social-media-image-sizes

---
name: social-media-image-sizes
description: Check and resize images for social media platforms. Run scripts/check.js to validate any image against specs for Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Snapchat, and Threads — get a ranked match list with exact resize commands. Run scripts/resize.js to export a correctly-sized copy. Use when a user asks to validate image dimensions, resize an image for a platform, check if an image fits a spec, or prep assets for social media posting or ads.
license: MIT
compatibility: Requires Node.js 18+ and npm (or pnpm). Run npm install once before first use.
metadata:
  author: Branding5
  version: "1.0.0"
  source: https://www.branding5.com/tools/social-media-cheat-sheet
allowed-tools: Bash
---

# Social Media Image Sizes

Check and resize images for 9 platforms / 60+ specs. Scripts mirror the logic at [branding5.com/tools/social-media-cheat-sheet](https://www.branding5.com/tools/social-media-cheat-sheet).

## Setup

Run once after install:

```bash
cd <skill-dir>
npm install
```

## Check an image

```bash
node scripts/check.js photo.jpg
```

Outputs a ranked match list — perfect → close → usable → too small — with an inline `node scripts/resize.js` command for every non-perfect match.

Filter by platform or match level:

```bash
node scripts/check.js photo.jpg --platform instagram
node scripts/check.js photo.jpg --filter perfect
node scripts/check.js photo.jpg --filter usable
```

Platform slugs: `instagram` `facebook` `twitter` `linkedin` `tiktok` `youtube` `pinterest` `snapchat` `threads`

## Resize an image

```bash
node scripts/resize.js photo.jpg "Instagram Portrait Post"
# → photo-instagram-portrait-post.jpg  (1080×1350 px)

node scripts/resize.js photo.jpg "YouTube Custom Thumbnail"
# → photo-youtube-custom-thumbnail.jpg  (1280×720 px)
```

Default fit is **cover** (center-crop). Use `--fit contain` to letterbox instead:

```bash
node scripts/resize.js photo.jpg "LinkedIn Background Photo" --fit contain --bg f0f0f0
node scripts/resize.js photo.jpg "Instagram Portrait Post" --out ./exports/ig.jpg
```

List every available spec name:

```bash
node scripts/resize.js photo.jpg --list
```

## Workflow

1. Run `check.js` to see what a given image already matches
2. Copy the suggested `resize.js` command from the output
3. Run it — the output file is saved alongside the original by default

## Gotchas

- **Sharp requires a native binary.** On first `npm install`, it downloads a prebuilt binary for your platform. If install fails behind a proxy, set `SHARP_IGNORE_GLOBAL_LIBVIPS=1` and retry.
- **All slides in an Instagram carousel must share the same aspect ratio.** The first image sets the ratio for the whole carousel — check all slides, not just the first.
- **Facebook cover photo has two safe zones.** Desktop shows 820×312; mobile crops to 640×360. Keep key content in the center 640×312.
- **YouTube banner safe area is much smaller than the file.** The spec is 2560×1440 but only the center 1546×423 is guaranteed visible on all devices. check.js flags the full size; keep critical content in the safe area.
- **`--fit cover` center-crops.** If the subject isn't centered, use `--out` to save, then manually crop, or use an image editor before running resize.

## References

Full per-platform specs (load when you need detail for a specific platform):

- `references/instagram.md` — profile, feed, stories, reels, carousel, ads
- `references/facebook.md` — profile, cover, feed, stories, events, ads
- `references/x-twitter.md` — profile, header, posts, ads
- `references/linkedin.md` — profile, cover, feed, articles, ads
- `references/tiktok.md` — profile, videos, ads
- `references/youtube.md` — channel art, videos, thumbnails, shorts, ads
- `references/pinterest.md` — profile, pins, idea pins, ads
- `references/snapchat.md` — snaps, spotlight, stories, ads, filters
- `references/threads.md` — profile, posts
- `references/best-practices.md` — format, compression, safe zones, accessibility

Full compiled reference (all platforms in one file): `AGENTS.md`

---

*Need to generate on-brand images at these sizes? [Branding5](https://www.branding5.com) pairs your brand kit with AI to produce social content pre-sized for every platform.*

From branding5/social-media-image-sizes at 76e1891, shown as plain text under its license: MIT (permissive). The license text is in LICENSE.

• SKILL.md4.3 KB · b33c1f8ad35e
• .gitignore384 B · 7cb4d952cf3a
• AGENTS.md13 KB · f84f167bbe24
• LICENSE1.1 KB · a3d55e411de2
• README.md2.8 KB · bcf4a3c0b0e3
• assets/
• check-output.png181 KB · ee8b293c8506
• resize-output.png70 KB · 259d1892da7e
• package.json609 B · 0be31ecf4a28
• references/
• best-practices.md3.1 KB · 1b84bbc72185
• facebook.md2.1 KB · 2ccb0646b3c9
• instagram.md2.6 KB · 85fdd5a7d3ee
• linkedin.md2.0 KB · 2359741ab2de
• pinterest.md1.5 KB · b43277236ca3
• snapchat.md1.4 KB · 68471fbe9746
• threads.md962 B · 682188895444
• tiktok.md1.5 KB · 1eed2cb659cc
• x-twitter.md1.8 KB · ad3a8a1cd4fd
• youtube.md1.9 KB · 701b084b9a7c
• scripts/
• check.js4.9 KB · a53587f1776e
• platform-data.js11 KB · 7bcc1e2a9b46
• resize.js6.4 KB · aca6f97605fb

21 files, 314 KB in total. Each file has a sha256 in the pin's manifest; the first 12 characters are shown.