Social Media Specs
X (Twitter) Specs
X has changed more in the last few years than any other platform on this list, including its name, so I keep this page deliberately conservative. These are the values that have held steady for standard accounts.
| Field | Limit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Post, standard account | 280 characters | Paid tiers allow far more |
| Bio | 160 characters | Links count as text here |
| Display name | 50 characters | Emoji permitted |
| Username | 15 characters | Letters, numbers, underscore |
| Direct message | 10,000 characters | Varies by account type |
| Asset | Aspect ratio | Recommended pixels |
|---|---|---|
| In stream image | 16:9 | 1600 x 900 |
| In stream image, square | 1:1 | 1200 x 1200 |
| Profile photo | 1:1 | 400 x 400 |
| Header image | 3:1 | 1500 x 500 |
| Summary card with large image | 1.91:1 | 1200 x 628 |
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Supported ratios | 16:9, 1:1 and 9:16 |
| Recommended resolution | 1920 x 1080 or 1080 x 1920 |
| Container and codec | MP4 with H.264, AAC audio |
| Frame rate | 30fps or 60fps |
Notes
Links always cost a fixed number of characters regardless of URL length, so there is no character saving from a shortener on X. There is a tracking and branding argument for one, but not a length argument.
The 16:9 in stream image is cropped in the timeline preview on many clients, with the centre band shown and the top and bottom trimmed. Compose important content centrally and assume the crop, then let the tap-to-expand reveal the full frame.
Open Graph and Twitter card tags on your site control how your links render here. If a shared link shows a bare URL with no image, the fix is in your page head, not in the post. The card validator behaviour has changed, so test by posting to a private or low reach account.
Post length, media limits and card behaviour differ by subscription tier and have been revised repeatedly since the rebrand. Check the X Help Center for the current values before relying on any of these in a production workflow.
Frequently asked questions
Is it still 280 characters?
For standard free accounts, yes. Paid subscription tiers allow substantially longer posts, and that limit has itself been raised more than once. Write for 280 if you want the post to read the same for everyone.
Why does my link preview image not appear?
Almost always a missing or invalid og:image or twitter:image tag, an image that is too large, or a page that blocks the crawler. Fix the meta tags on the destination page and re-share.
Official sources
Platforms change specifications without notice. Check the primary documentation before a launch that depends on an exact value.
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More Social Media Specs
Social Media Image Sizes
Current image dimensions and aspect ratios for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, YouTube and Pinterest, in one scannable table.
Social Media Character Limits
Character limits for posts, bios, captions and headlines across Instagram, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.
Instagram Specs
Instagram image sizes, Reels and Stories video specs, caption and bio limits, and file requirements in one reference.
LinkedIn Specs
LinkedIn image dimensions, video specs, character limits for posts, headlines and articles, plus document post requirements.
TikTok Specs
TikTok video dimensions, aspect ratio, length limits, caption and bio character counts, and safe zone guidance for creators.
YouTube Specs
YouTube video resolutions, thumbnail and banner sizes, title and description limits, and Shorts requirements in one table.