The LinkedIn cover image on your profile measures1,584 x 396 pixels– this is the size recommended by LinkedIn. The file must be smaller than 8 MB and in JPG or PNG format. Company pages use different dimensions (1,512 x 256 pixels, maximum 3 MB), and an event banner requires a different format again.
Here you’ll find all dimensions in one table, the official names, the steps to change them, and the most common pitfalls when cropping.Last updated: 19 September 2026, all figures from the LinkedIn Help Center.
Profile picture, background image or banner – what LinkedIn really calls it
In everyday use, you’ll hear three names for the same picture:cover image,Background image it and enter it BannerThis always refers to the wide banner at the top of your profile, behind and above your profile photo.
LinkedIn itself is not entirely consistent here. The German help article is titled “Add or change a cover image on your profile”, but also uses “background image” in the text, while in the mobile app the section is simply calledcover imageYou can search for any of the three terms and end up with the same image. The only important thing is that the profile banner is different from theCover image of a company page– both have their own dimensions.
LinkedIn cover image size: all dimensions in the table
These figures come directly from LinkedIn help articles. Information that LinkedIn does not provide is deliberately listed as “not specified” — made-up numbers do not help you.
Image | Pixel dimensions | Aspect ratio | Max. file size | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Profile banner image (background image) | 1,584 x 396 px (recommended) | 4:1 (calculated from the dimensions) | smaller than 8 MB | JPG, PNG |
Company page: Logo | at least 268 x 268 px, recommended 400 x 400 px | 1:1 | 3 MB | PNG, JPEG |
Company page: Cover image | 1,512 x 256 px | not specified by LinkedIn | 3 MB | PNG, JPEG |
Event cover image | 480 x 270 px or 1,280 x 720 px, minimum width 480 px | 16:9 (required) | not specified by LinkedIn | not specified by LinkedIn |
Sources: linkedin.com/help – Add or change a background photo on your profile,linkedin.com/help – Image specifications for your Company Pages and Career Pages it and enter it linkedin.com/help – Create or manage a LinkedIn Event field.
To Profile photoLinkedIn does not specify pixel dimensions, a maximum file size or a list of supported formats in its German help articles. Instead, it focuses on content guidelines: the photo should look like you and should not contain logos, emojis or animals. That is why there is no row for this in the table above. Use a square image at a decent resolution—anything more would not be reliable to say.
How to change your LinkedIn background image: Step by step
The steps differ between the desktop version and the app. The labels are taken directly from the German help article.
On desktop
- Click the icon at the top of your homepageYou field.
- Select View profile field.
- Click on the option in the presentation area at the top right.Camera icon field.
- Choose whether you want to upload a photo, create a slideshow, or select an image.
- Edit the image and click onApply field.
In the app
- Tap yourProfile icon field.
- Tap the sectioncover image field.
- Tap the bottom left.Change field.
- Upload a photo or take one.
- Tap in the top rightSave field.
If you want to show multiple visuals instead of a single static image, it is worth taking a look at theCover image slideshow for your profile field.
LinkedIn Banner Size: The Safe Area for Text
The biggest trap is not the resolution, but the layout. Your profile photo sits at the bottom left over the cover image and covers part of it. The image is also cropped differently depending on the screen: on mobile, you see a different section than on desktop.
LinkedIn does not specify a safe zone in pixels for the profile cover image.Any figures you come across online are third-party estimates, which is why we do not provide any. For company pages, LinkedIn at least provides clear qualitative guidance: the cover image can be adjusted to fit the screen and cropped horizontally or vertically. A high-quality image with is recommended.little text, and details should not be too close to the edge.
This leads to a practical rule that does not rely on made-up pixel values:
- Let thebottom-left corner clear– that’s where your profile picture is.
- Add text and logocentred or right-alignedand keep a distance from all four edges.
- Keep the textshort: one line, not three.
- Then check the result once on desktop and once in the app.
We’ll show you how to create a layout like this without design software in the guide.Create a LinkedIn banner with Canva field.
What to include in your cover image
Your cover image is the largest available space on your profile. It should make clear within two seconds who you work for and what you stand for. A stock photo of a skyline does not do that.
Three elements have proven effective: a short statement about your offer, a reference to your target audience, and a subtle background that does not overpower your profile photo. If your profile needs an overall cleanup, work through it step by step – the articleThe Perfect LinkedIn Profile in 6 Stepsgoes through the individual areas, and theProfile Optimisation Checklisthelps you check things off.
Common mistakes with LinkedIn cover images
- Upload image too small.Below 1,584 pixels wide, LinkedIn scales the image up, making it look blurry.
- Place important elements in the bottom left.There, it covers your profile picture.
- Incorrect aspect ratio.A square image is cropped to 4:1 – only a strip of your subject remains.
- Too much text.It is no longer readable on a mobile phone.
- Use the company page dimensions for your profile.1,512 × 256 pixels is a different aspect ratio than 1,584 × 396 pixels.
Frequently Asked Questions About LinkedIn Banner Size
What size should a LinkedIn cover image be in 2026?
LinkedIn recommends 1,584 x 396 pixels for the profile, which is a 4:1 ratio. The file must be smaller than 8 MB and in JPG or PNG format. As of: 19 September 2026.
What size should the cover image on a LinkedIn Company Page be?
1,512 x 256 pixels. The logo must be at least 268 x 268 pixels; 400 x 400 pixels is recommended. The following applies to all images on company and careers pages: PNG or JPEG, maximum 3 MB.
Is the LinkedIn background image the same as the cover image?
Yes. LinkedIn uses both terms in its German help articles for the wide image at the top of your profile; in the app, the section is called cover image. Many people also casually call it a “banner”. They all mean the same image.
Where is the safe zone in a LinkedIn banner?
LinkedIn does not publish a safe zone in pixels for the profile cover image. The only certainty is that your profile photo overlaps the image in the bottom-left corner, and the crop differs between mobile and desktop. Keep this corner clear, place important content in the centre or on the right, and check the result on both devices.
What size does a LinkedIn event banner need to be?
According to the help article, you can use 480 x 270 or 1,280 x 720 pixels, among other sizes. The minimum width is 480 pixels, and the aspect ratio must be 16:9. LinkedIn does not provide any information there about file size or format.
