When designing your pic be sure to account for Instagram doing its own circle crop on your design (as seen above).
There’s no argument to be made against a brand taking advantage of the behemoth-sized opportunity that is creating stories, posts, and other social assets for Instagram. In fact, 71% of businesses already do so, and 51% of Instagrammers follow at least one business. If that business isn’t you, then it’s someone else. Maybe even a competitor?
You can build your Instagram account into a precious gem for followers to “ooh” and “ahh” over. It all starts with the perfect Instagram profile picture size and a well-designed profile. To help with this, we’ll show you how to create stunning profile pictures in PicMonkey, how to resize images so that they fit just right on Instagram, and leave you with a few design tips for making eye-catching Insta designs.
The correct Instagram profile picture size
The display size for your Instagram profile pic is 110 x 110 pixels. However, we recommend uploading your design at a higher resolution in order to maintain image quality. (PicMonkey's Instagram profile templates come pre-sized at 360 x 360 pixels.)
Remember that your Insta profile pic will show up in more places than just your profile page; your story feed, comments, and search results, just to name a few. For that reason, having the wrong IG profile pic size can impact your social media presence drastically.
Size your photo correctly to prevent it from looking funky wherever it appears. While it's true there's only one Instagram profile pic size, knowing the other Instagram photo dimensions can help clarify your design concept. These specs can help.
More Instagram image sizes for 2022
| Social media image type | Dimensions in pixels |
|---|---|
| Instagram Post | 1080 x 1080 (1:1 ratio) |
| Instagram Profile Photo | 110 x 110 (1:1 ratio) |
| Instagram Landscape Photo | 1080 x 608 (1.91:1 ratio) |
| Instagram Portrait | 1080 x 1350 (4:5 ratio) |
| Instagram Story | 1080 x 1920 (9:16 ratio) |
| IGTV Cover Photo | 420 x 654 (1:1.55 ratio) |
Crave more deets about each? We got you.
Instagram post
Instagram posts are the most common function of the platform. Post daily happenings, announcements, events, musings, or anything else you want your followers to see on your feed that represents who you are and what you offer.
Instagram profile photo
The reason we're all here, folks. Instagram profile pics can sport your pretty face, a business logo for professional pages, or whatever you want followers to see first. While faces are more popular, it can be strategic to use IG profile pics for brand development too. Whatever you choose, go for bright colors, smiles, the outdoors, or whatever will captivate your audience.
Instagram landscape photo
Instagram landscape photos are similar to regular Instagram posts, just with a different shape. The most popular Instagram posts are squares, but they can also be landscape, vertical, or portrait.
Instagram portrait
Instagram portrait photos are another way to adjust the orientation of an Instagram post to maximize viewer engagement. You can easily shift the Instagram specs you seek using PicMonkey's Resize tool.
Instagram Story
Instagram Stories last a mere 24 hours — so they're not as long-standing as Instagram profile pics. They exist to drive people to your feed. You can post stickers, graphics, images, text, music, and links to engage followers any minute of any day.
IGTV Cover Photo
Lastly, the IGTV cover photo exists to capture your video content in one pic. Consider it another way to organize your content so viewers are compelled to click on your videos. You can also bridge colors from your IG profile pic with your IGTV cover photos to build consistency.
Now that you know the differences between Instagram's posting options, you can make a stellar Instagram profile pic that resonates with the rest of your content.
And if you need more social sizes, see: Crop an Image to All the Social Sizes
Create an Instagram profile picture with a pre-sized blank canvas
Start with a blank canvas in PicMonkey.
If you want to design from scratch, the easiest way to do so is with one of PicMonkey's pre-sized blank canvases. Worry no more about creating the right Instagram profile pic size — it's been done for you!
Once you're logged into PicMonkey, click Create new > Blank Canvas.
Scroll down to Insta sizes, and select "Instagram Profile."
Upload your image or logo.
If you'd like to apply a background color first, click Background color on the left tools menu. Choose from solid colors or our super cool color gradients.
Export your finished design and upload to Instagram!
Two ways to size photos for Instagram
If you have an image ready but need to size it just right for Instagram, PicMonkey has two speedy ways to do so: Crop and Resize.
Using the Crop tool:
When you crop an image, you change its aspect ratio. This is the right tool to use if your image can stand to lose a bit on either side without cutting off the focal point (in this case —YOU). To use crop:
Open your image in PicMonkey.
Click Crop Canvas in the Edits menu on the left.
Use the Aspect ratio drop-down menu to select "Instagram Profile."
Move your crop box around as desired.
Click Apply to save your changes. Looks good!
Using Resize:
If your image already has the right aspect ratio but its file size is either too small or too large, use PicMonkey's Resize tool. Be careful, though — making an image larger runs the risk of flubbing the image quality (take note of step #3 in order to prevent this). To use Resize:
Open your image in PicMonkey.
Click Resize in the Edits menu on the left.
Make sure Keep proportions (chain icon) is clicked; the chain will appear closed. This automatically updates the height or width of your photo so that your image quality isn't distorted.
Click Apply to save your changes.
Learn more: How to Resize an Image Like a Pro
Master Instagram profile pic sizes with a PicMonkey template
See all circular profile image templates in PicMonkey.
Starting from scratch is a great way to channel your own creativity and still design with speed, but if you reallllly want to get the jumpstart on your Instagram profile pic and never have to worry about botched sizing, try one of our Instagram profile templates. We have pre-sized square options, or pre-sized circular profile images (not to mention, you can pretty much commandeer any template and resize it for Insta with our wondrous Smart Resize tool). To edit a template:
Open your template in PicMonkey.
Swap out our image with your own (if using a circular image, click Edit image fill to replace the image with your pic).
Customize further with trendy photo effects, graphics, and textures.
Export and upload to Instagram!
Read more: Create Your Best Profile Pic
FAQs and tips about Instagram designs
Our best advice? Speak to your audience. This starts with an eye-catching profile that lives up to your brand. Also keep in mind that, more often than not, your audience will be visiting your profile via mobile devices. Take a second and do some mobile Instagram scrolling of your own...it’s a small space, right? Let’s tackle a few design questions you might have.
Q: What should I use for my profile picture?
A: What’s your brand? If your brand is Y-O-U, then you should use a photo. If you’re building a corporate Instagram presence, then a logo is the better call.
To learn how to clarify your brand for social media marketing, read our tutorial: Brand Building 101: Your Guide to Branding Your Business for Success.
Q: Should I account for the circular profile shape when designing?
A: Yes! Place the focus of your image in the center, that way when the cropping comes, it’s no big deal. The circular shape is just going to cut around your edges, so account for this when you’re designing and you won’t have to run into trouble later. Or...simply grab one of those circular profile image templates!
Q: Will my picture only appear on my profile page?
A: Negative. That’s why the best thing you can do for yourself with a profile picture is to keep it simple. You want an image that'll still look good when it's smaller.
Q: I’m torn on my color scheme. What should I do?
A: We can help with that. Above all else, stay on brand. Use colors that match your brand’s palette and speak to who you are. Check out our posts on color theory and creating brand color palettes (or secondary brand color palettes).
Q: Can I have more advice on building my Instagram account?
A: Absolutely! Check out these posts to get started:
Congrats, pro! You've mastered the art of Instagram profile picture dimensions (and then some). New content for your next Insta post, perhaps?
