Your LinkedIn profile banner could be the first visual element that visitors notice after they land on your own profile. It’s a large rectangular space that sits behind your profile photo, offering the opportunity to showcase your professional brand, personality, or specific career achievements. A well-designed LinkedIn banner can transform your profile’s overall presentation, causing you to appear more professional and polished.
However, in case your banner just isn't sized properly, it can appear pixelated, distorted, or take off, setting up a negative impression. In this article, we’ll explain the perfect linkedin banner image size, the way to design your header image, and provide tips for optimizing it for a more professional LinkedIn presence.
What is a LinkedIn Profile Banner?
The LinkedIn profile banner (often known as the background photo) is the large horizontal image located towards the top of your profile, just behind your profile picture. Unlike your profile photo, which is a small circular image signifying you, the banner provides ample space to visually enhance your profile.
While your profile picture portrays your individual identity, the banner offers more freedom for creativity. This space is usually used to display a company logo, a specialist image, a private brand, or possibly a visual related to your field of expert knowledge.
Ideal LinkedIn Banner Size
To be sure that your banner looks crisp and professional on all devices, it’s crucial to use the correct dimensions. LinkedIn recommends the following size for optimal display:
Recommended Dimensions: 1584 x 396 pixels
Aspect Ratio: 4:1 (width to height)
Maximum File Size: 8MB
File Formats: JPG, PNG, or GIF
Why These Dimensions Matter
Width (1584 pixels): This width means that your banner image is large enough to produce well on desktop and mobile phones without becoming pixelated or blurry. A wider image allows for better resolution, especially on high-definition screens.
Height (396 pixels): The 396-pixel height is optimal for displaying the banner without distortion, whilst fitting neatly into LinkedIn’s profile layout. If the image is too short, it could appear stretched or cropped.
Aspect Ratio (4:1): This aspect ratio helps to ensure that the image appears proportional on both desktop and mobile views. Images that follow this ratio won’t get cropped or distorted.
Best Practices for Designing Your LinkedIn Banner
Now that you know the perfect size on your LinkedIn banner, here are some design ideas to help you create a standout background image:
1. Keep Important Elements Centered
While LinkedIn permits some flexibility, the banner will be cropped differently on desktop and mobile devices. On mobile, the sides of the banner are often cut off, so it’s important to keep key components—such as text, logos, or personal branding—centered in the middle of the picture to ensure visibility across devices.
2. Use High-Quality Images
To avoid a pixelated or blurry banner, always employ high-resolution images. A sharp and crisp image will create an expert first impression and be sure that your banner looks clean across various screen sizes.
3. Make Your Banner Reflect Your Professional Identity
The banner is an opportunity to highlight your profession, career, or expertise. If you be employed in design, as an example, you could showcase a few of your best work. If you’re in marketing, a banner which has a compelling slogan or perhaps a call to action could possibly be fitting. For those invoved with corporate roles, a simple but elegant design together with your company logo might be ideal.
4. Choose Colors That Complement Your Profile Picture
Since your profile picture will appear over the banner, consider the colors of your respective profile photo when making your banner. Ensure that the colors don’t clash and that your particular photo is clearly visible. Choose colors that align with your personal brand, industry, or LinkedIn profile content.
5. Avoid Clutter
Keep your LinkedIn banner design clean and uncluttered. Too much text or overly busy images can overwhelm visitors. Instead, opt for a minimalist design with just several key elements that communicate your professional identity without distraction.
6. Align with Your Brand or Industry
For business owners, freelancers, or those who work in creative fields, your LinkedIn banner could be a way to market your services or brand. Consider incorporating your logo, slogan, or a tagline. For individuals in corporate or maybe more traditional fields, an expert photo in connection with your industry or expertise may be a wise decision.
What to Avoid in a LinkedIn Banner
To make the most of the LinkedIn banner, there are a couple of things you should avoid:
Low-Resolution Images: Avoid using blurry or pixelated images, as they possibly can give a bad impression. Always use high-quality, sharp images.
Overloading the Banner with Text: Too much text may make your banner look cluttered and distract from the profile picture. Keep text minimal and legible.
Important Information Near the Edges: Since parts in the banner may get cropped on mobile devices, avoid placing important components (like text or logos) too near the edges. Stick to the center for optimum visibility.
Irrelevant or Inconsistent Visuals: Make sure the visuals inside your banner are tightly related to your professional identity. Avoid images or graphics that don’t align using your career or expertise.
How to Upload and Change Your LinkedIn Banner
To upload or alter your LinkedIn profile banner:
Go for a LinkedIn profile page.
Hover over your current banner (background photo), and click the camera icon inside the upper-right corner in the banner area.
Select the "Upload Photo" option.
Choose the image you want to upload from your computer (ensure it’s the recommended size).
Adjust the image if necessary by moving or resizing it.
Click "Apply" to save lots of the changes.
Your LinkedIn profile banner is more than just an attractive background—it's a robust tool to assist you showcase your professional brand, highlight your expertise, and build a polished and impressive first impression for visitors. By following the recommended size 1584 x 396 pixels and adhering to the best practices for design, you will make your banner a compelling part of one's LinkedIn profile that sticks out to prospective clients, employers, or colleagues.