Featured image size: what to use and why
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Make one 1600x900 (16:9) image for the post header and one 1200x630 (1.91:1) image for link previews, and keep the headline well inside the middle so cropping does not cut it. Your theme decides the exact featured image dimensions, so check what it crops to before you rely on a size.
Two images, two jobs
The featured image sits in your theme: in the post header, on archive cards, in related-post lists. The Open Graph image is what Facebook, LinkedIn, Slack, Discord and others show when someone shares the link. They are often the same file, but they do not have to be.
| Image | Size | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Featured (header, cards) | 1600x900 | 16:9 |
| Open Graph (link previews) | 1200x630 | 1.91:1 |
| Square (feeds) | 1080x1080 | 1:1 |
| Story | 1080x1920 | 9:16 |
These are the four sizes ContentImage renders.
What the CMS does to your image
WordPress stores the original and generates smaller copies (thumbnail, medium, large). By default it also scales down images larger than 2560 pixels (the big_image_size_threshold filter). Which copy your theme shows, and how it crops, is theme-specific. Ghost and most site builders behave similarly. Upload at least the largest size your theme displays.
Keep text safe
- Leave a margin of about 7% on every side. Cards crop differently.
- Keep the headline in the middle two thirds.
- Check the image at card size: if you cannot read it at 300 pixels wide, it is too small or too long.
Look up exact numbers per platform in the image size guide, and check your link previews with the OG checker.
ContentImage is free during the beta. No card needed.
Get started freeFAQ
- Can one image serve as both featured and OG?
- Yes, if the headline stays centred and safe from cropping. 1600x900 is cropped to roughly 1.91:1 by most previews, so keep the text away from the top and bottom edges.