Your LinkedIn profile banner may be the first visual element that visitors notice when they land in your profile. It’s a large rectangular space that sits behind your profile photo, offering an opportunity to showcase your professional brand, personality, or specific career achievements. A well-designed LinkedIn banner can increase your profile’s overall presentation, causing you to appear more professional and polished.
However, if the banner isn't sized properly, it may appear pixelated, distorted, or take off, building a negative impression. In this article, we’ll explain the perfect linkedin banner size, how to design your header image, and supply tips for optimizing it for a more professional LinkedIn presence.
What is often a LinkedIn Profile Banner?
The LinkedIn profile banner (also called the background photo) may be the large horizontal image located near the top of your profile, just behind your profile picture. Unlike your profile photo, which is often a small circular image that represents you, the banner provides ample space to visually enhance your profile.
While your profile picture portrays your own personal identity, the banner offers more freedom for creativity. This space is usually used to display a business logo, a specialist image, an individual brand, or even a visual in connection with your field of knowledge.
Ideal LinkedIn Banner Size
To keep your banner looks crisp and professional on all devices, it’s essential 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 devices without becoming pixelated or blurry. A wider image provides 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 simply too short, it might appear stretched or cropped.
Aspect Ratio (4:1): This aspect ratio means 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 optimal 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 allows for some flexibility, the banner will likely be cropped differently on desktop and mobile phones. On mobile, the perimeters of the banner are often take off, so it’s essential to keep important elements—such as text, logos, or personal branding—centered inside the middle of the picture to ensure visibility across devices.
2. Use High-Quality Images
To avoid a pixelated or blurry banner, always use high-resolution images. A sharp and crisp image will create a specialist 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 work in design, by way of example, you could showcase a number of your best work. If you’re in marketing, a banner using a compelling slogan or even a call to action could possibly be fitting. For those in corporate roles, an easy but elegant design using your company logo might be ideal.
4. Choose Colors That Complement Your Profile Picture
Since your profile picture will be over the banner, consider the colors of one's profile photo when coming up with 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 any minimalist design with just a few key elements that communicate your professional identity without distraction.
6. Align with Your Brand or Industry
For business people, freelancers, or those involved with creative fields, your LinkedIn banner can be quite a way to market your services or brand. Consider incorporating your logo, slogan, or possibly a tagline. For individuals in corporate or even more traditional fields, a specialist photo related to your industry or expertise may be a wise decision.
What to Avoid inside a LinkedIn Banner
To make the most of one's LinkedIn banner, there are several things you should avoid:
Low-Resolution Images: Avoid using blurry or pixelated images, because they 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 out of your profile picture. Keep text minimal and legible.
Important Information Near the Edges: Since parts with the banner gets cropped on mobile devices, avoid placing important elements (like text or logos) too near the edges. Stick to the center for max visibility.
Irrelevant or Inconsistent Visuals: Make sure the visuals in your banner are tightly related to your professional identity. Avoid images or graphics that don’t align along with 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 present banner (background photo), and then click the camera icon inside the upper-right corner with the banner area.
Select the "Upload Photo" option.
Choose the style you want to upload from a computer (ensure it’s the recommended size).
Adjust the picture if necessary by moving or resizing it.
Click "Apply" to save lots of the changes.
Your LinkedIn profile banner is much more than just an ornamental background—it's an effective tool to assist you showcase your professional brand, highlight your expertise, and develop a polished and impressive first impression for visitors. By following the recommended height and width of 1584 x 396 pixels and adhering to the best practices for design, you can make your banner a compelling part of your LinkedIn profile that stands out to prospects, employers, or colleagues.