WhatsApp Image Sizes — Status, Profile & Business Catalog Dimensions
WhatsApp compresses chat images aggressively to keep messages fast on slow networks. The right dimensions — and knowing when to send as a “document” instead of a photo — make the difference between a crisp Status post and a soft, blocky chat thumbnail.
All WhatsApp Dimensions
Status & Chat
- 1080 x 1920 — Status / Story (9:16, image or up to 30-second video)
- ≤ 16MB — Chat image (WhatsApp auto-compresses)
- Send as a “document” to preserve original quality
Business
- 1024 x 1024 — Business catalog image (1:1)
Profile & Groups
- 500 x 500 — Profile photo (1:1, displays ~192x192)
- 500 x 500 — Group icon (1:1, cropped to a circle)
WhatsApp Image Specs Comparison
| Format | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Max File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status / Story | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 | 16MB |
| Chat image (photo) | Original (compressed) | Any | 16MB |
| Business catalog | 1024 x 1024 | 1:1 | 5MB |
| Profile photo | 500 x 500 | 1:1 | 5MB |
| Group icon | 500 x 500 | 1:1 | 5MB |
WhatsApp Image Optimization Tips
- Send as a document for full quality: WhatsApp re-compresses any image sent as a photo. Attaching the same file as a “document” bypasses the compression and arrives at the original resolution and color depth.
- Design Status posts for 9:16: Status images render full-bleed at 1080x1920. Anything wider gets letterboxed with solid bars and looks low-effort compared to native 9:16 content.
- Upload profile photos large, then let WhatsApp downscale: the displayed size is ~192x192, but uploading 500x500 keeps the image sharp on high-DPI screens and on iPad / desktop clients.
- Keep group icons centered: the 500x500 group icon is cropped to a circle in chat lists, so keep the logo or photo focal point in the middle with at least 10% padding on every side.
- Use 1:1 for business catalog photos: WhatsApp Business shows catalog items in a 1:1 grid. A 1024x1024 image gives Meta room to render the photo cleanly on both phones and the WhatsApp Business web app.
- Compress before sending if you’re close to the 16MB cap: images over 16MB fail to send entirely rather than degrading gracefully. Strip unused metadata and re-export before sharing.
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Social Media Image Size Cheat Sheet (2024)
| Platform | Type | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| Post (Square) | 1080 x 1080 | |
| Post (Portrait) | 1080 x 1350 | |
| Post (Landscape) | 1080 x 566 | |
| Story / Reel | 1080 x 1920 | |
| Profile Photo | 320 x 320 | |
| TikTok | Video Cover | 1080 x 1920 |
| Profile Photo | 200 x 200 | |
| YouTube | Thumbnail | 1280 x 720 |
| Channel Banner | 2560 x 1440 | |
| Profile Photo | 800 x 800 | |
| Post (Landscape) | 1200 x 630 | |
| Post (Square) | 1200 x 1200 | |
| Cover Photo | 820 x 312 | |
| Profile Photo | 170 x 170 | |
| Event Cover | 1200 x 628 | |
| X (Twitter) | Profile Photo | 400 x 400 |
| Header Photo | 1500 x 500 | |
| In-Stream Photo | 1600 x 900 | |
| Card Image | 1200 x 628 | |
| Post Image | 1200 x 627 | |
| Cover Photo | 1584 x 396 | |
| Profile Photo | 400 x 400 | |
| Company Logo | 300 x 300 | |
| Standard Pin | 1000 x 1500 | |
| Idea Pin | 1080 x 1920 | |
| Board Cover | 600 x 600 | |
| Profile Photo | 165 x 165 | |
| Twitch | Profile Banner | 1200 x 480 |
| Offline / Video Player Banner | 1920 x 1080 | |
| Profile Photo | 256 x 256 | |
| Info Panel | 320 x 100 | |
| Emote (Large) | 112 x 112 | |
| Emote (Medium) | 56 x 56 | |
| Emote (Small) | 28 x 28 | |
| Snapchat | Snap | 1080 x 1920 |
| Geofilter | 1080 x 2340 | |
| Profile Photo | 320 x 320 | |
| Story Ad | 1080 x 1920 | |
| Threads | Profile Photo | 320 x 320 |
| Feed Image | 1080 x 1350 | |
| Feed Square | 1080 x 1080 | |
| Link Preview | 1200 x 628 | |
| Discord | Server Icon | 512 x 512 |
| Profile Avatar | 128 x 128 | |
| Server Banner | 960 x 540 | |
| Invite Splash | 1920 x 1080 | |
| Custom Emoji | 128 x 128 | |
| Sticker | 320 x 320 | |
| Role Icon | 64 x 64 | |
| Post Image | 1200 x 675 | |
| Community Banner | 1920 x 384 | |
| Avatar / Community Icon | 256 x 256 | |
| Old Reddit Thumbnail | 70 x 70 | |
| Status (Story) | 1080 x 1920 | |
| Business Catalog | 1024 x 1024 | |
| Profile Photo | 500 x 500 | |
| Group Icon | 500 x 500 | |
| Telegram | Channel Post Photo | 1280 x 1280 |
| Story | 1080 x 1920 | |
| Sticker | 512 x 512 | |
| Profile Picture | 512 x 512 | |
| Channel / Group Icon | 512 x 512 | |
| Spotify | Canvas (Looping Video) | 1080 x 1920 |
| Cover Art | 3000 x 3000 | |
| Show / Podcast Artwork | 3000 x 3000 | |
| Profile Image (Artist) | 750 x 750 | |
| Playlist Cover | 640 x 640 | |
| Substack | Newsletter Header | 1456 x 816 |
| Post / Section Hero | 1456 x 816 | |
| Publication Logo | 256 x 256 | |
| Profile Photo | 256 x 256 | |
| Medium | Story Cover | 1500 x 750 |
| Topic / Tag Header | 1500 x 750 | |
| Publication Logo (Horizontal) | 600 x 60 | |
| Publication Logo (Square) | 500 x 500 | |
| Profile Photo | 500 x 500 | |
| Bluesky | Profile Avatar | 1000 x 1000 |
| Profile Banner | 3000 x 1000 | |
| Post Image (Portrait) | 1200 x 1500 | |
| Post Image (Landscape) | 1200 x 675 | |
| Link Card Preview | 1200 x 630 | |
| Etsy | Listing Photo (Square) | 2000 x 2000 |
| Listing Photo (4:3) | 2700 x 2025 | |
| Search Thumbnail | 570 x 456 | |
| Shop Banner (Big) | 1200 x 300 | |
| Shop Banner (Large) | 3360 x 840 | |
| Shop Icon | 500 x 500 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What size should a WhatsApp Status image be?
WhatsApp Status images and videos use 1080x1920 pixels (9:16) — the same vertical full-bleed format as Instagram Stories. Static images can be up to 16MB; videos are capped at 30 seconds. Anything outside 9:16 gets letterboxed with solid color bars.
Why does WhatsApp blur my photos?
WhatsApp aggressively re-compresses any image sent as a photo to keep messages fast on slow networks. If you need the original quality, attach the file as a “document” instead of a photo — that bypasses compression entirely and delivers the file at full resolution.
What size is a WhatsApp profile photo?
Upload your WhatsApp profile photo at 500x500 pixels. WhatsApp displays it at roughly 192x192, but the larger upload keeps it sharp on high-DPI phones and on iPad and desktop clients. The image is cropped to a circle, so keep the focal point centered.
What size is a WhatsApp group icon?
Group icons are 500x500 pixels (1:1) and are cropped to a circle in chat lists. The same dimensions and crop apply as the profile photo, so a clean, centered logo or symbol reads better than a detailed group photo.
What size is a WhatsApp Business catalog image?
Use 1024x1024 pixels (1:1) for catalog images in WhatsApp Business. The catalog displays items in a square grid on phones and the WhatsApp Business web app, and 1024 gives the platform enough resolution to render cleanly on both.
What is the maximum image file size on WhatsApp?
Chat images are capped at 16MB whether sent as a photo or as a document. Files larger than 16MB fail to send rather than degrading — compress or downscale before attaching if you’re close to the cap.