How Are Ad Images Sized Correctly for Different PlatformsUpdated 6 days ago

Ad images need to be sized correctly for each platform before they perform effectively. An image produced at one size does not simply scale across every placement cleanly — different proportions create different visual experiences and some ratios crop in ways that remove the most important part of the image.

The major aspect ratios used across paid ad platforms are square, vertical feed and vertical full screen.

Here is how each ratio maps to common placements:

• Square 1:1 — the most versatile ratio, works across feed placements on most major platforms and is the safest single format if only one version is being produced
• Vertical 4:5 — the recommended feed format for the largest social platforms because it occupies more screen space on mobile without becoming a full-screen format
• Vertical 9:16 — the full-screen story and reel format used across Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and YouTube Shorts
• Horizontal 16:9 — used for YouTube in-stream ads and some display placements

Each ad image I create for this service gets delivered in the relevant size variations for the platforms it is designed for. No image arrives in a single size requiring you to guess at how to resize it correctly before the first campaign launches.