Best Facebook Profile Picture Size and Ideas to Win Likes

Want to optimize your Facebook profile picture to get more likes, follows, and friends?

Start with the right size, and follow through with great ideas!

As you know, you only get one chance to make a first impression, so make it count. As Inc.com says, “People decide whether to work with you within two seconds of meeting you.”

Take control when portraying yourself online! Use these tips to put your best face forward with your Facebook profile picture.

Why Replace your Facebook Profile Picture?

Have you noticed? Posting a new profile pic is a sure-fire way to beat the Facebook news feed algorithm!

Whether you upload a new pic, or just pick one from your own or a friend’s existing gallery, you can’t seem to beat the engagement you’ll get.

So change it up with the seasons, holidays, special events and celebrations, or any other excuse you can come up with to create a new avatar. Then enjoy the Likes, comments, and follows that… follow!

Here’s a pic of me that popped up as a FB memory from 9 years ago. So why not, I looked much younger then 😉

You can easily use a friend’s photo as your profile pic, as long as they’ve tagged you.

What’s the Facebook Profile Picture Size?

Your Facebook Page profile picture displays at 176×176 pixels on your Page on computers, 196×196 pixels on smartphones, and 36×36 pixels on most feature phones. Upsized for 2023 and New Page Experience!

Facebook recommends a minimum size of 320 pixels wide and 320 pixels tall for personal profiles. But I recommend you upload a larger image: minimum 1200 pixels wide and tall, up to 2400 pixels wide and tall.

Here’s why.

If someone visits your Page, or sees your image update in the newsfeed, they’ll see your profile picture much larger! The actual size will depend on the resolution of their device. On an iPhone Plus, I measure 1120 pixels tall and wide.

My Page avatar looks blurry here because I uploaded a small one.

Your Timeline displays the full width of the picture you uploaded, but cropped to a circle. On your Page or profile timeline, it doesn’t reflect any cropping you applied when uploading.

 

If a viewer clicks your profile pic, they’ll see the full version you uploaded in the Facebook profile picture viewer, This can display at up to 2400 pixels x 2400 pixels on desktop, or to the full width of a mobile device.

A dinky 320 pixel photo will be tough for your Facebook friends and followers to see, much less like and comment on!

For profile pictures with your logo or text on them, you may get a better result by using a PNG file. Learn more about image file types.

There’s no specified maximum file size for either profiles or Pages.

How Do I Make my Facebook Profile Picture Fit in a Circle?

The Facebook profile picture usually displays cropped to a circle. You can simply use Facebook’s circular crop tool when you update your profile picture.

Just move the slider to crop out background and show your face.

Facebook Profile Picture Circle Template

You can use this handy template to visualize your image cropped to a circle before uploading.

If you’re using a logo for a Facebook Page profile picture, you’ll want to size that before uploading, so it fits in a circle without anything important getting chopped off.

Add more background as necessary with an app like Photoshop, since you won’t be able to add background after you upload to FB.

This profile picture template is 600 pixels square, but you can make larger in your editing program. Simply add it as a layer in your app and set it to 50% opacity so you can visualize the circular crop.

Right-click to save on desktop!

What is the Facebook Profile Picture Ratio?

The recommended aspect ratio for a Facebook profile picture is 1:1, which is a square. You can upload any shape image and adjust the cropping on Facebook.

However, the image will be seen in its entirety in the photo viewer when clicked. If there are elements you don’t want to be seen, crop your image to a square before uploading. You can use any image editing tool to make your photo square, even the iOS Photos app.

If you want your image to be circular before uploading, you’ll need to create a circular mask in a tool like Photoshop.

No need to though. Facebook will apply the circular crop as needed.

Note that personal profile pictures still display as square under Friends, and business Page profile pictures display as square under Following suggestions.

How to Add or Change a Facebook Profile Picture [personal]

To add a Facebook profile picture or change your current profile picture:

• Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook to go to your profile.
• Click  in the bottom right of your profile picture.
• Choose a photo or add a frame.
• Click  to crop your photo and then click Save.

When updating your profile picture, you can:

• Upload a photo from your computer or phone.
• Add a frame to an existing or new picture.
• Select a photo you’ve already uploaded or one you’re tagged in.

Be sure to add an engaging caption, because people love to comment on profile pictures!

Note: Your current profile picture is public by default. If you want to hide your full size personal profile image from FB users who are not your friends, use the new Facebook profile picture lock.

If you chose to sync your DP with Instagram, you’ll get this confirmation notice.

How to Add or Change a Facebook Page Profile Picture

To add or change your Page’s profile picture in Classic Pages:

• From your News Feed, click Pages in the left menu.
• Go to your Page.
• Click  in the bottom right of your Page’s profile picture and select Edit Profile Picture.
• Select an option and follow the on-screen instructions.

source

If you have the New Pages Experience, you’ll need to switch into your Page to change your Page profile pic. You can no longer change your DP from a personal profile, even if you’re the Facebook Page Owner.

FB Page images are public and can’t be locked.

5 Steps to the Best Facebook Page Profile Picture

Now that you’ve got the size stuff nailed, let’s get into some top tips for a perfect profile pic!

1. Show Your Face as Your Profile Picture

Put a personal face on your business – unless you’re a known brand, or your business is widely recognized by your logo, use your face as your Profile Photo.

People don’t “connect” with a logo – they connect with a face.

Except for well-known brands, people tend to ignore logos – but are hard-wired to pay attention to faces.

2. Use a Professional Photo

For best results, hire a pro to take some great headshots. If that’s not in the budget, get a friend with a good camera, a good eye, and a steady hand.

If you want people to take you seriously as a businessperson – DO NOT put up a casual snapshot or webcam photo. Make sure your photo is crisp and clear, and you look professional.

3. Show Some Personality in Your Profile Picture

While you DO want to look businesslike, you DON’T want to look staid and unapproachable. Remember that people do business with people they know, like, and trust.

The first step to being likeable is to smile. Make eye contact! And then show your personality in your pose!
Photo credit: PhotoByBarbara.com

4. Keep It Close

A profile picture mistake I often see is showing too much of the body, which makes the face quite small.

Remember that Facebook profile pictures will be seen at a miniscule 32×32 pixels square with every comment you make. Crop to head and a bit of shoulders.

It’s not about your hair and clothing, it’s about your face – that’s what will draw people in, and help them recognize you as they see you time and again!

5. Use Your Profile Picture Across Social Media Platforms

Now that you’ve got the best profile picture for Facebook, use it as your Instagram profile picture, on Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and YouTube, and any other social media platform where you have a presence.

Your photo represents your personal brand, and as with any brand, consistency is key!

Help people come to recognize you and “see you everywhere” by using the same great photo on all platforms, and keeping it until it becomes outdated.

The Best Facebook Profile Pic!

Now you know all about the Facebook profile picture size – for personal profiles and Pages.

You know how to take the right photo, pre-size, and crop it so it looks perfect.

Be sure to change it often to keep your peeps engaged!

Want more?

Check out ALL the optimal Facebook image dimensions here!