How to Create a Pixel-Perfect Facebook Cover Photo in 2020

Social media is always changing. Between algorithm updates and removing key features we’ve grown to love, it can be frustrating to say the least, especially when we rely on social media so much.

When you are using platforms like Facebook and Instagram to grow your business, you want to be sure you are always showing up professionally and put-together and all those changes can make that hard to do!

One of the critical components to presenting a professional front on Facebook is your Facebook Cover Photo. When it comes to your cover photo, I think there are two kind of people 1) those who don’t give it much thought and just throw an image up and 2) those who obsess over every tiny little detail. I think finding a happy medium between the two camps is what will give you the best results, but if you want to make sure you have a pixel-perfect facebook cover photo, there are some key aspects you need to consider:

Your Facebook Cover Photo Size & Spacing

This is probably one of the most important parts of your cover photo because even if you have an amazing design, it might not look so amazing to others depending on how you format it. Your first step is to get the sizing right, which seems like it should be simple, but it’s a little trickier than you might think. For the size of your photo, you have to consider both desktop and mobile viewers. Because you can’t upload a separate image based on the view, your one cover image has to cover all the bases. My favorite resource to check on the most up-to-date sizes for social media images is my girl, Louise Meyers, but I’ve also done some testing myself and here is what I’ve come up with.

As of 2020, for Facebook Cover Photo here are some recommended size guidelines to follow:

Keep in mind that the larger the resolution you use, the more high quality your image will appear. Also, for both of the resolutions above, you will need to ensure you have proper spacing or padding away from the edge so that critical elements of your design don’t get cut off either on desktop or mobile. If your cover photo will an image only, with no text, this won’t be as big of a deal. For iPads specifically, you will also want to ensure you keep the bottom-right corner of your image clear of any text or busy background elements because your profile photo and name will overlay that area.

Related Post: How to Create Gorgeous Pinterest Pins

Note: if you are looking at other sites for sizing specifications you may see 820 x 312 or other dimensions as the recommended size for your cover photo, however this does not take into consideration how it’s viewed on mobile or the resolution. In reality, you need to make your image larger and a slightly different proportion so it looks good on all devices. When in doubt, always test your image to be sure it appears the way you want to on all screen types.

Your Facebook Cover Photo Design

Now that you’ve got the sizing down, you need to consider the design. What content should you in your cover photo? One thing I recommend is to include a call-to-action. On the other hand, one thing you don’t need to include is your logo. You’re likely using your logo in your profile picture already so there’s no need to reiterate it in your cover photo. Use that precious real estate to set the tone for your brand and invite your audience to engage with you in some way. This could be to visit your website, join your Facebook group or promote one of your offerings. Use a program like Canva or Photoshop to create your image.

Related Post: How to Design Drool-worthy Graphics in Canva

Here are some examples of Facebook cover photo designs I think are super clever and beautiful and can hopefully inspire you too!

Amy Porterfield: 

Create & Cultivate:

Jasmine Star:

Rachel Hollis:

Brené Brown: 

As you can see, there’s no one wrong or right way to design your image. Just make sure it authentically reflects your brand and what you stand for! Once you’ve got the perfect design, upload it to your page and test it out!

Are you having trouble sizing your Facebook cover photo or coming up with the perfect design? Let me know in the comments I’d love to help!