The Ideal Instagram Profile Picture Size & Best Practices

The ideal Instagram profile picture size blog image

Instagram is an incredibly valuable tool for businesses, brands, and marketers. With over 2 billion active users worldwide, Instagram is the perfect platform to expand your reach and target new audiences.

In order to maximize your success on Instagram, you need to make sure that your Instagram profile is optimized to reflect your brand and encourage engagement. One key component of Instagram optimization is using the correct Instagram profile picture size.

This post will cover the ideal Instagram profile picture size and best practices to follow so that your Instagram profile appears polished and professional to followers and new visitors.

The Best Instagram Profile Picture Size

The correct Instagram profile picture size is 320 x 320 pixels with a 1:1 aspect ratio. A perfect, tiny square.

Instagram profile picture size guide

However, we recommend using dimensions of 1000 x 1000 pixels for a clear, high-quality Instagram profile picture.

How to Make an Instagram Profile Picture

To make things easy, you can use Snappa’s free profile picture maker to create a high-quality profile photo for Instagram with the right size. You can also use Snappa to resize any of your existing profile pictures.

On the homepage, scroll down and click on the “Profile Picture” template size.

Instagram profile picture template size

Then, choose from one of Snappa’s customizable profile picture templates, or create your own profile picture from scratch. You can also upload your own photos and logo images to use.

Profile picture templates from Snappa

With just a few clicks, you can easily add extra design elements like shapes, borders, background patterns and more to make your Instagram profile picture look perfect.

Instagram profile picture designer

Once you’re ready, just save and download your profile picture design from Snappa, and upload it right to Instagram.

What Should My Instagram Profile Picture Be? 

Since Instagram profile pictures appear as a small circle app icon, it’s important that yours looks sharp and recognizable at a glance.

In many cases, it’s best to use a simple brand logo or a personal photo, but there are several profile picture ideas that you can choose from.

Instagram profile picture example from Snappa

Ideally, your Instagram profile picture should represent your brand, who you are, or what you have to offer. It’s important to make your profile pictures consistent across all social media platforms. This will help visitors recognize you easily via your social media branding.

Instagram Profile Picture Best Practices

When creating your Instagram profile picture, you should keep the following best practices in mind:

  • Simple designs work best. Keeping it simple will help your Instagram profile picture appear more professional and recognizable. Utilize white space and avoid using a profile picture with too much clutter. Since the image displays at a small size, a clean logo or selfie is ideal.
    AirBnb Instagram profile
  •  Use color contrast to help the design stand out. Using a simple background with a logo or selfie layered on top will help you increase visibility and engagement. Just remember to use contrasting colors to maximize results.
    OpenAI Instagram profile
  • Keep cropping in mind. Instagram wants you to upload a 320 x 320 square image, but that’s going to be cut down to a tiny circle. A great-looking vertical photo might not fit correctly after being cropped. To plan for this, try using an image cropper when designing your Instagram profile picture.
    Instagram profile picture circle crop

Does My Instagram Profile Picture Really Matter?

Your Instagram profile picture might seem small and insignificant, but it does matter for several key reasons.

It can add immense credibility to your profile. When people visit your Instagram page, you want to appear professional and reputable.

It’s also important for brand recognition. You want people to see your Instagram profile picture and know exactly who you are. Take the McDonald’s logo for instance, everyone knows what it looks like, and it can even spark cravings or evoke memories when viewed.

Additionally, a strong profile picture can help you get more Instagram Story views. A recognizable profile photo with the right Instagram profile picture size can encourage viewers to tap on your Stories when they come across your page.

Conclusion

Your Instagram profile picture holds much more importance than you think. It needs to represent your brand well, be easily recognizable, and stand out to capture user attention. When people look you up on Instagram, your profile picture can determine whether they decide to tap on your page or not.

Along with using the right Instagram profile picture size, you can also optimize your Instagram bio, posts, Stories, and Reels to achieve better results.

Ready to give your Instagram profile picture a remodel? Start your free trial with Snappa today