Your LinkedIn profile banner is the first visual element that visitors notice whenever they land in your profile. It’s a big 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 transform your profile’s overall presentation, causing you to be appear more professional and polished.

However, if the banner is just not sized properly, it could appear pixelated, distorted, or cut off, creating a negative impression. In this article, we’ll explain the optimal what size is a linkedin banner, the way to design your header image, and offer tips for optimizing it for the more professional LinkedIn presence.

What is often a LinkedIn Profile Banner?

The LinkedIn profile banner (often known as the background photo) may be the large horizontal image located on top of your profile, just behind your profile picture. Unlike your profile photo, which can be a small circular image to display you, the banner provides ample space to visually increase your profile.

While your profile picture portrays your individual identity, the banner offers more freedom for creativity. This space is usually used to display a company logo, an expert image, a personal brand, or a visual related to your field of expertise.

Ideal LinkedIn Banner Size

To be sure that your banner looks crisp and professional on all devices, it’s important 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 makes sure that your banner image is large enough to show well on desktop and mobile phones without becoming pixelated or blurry. A wider image allows for better resolution, especially on high-definition screens.

Height (396 pixels): The 396-pixel height is optimal for displaying the banner without distortion, while fitting neatly into LinkedIn’s profile layout. If the image is simply too short, it may well appear stretched or cropped.

Aspect Ratio (4:1): This aspect ratio ensures 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 best size on your LinkedIn banner, here are a few design tips to help you create a standout background image:

1. Keep Important Elements Centered

While LinkedIn enables some flexibility, the banner will probably be cropped differently on desktop and mobile phones. On mobile, the perimeters of the banner are often cut-off, so it’s necessary to keep important elements—such as text, logos, or personal branding—centered within the middle of the picture to ensure visibility across devices.

2. Use High-Quality Images

To avoid a pixelated or blurry banner, 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 a way to highlight your profession, career, or expertise. If you work in design, as an example, you could possibly showcase a number of your best work. If you’re in marketing, a banner which has a compelling slogan or even a call to action might be fitting. For those who work in corporate roles, a fairly easy but elegant design along with your company logo might be ideal.

4. Choose Colors That Complement Your Profile Picture

Since your profile picture will appear over the banner, take into account the colors of the profile photo when designing your banner. Ensure that the colours don’t clash and your photo is clearly visible. Choose colors that align with your individual 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 a minimalist design with just a couple of key elements that communicate your professional identity without distraction.

6. Align with Your Brand or Industry

For business owners, freelancers, or those invoved with creative fields, your LinkedIn banner is usually a way to advertise your services or brand. Consider incorporating your logo, slogan, or a tagline. For individuals in corporate or maybe more traditional fields, an expert photo associated with your industry or expertise might be a great choice.

What to Avoid in 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, as they are able 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 from your profile picture. Keep text minimal and legible.

Important Information Near the Edges: Since parts from the banner could get cropped on cellular devices, avoid placing important elements (like text or logos) too close to the edges. Stick to the center for max visibility.

Irrelevant or Inconsistent Visuals: Make sure the visuals within your banner are highly relevant to your professional identity. Avoid images or graphics that don’t align using your career or expertise.

How to Upload and Change Your LinkedIn Banner

To upload or change your LinkedIn profile banner:

Go for a LinkedIn profile page.

Hover over your overall banner (background photo), and click the camera icon within the upper-right corner with the banner area.

Select the «Upload Photo» option.

Choose the style you want to upload from your computer (ensure it’s the recommended size).

Adjust the picture if necessary by moving or resizing it.

Click «Apply» to save the changes.

Your LinkedIn profile banner is a bit more than just a decorative background—it’s a powerful tool that may help you showcase your professional brand, highlight your expertise, and create a polished and impressive first impression for visitors. By following the recommended sized 1584 x 396 pixels and adhering to the best practices for design, you could make your banner a compelling part of your LinkedIn profile that shines to clients, employers, or colleagues.