LinkedIn cover photos are an important part of your professional profile. The cover photo appears just below your profile picture and serves as the backdrop for your profile. It’s often the first thing people notice when visiting your profile, so you want it to look good and represent you well. However, getting your cover photo to fit and look right can be tricky. LinkedIn has specific cover photo dimensions and requirements that must be met. In this article, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to make your LinkedIn cover photo look perfect.
What are the LinkedIn cover photo dimensions?
LinkedIn cover photos must be the following dimensions:
| Width | 1584 pixels |
| Height | 396 pixels |
These proportions are set by LinkedIn and cannot be adjusted. Your photo will be automatically cropped to fit these dimensions. The maximum file size for a cover photo is 8 MB.
Some key things to note about the dimensions:
– The width is much larger than the height. This means your photo will work best in a horizontal, landscape orientation vs a vertical, portrait orientation.
– The height is fairly short. Important parts of your photo could get cropped out if they are too low in the frame.
– Using an exact 1584 x 396 pixel image is best to avoid any unintended cropping.
How to add a cover photo
Adding a cover photo to your LinkedIn profile is simple:
1. On your profile, click the camera icon that says “Add photo”. This is found just below your profile picture.
2. Click “Upload photo” and select a photo file from your computer.
3. Drag the photo around to adjust the cover area. When you release the photo, LinkedIn will crop it to the correct dimensions.
4. Click “Save” to set the cover photo.
Tips for picking a good cover photo
Choosing the right cover photo can really enhance your LinkedIn profile. Here are some tips:
Use a professional, high-quality photo
Since your cover photo is prominent, you want to use a high-quality, professional looking image. Avoid blurry, pixelated, or poorly lit photos. Make sure the color and brightness are balanced.
Showcase your industry or interests
Think about using imagery that visually represents your industry, job, or interests. For example, a marketing manager could use a photo of a marketing campaign. This helps reinforce what you do.
Use relevant text sparingly
You can add text to your cover photo, but use it sparingly. Your name, company, job title, or a relevant quote can work well. Avoid lengthy captions or paragraphs of text.
Include your face
Having your face visible in the cover photo helps make your profile more human and approachable. Just don’t go overboard on selfies.
Avoid inappropriate or distracting content
Keep your cover photo workplace-friendly. Don’t use images containing alcohol, nudity, or offensive content. Also avoid overly busy or distracting photos.
Be authentic
While professional, your photo should feel natural and capture your personality. Share your interests and what’s important to you.
Use high contrast
Photos with high contrast tend to stand out more in small sizes. Try black and white or photos with vibrant colors.
How to make your cover photo fit properly
To avoid issues with cropping or distortion, follow these tips:
Start with the right dimensions
Use an image that is already 1584 x 396 pixels if possible. This prevents unintended cropping by LinkedIn.
Don’t go too wide
Avoid using photos with important elements on the far left or right edges. LinkedIn crops images starting from the sides.
Put key focus areas higher up
Since LinkedIn crops images vertically starting from the bottom, make sure your subject’s face or other main focus points are higher up in the photo.
Allow space for your profile photo
Don’t put important parts of your image too low, as this area will be covered up by your profile picture. Leave some clearance below.
Preview as you adjust
Use LinkedIn’s photo uploader to preview how your image looks cropped. Adjust and drag your photo around until satisfied.
Check mobile display
Since many view LinkedIn profiles on mobile, check how your cover photo looks on smartphones. Adjust if details are lost or cropped out.
Consider adding a background color
A background color can help if your photo doesn’t span the full width after cropping. Just use LinkedIn’s background color selector.
Creative cover photo ideas
Not sure what to use for your cover image? Here are some creative ideas:
Nature landscapes or cityscapes
Beautiful outdoor scenery or city skylines make classic, eye-catching backgrounds. Just avoid overly cliché images.
Books and libraries
For academics or bookish types, photographs of bookshelves, libraries, or open books convey intelligence.
Speaking events or conferences
Use a dynamic photo of you engaged at a conference, speech, or corporate meeting.
Workspaces or equipment
Photos of workspaces like a construction jobsite, medical office, or tech equipment add authenticity.
Professional headshots
A professional headshot exudes confidence and expertise. Just avoid overly stuffy yearbook-style portraits.
Design samples
Showcase your skills by displaying graphic design work, drawings, or other samples of your craft.
Mentorship or teamwork
Illustrate leadership abilities with a photo of you guiding a team, mentoring someone, or collaborating.
Common LinkedIn cover photo mistakes to avoid
With the wrong cover image, you can inadvertently create a bad first impression. Here are some mistakes to avoid:
Blurry or pixelated photos
Low quality, blurry, and pixelated photos look highly unprofessional. Always use crisp, high-resolution images.
Cropped out head or face
If your face is cropped out, you seem distant and unapproachable. Have your face clearly visible.
Too busy or distracting
Avoid cover photos with complex scenery, patterns, or overly cluttered images that are hard to process.
Unprofessional appearance
Don’t use party photos, overly casual attire, inappropriate gestures, or other unpolished images.
Outdated information
Make sure your photo doesn’t display old company names, titles, or information that’s no longer accurate.
Hard to read text
Text should be very minimal and easy to read. Avoid lengthy paragraphs or tiny, illegible fonts.
Misaligned or offset
If your photo wasn’t properly cropped or aligned by LinkedIn’s uploader, it can look sloppy.
Duplicated from others
While it’s fine to take inspiration from others, duplicated or plagiarized cover photos come across poorly.
Cover photo ideas by industry
For even more inspiration, here are some great cover photo ideas for various industries and professions:
Marketing
– Product launches or ad campaigns
– Social media graphics and data
– Brand logos and styles
– Content marketing imagery
– Marketing and advertising tools
Technology
– Code on a screen
– New apps and software
– Circuit boards and computer chips
– Programmers working together
– High tech office environments
Education
– Graduation ceremonies
– Lecturing in a classroom
– Libraries or studying students
– School architecture and signs
– Piles of books
Healthcare
– Doctors and nurses collaborating
– Medical technology and tools
– Lab research environments
– Healthcare related graphics and icons
– Hospital/clinic exterior or lobby
Finance
– Economic data and charts
– Stock exchange imagery
– Piggy banks and coin jars
– Business people in meetings
– Financial district skylines
Engineering
– Technical drawings and blueprints
– Construction sites
– Bridges, roads, dams
– Materials like steel beams and wood
– Architectural design sketches
Using background colors instead of a photo
If you want a simpler, cleaner look, LinkedIn allows you to set a background color instead of a photo. Here are some tips for using solid background colors:
Pick a vibrant hue
Saturated, deeper tones tend to look best. Avoid lighter pastels or washy hues.
Consider brand colors
Using your company or personal brand’s color scheme reinforces recognition.
Complement your photo
Choose a color that flatters your profile picture and brings out your features.
Use contrasting colors
Darker tones like navy and maroon contrast well with lighter profile pictures for visibility.
Add texture and dimensions
Try pairing your background color with a subtle geometric pattern or texture.
Limit patterns
Avoid overly busy patterns and textures that clash with profile text and photos.
Use a color gradient
Blending two complementary colors in a vertical gradient can look bold and modern.
Make text stand out
If adding text, ensure it contrasts well with the background color so it’s readable.
How to change your LinkedIn cover photo
You can change your LinkedIn cover photo at any time by following these steps:
1. Go to your profile and click the camera icon below your current cover photo.
2. Choose if you want to upload a new photo or select a solid color background.
3. For photos, pick a new image file and adjust the positioning.
4. For colors, use the color selector tool to pick your hue and saturation.
5. Optionally add minor text or change the profile photo if desired.
6. Preview how your new cover photo or color background will look.
7. When satisfied, click “Save changes” to set your new cover photo.
It’s a good idea to refresh your cover image periodically or when you change jobs. This helps keep your profile looking updated.
Cover photo tips for LinkedIn mobile
Many people access LinkedIn from their smartphones or tablets. Here are some cover photo tips tailored for mobile:
Prioritize focal points
On smaller screens, cropping is more aggressive. Place key elements high and centered.
Use minimal text
Lengthy text is hard to read on mobile. Use a few concise words or phrases only.
Reduce clutter
Busy images don’t work as well. Opt for clean, simple designs.
Brighten up
Mobile screens reduce contrast. Boost brightness and use vivid colors.
Test on all devices
Preview your cover photo on both iOS and Android phones and tablets.
Simplify patterns
Complex patterns can appear too busy on mobile. Go for solid colors or subtle gradients.
Make sure text is legible
Confirm text is crisp and readable on small screens. Increase font size if needed.
Highlight your face
Emphasize who you are by making your face clearly visible.
Conclusion
Crafting the ideal LinkedIn cover photo takes a bit of work, but it’s worth the effort. Following the technical requirements, visually representing your profession, and showing off your personality in an appropriate, high-quality image can make a great impression on your profile. Avoid common mistakes like blurry photos, inappropriate images, and cropping out your face. With a stellar cover photo, you can put your best foot forward on LinkedIn and wow anyone who visits your profile.