“The working dimensions for social posts, stories and short-form video, plus a safer export workflow that avoids unwanted cropping.
One design never fits every placement
A property launch can appear as an Instagram carousel, a Reel, a WhatsApp status and a LinkedIn image on the same day. Exporting one artwork to every channel often cuts off a price, crops the building or hides a call to action behind the interface. Start with a master layout, but create approved variants for each shape. Treat the dimensions below as useful production canvases, not a promise that every app, ad placement or third-party scheduler accepts the same crop.
The 2026 canvas cheat sheet
Instagram feed square: 1080 × 1080 px (1:1). Instagram feed portrait: 1080 × 1350 px (4:5), a dependable choice for mixed publishing workflows; Instagram also supports taller 3:4 photos in supported flows. Instagram Stories and Reels: design at 1080 × 1920 px (9:16). TikTok vertical video: 1080 × 1920 px (9:16). YouTube thumbnail: 1280 × 720 px (16:9). Pinterest standard Pin: 1000 × 1500 px (2:3). LinkedIn feed: 1200 × 1200 px for square or 1200 × 627 px for wide creative. Verify ad-specific and account-specific formats before export.
Design a safety zone, not merely a frame
A full-screen 9:16 canvas is not fully usable space. Captions, reaction buttons, profile details and device cut-outs can cover its edges. Keep names, prices, logos and essential claims in a conservative central area, then preview in the real platform. For carousels, use one aspect ratio across every slide and inspect the cover in the profile grid as well as in feed. For Arabic campaigns, check that right-to-left text does not collide with interface buttons on the right.
Prepare a repeatable export preset
Keep the editable source with linked assets and a documented naming convention, such as project-platform-format-language-version. Export still artwork as sRGB JPG or PNG unless a destination specifies otherwise; use PNG for flat graphics where edge quality matters and JPG for photographic assets when a smaller file is useful. Video is commonly delivered as H.264 MP4, with legible burned-in captions when appropriate. Test one real upload before producing an entire campaign.
Quality control before scheduling
Preview the creative on a small phone, a large phone and desktop where relevant. Check the first and last frames, text contrast, video subtitles, crop behavior, file weight and whether the destination URL leads to the intended listing. Create a simple approval matrix for each variant: platform, aspect ratio, dimensions, language, owner and final URL. A checklist is cheaper than discovering a missing project name after the campaign starts.
What to measure after publication
Do not equate image dimensions with performance. Track saves, qualified profile visits, landing-page engagement and actual enquiries, separating organic posts from paid placements. If creative is being cropped, fix that technical issue first; if people see the complete post but never act, test the offer, message and destination before redesigning the artwork. Review platform guidance periodically because placement rules change.
References and further reading
Platform specifications, policies and production requirements can change. Verify the current requirements before publishing or printing.