320 px.
| What | |
|---|---|
| Shape | Square, 1:1. Facebook shows it as a circle |
| Smallest size for a sharp picture | 320 × 320 px |
| Size to upload | 720 × 720 px |
| Shown at | About 176 px on a computer, 196 px on a phone |
| Format | JPG or PNG |
Why 720 px
A phone screen packs two or three pixels into the space of one, so a picture shown at 196 px on a phone uses up to about 600 real pixels. A file of 720 × 720 px covers that with room to spare, which is why the tool starts there. Choose 320 px if you only want the smallest size that still looks sharp.
Your picture sits over your cover photo
On your profile the circle overlaps the lower edge of your cover photo. Check the two together: a busy cover can make a dark or busy profile picture hard to see, and a plain background around your face helps it stand out.
What the circle cuts off
The circle keeps the middle of the square and hides its four corners, about a fifth of the picture. Keep your face in the middle, leave some room above your hair, and let your shoulders run out at the bottom. Text and logos near the edge are cut off.
Everyone can see your profile picture
Facebook shows your current profile picture to everyone, also to people who are not your friends. Choose a photo you are happy for anyone to see, the way you would for a work profile.
When the photo itself is the problem
A resizer cannot fix a photo that is too small, too dark or cut off at the forehead. If you have no better picture, a professional headshot made from a few selfies gives you one that fits the circle from the start.