Your LinkedIn profile banner may be the first visual element that visitors notice once they land on the profile. It’s a big rectangular space that sits behind your profile photo, offering a chance 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, if your banner is not sized properly, it might appear pixelated, distorted, or cut off, creating a negative impression. In this article, we’ll explain the best banner size for linkedin, how you can design your header image, and still provide tips for optimizing it for a more professional LinkedIn presence.



What is a LinkedIn Profile Banner?
The LinkedIn profile banner (also referred to as the background photo) will be the large horizontal image located on top of your profile, just behind your profile picture. Unlike your profile photo, which can be a small circular image to display you, the banner provides ample space to visually transform your profile.

While your profile picture portrays your personal identity, the banner offers more freedom for creativity. This space is typically used to display a corporate logo, a professional image, your own brand, or a visual related to your field of expert knowledge.

Ideal LinkedIn Banner Size
To ensure your banner looks crisp and professional on all devices, it’s important 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 helps to ensure that your banner image is large enough to produce well on desktop and mobile devices without becoming pixelated or blurry. A wider image enables better resolution, especially on high-definition screens.

Height (396 pixels): The 396-pixel height is optimal for displaying the banner without distortion, while also fitting neatly into LinkedIn’s profile layout. If the image is way too short, it may 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 for the LinkedIn banner, here are some design guidelines to help you create a standout background image:

1. Keep Important Elements Centered
While LinkedIn allows for some flexibility, the banner will probably be cropped differently on desktop and mobile phones. On mobile, the edges of the banner are often cut-off, so it’s vital to keep key elements—such as text, logos, or personal branding—centered inside middle of the image to ensure visibility across devices.

2. Use High-Quality Images
To avoid a pixelated or blurry banner, use high-resolution images. A sharp and crisp image will create a professional 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 the opportunity to highlight your profession, career, or expertise. If you work in design, by way of example, you might showcase some of your best work. If you’re in marketing, a banner with a compelling slogan or even a call to action could possibly be fitting. For those invoved with corporate roles, a fairly easy but elegant design together with your company logo may be ideal.

4. Choose Colors That Complement Your Profile Picture
Since your profile picture will show up over the banner, look at the colors of your profile photo when making your banner. Ensure that the shades don’t clash and that the 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 can be a way to market your services or brand. Consider incorporating your logo, slogan, or even a tagline. For individuals in corporate or higher traditional fields, a professional photo associated with your industry or expertise could possibly be a great option.

What to Avoid in the LinkedIn Banner
To make the most of the LinkedIn banner, there are a number 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 your profile picture. Keep text minimal and legible.

Important Information Near the Edges: Since parts with the banner gets cropped on mobile phones, avoid placing important elements (like text or logos) too near to the edges. Stick to the center for maximum visibility.

Irrelevant or Inconsistent Visuals: Make sure the visuals in your banner are highly relevant 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 your LinkedIn profile page.

Hover over your present banner (background photo), and then click the camera icon inside upper-right corner with the banner area.

Select the "Upload Photo" option.

Choose the picture you want to upload out of 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 strong tool to assist you showcase your professional brand, highlight your expertise, and create a polished and impressive first impression for visitors. By following the recommended sized 1584 x 396 pixels and staying with the best practices for design, you may make your banner a compelling part of your LinkedIn profile that shines to potential clients, employers, or colleagues.