You upload a cover photo to your Facebook profile or page. It looks great on your laptop. Then someone views your profile on their phone and the sides are cut off, your text is cropped, or your logo is half-hidden.
This is the Facebook cover photo problem — and it affects almost everyone who hasn't specifically designed for both screen sizes.
Why Facebook Cover Photos Look Different on Mobile
Facebook displays cover photos at different dimensions depending on the device:
- Desktop: 820 × 312 px (wide, short)
- Mobile: 640 × 360 px (narrower, taller)
The same image gets cropped differently on each. On desktop, Facebook shows the full width but crops the top and bottom. On mobile, Facebook shows more height but crops the sides.
This means if you design for desktop, your mobile viewers see a cropped version — and vice versa.
The Cover Photo Size That Works on Both
The solution is to design at a size that accommodates both crops. The recommended approach:
Upload at 820 × 462 px (or proportionally larger, like 1640 × 924 px for higher resolution).
This gives Facebook enough image to display correctly on both desktop (which shows the center 820 × 312 px) and mobile (which shows the center 640 × 360 px).
| Device | Displayed area |
|---|---|
| Desktop | 820 × 312 px (center crop) |
| Mobile | 640 × 360 px (center crop) |
| Recommended upload | 820 × 462 px minimum |
The Safe Zone: Where to Put Important Content
Since Facebook crops differently on each device, you need a safe zone — an area that's visible on both desktop and mobile.
The safe zone for Facebook cover photos is roughly the center 560 × 210 px of your image. Anything outside this area risks being cropped on at least one device.
Practical guidelines:
- Keep all text and logos in the center horizontal third of the image
- Avoid placing anything important in the top or bottom 75 px
- Avoid placing anything important in the left or right 130 px
- The profile photo overlaps the bottom-left corner on desktop — leave that area clear
Facebook Page Cover Photo vs. Personal Profile Cover Photo
The dimensions are the same, but there's one key difference:
Personal profiles: The profile photo sits in the bottom-left corner, overlapping the cover photo. Leave the bottom-left area of your cover clear.
Facebook Pages: The profile photo (page icon) also sits in the bottom-left, but slightly differently positioned. The same rule applies — keep important content away from the bottom-left.
Facebook Groups: Group cover photos display at 1640 × 856 px on desktop and are cropped on mobile. The same safe zone principles apply.
File Specs for Facebook Cover Photos
- Recommended dimensions: 820 × 462 px (or 1640 × 924 px for retina displays)
- Minimum dimensions: 400 × 150 px (but this will look poor on modern screens)
- Max file size: No strict limit, but keep under 8 MB for fast loading
- Best format: JPG for photos, PNG for graphics with text or logos
- Color space: sRGB
How to Design a Cover Photo That Works Everywhere
Step 1: Start With the Right Canvas
Create a canvas at 1640 × 924 px (2x for retina sharpness). This gives you room to work and will look crisp on high-resolution screens.
Step 2: Mark Your Safe Zone
Draw a guide box in the center of your canvas at approximately 1120 × 420 px. Keep all important content inside this box.
Step 3: Use a Background That Handles Cropping Gracefully
Choose a background — a gradient, a pattern, a blurred photo — that looks good even when cropped. Avoid designs where the edges are critical to the composition.
Step 4: Test Both Views
After uploading, check your profile on both a desktop browser and a mobile phone. Facebook's cover photo editor shows a preview, but it's not always accurate for mobile.
Step 5: Adjust If Needed
If something is getting cropped, use Facebook's repositioning tool (click "Reposition" after uploading) to shift the image. This is a quick fix but not a substitute for designing with the right dimensions.
Common Facebook Cover Photo Mistakes
Designing at exactly 820 × 312 px: This is the desktop display size, not the upload size. Uploading at this size means mobile viewers see a heavily cropped version.
Putting your business name at the very top or bottom: These areas get cropped on mobile. Center your text vertically.
Using a very busy background: Busy backgrounds make text hard to read and look cluttered when cropped. Simple, clean backgrounds work better across devices.
Not accounting for the profile photo overlap: The profile photo covers the bottom-left corner. If your cover photo has important content there, it'll be hidden.
Resize Your Cover Photo for Facebook
If your current cover photo isn't the right size, you can fix it quickly.
Upload your image, set the output to 820 × 462 px (or 1640 × 924 px for higher resolution), and download a cover-ready file.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct Facebook cover photo size in 2026? Upload at 820 × 462 px minimum, or 1640 × 924 px for retina quality. This accommodates both desktop (820 × 312 px display) and mobile (640 × 360 px display) crops.
Why is my Facebook cover photo cut off on mobile? Facebook crops cover photos differently on mobile vs. desktop. If you designed for desktop dimensions (820 × 312 px), the mobile view will crop the sides. Design at 820 × 462 px and keep important content in the center safe zone.
What file format should I use for a Facebook cover photo? JPG for photos and gradient backgrounds. PNG for designs with text, logos, or sharp edges. Both are accepted by Facebook.
Can I use a video as a Facebook cover photo? Yes, Facebook Pages support video cover photos. The recommended video size is 820 × 462 px, 20–90 seconds long, with no audio (or audio that works muted, since most users won't unmute).
How do I reposition my Facebook cover photo after uploading? Click on your cover photo, then click "Reposition." You can drag the image to adjust what's visible. This is useful for quick fixes, but designing at the correct dimensions from the start is more reliable.
