When someone visits your Facebook page, the kickoff matter they run across is a large splash image taking upwards well-nigh a quarter of the screen: your Facebook embrace photograph. This is your profile's headline, a big, bold imprint prototype that introduces your make to potential Facebook followers.

Y'all can feature a lot in your Facebook comprehend photo: images of your product or team, ads and promotions, or even something as simple as graphic that sets the right mood. A good cover photo can result in increased engagement, whether that's more than page likes or additional traffic to your website or other social channels.

So, how do you make Facebook cover photos—and become the most out of them?

This article will become over everything yous need to know about Facebook cover photos.

facebook cover photos

We're also sharing 5 complimentary templates created by our in-house design team to help you lot get started.

Let's start with the basics: making sure your image fits the Facebook cover photo size guidelines (and their other guidelines, likewise).

Bonus: Download your free pack of five customizable Facebook cover photo templates at present. Relieve time and easily promote your make with a professional design.

Facebook cover photograph size: 851 10 315 pixels

The minimum dimensions for a Facebook cover photo (sometimes referred to as "Facebook banner size") are 851 x 315 pixels. This is the best size to choose if y'all're making a cover photograph and desire to know exactly how it will look before you upload it.

For the highest quality photographic experience, Facebook recommends using a PNG file. Choose this option if you desire to display a high definition logo in your cover paradigm, or if your cover image contains copy that really needs to stand up out.

On mobile, it's often better to prioritize image types that load apace and don't use a lot of data. In this case, Facebook recommends uploading an sRGB JPEG file that also follows these ii requirements:

  • Dimensions: 851 x 315 pixels
  • File size: less than 100 kb

Remember, on desktop, Facebook cover photos are more rectangular, accounting for larger/widescreen displays. On mobile, the embrace photo is more than square, allowing it to fit on a portrait-oriented screen.

While 95 per centum of Facebook users access the site via mobile, that doesn't mean you lot should ignore the 31 percent of users who also browse via desktop. For a Facebook encompass photo that looks good on whatsoever screen, Facebook recommends an prototype that's 820 pixels x 462 pixels. This also applies to the platform's newer cover format: Facebook cover videos.

Facebook cover video size: 820 x 462 pixels

Facebook encompass videos are some other way to grab a user'due south attention and drive user interactions on your page. On desktop, cover videos definitely look more engaging than static photos, and can really bring your page to life. Yet, they're less effective on mobile, as they don't autoplay, and instead load as a thumbnail.

Here'due south Facebook's recommended settings for encompass video size and duration:

  • Dimensions: 820 x 462 pixels (820 x 312 minimum)
  • Elapsing: twenty to 90 seconds (no more than, no less!)

Notation: Facebook cover videos can have audio, but it won't play unless you actually click on the video. For best results, make sure the video you lot upload works every bit well with or without sound. This is something you should keep in mind even outside cover videos: 85 percent of Facebook users scout videos with the volume turned off.

Other requirements for Facebook cover photos and videos

Besides these technical requirements, there are specific rules for the kinds of content you tin can display in Facebook embrace photos and videos. These rules are fairly standard:

  • Make certain you're not violating anyone'south copyright.
  • Make sure your cover photo or video is family-friendly and safety-for-piece of work.
  • Make sure that if you're advertising a product with your encompass photo or video, yous're non breaking whatever of Facebook's advertising rules.

For a total breakdown of these policies, check out the Facebook page guidelines.

How to utilize the Facebook embrace photo templates

Starting with a professionally designed template makes it easier to create your own Facebook comprehend photograph. Here'due south how to customize our templates for your make. You will need Adobe Photoshop to get started.

Bonus: Download your gratis pack of v customizable Facebook cover photo templates now. Salve time and easily promote your brand with a professional pattern.

1. After you lot've downloaded the templates, y'all'll notice that the fonts and image files are split up. Double click on the font file of your selected theme to upload the font to your computer. Click install font.

facebook cover photo template

2. Double click the epitome file to open information technology in Photoshop.

iii. Select the Facebook cover photo template that you'd like to piece of work with first.

4. To edit text: double click the text you would similar to edit. You can change fonts and colors in the bill of fare on the left-hand side.

facebook cover photo template

v. To edit a colour block or background: double click the color block y'all would similar to edit. Alter the size or use the carte on the left-hand side to change the colour.

facebook cover photo template

six. To edit a photo or prototype: double click the photo you would like to edit and click insert new image. Resize prototype every bit necessary.

facebook cover photo template

vii. To salve the template: Select the template you would similar to use and go to Save>Export As>Artboard to Files. Brand certain to save every bit a .jpg or .png.

facebook cover photo template

viii. Upload your Facebook embrace photo post-obit the steps below.

How to upload Facebook comprehend photos

Once y'all're finished making your Facebook cover photograph, uploading information technology is like shooting fish in a barrel.

  1. Navigate to your Facebook concern page and mouse over the comprehend photograph space at the elevation.
  2. Click Add a Cover in the meridian left corner.
  3. Click Upload Photo/Video and select the photo yous'd like to upload.
  4. A preview of your photo will appear in the cover space. Click the photo and drag information technology up or down to the vertical orientation of your liking.
  5. Click Publish.

If you don't similar how your Facebook cover photograph is positioned afterwards y'all've published it, you can click Update Cover and so Reposition, which will return you to step 4.

As you upload more cover photos, you'll build upward a library. If you e'er desire to replace your current cover photo with an older ane, click Select Photo instead of Upload Embrace Photo in step 3, and y'all'll exist able to choose from previously uploaded images.

Finally, the Select Artwork push contains a number of premade background images for your cover photo space. These await fine in a pinch, but I'd recommend creating branded images for your business page that showcase your organization's personality, products, or services.

How to upload Facebook encompass videos

Uploading a Facebook encompass video is virtually the same every bit uploading a cover photo, with a couple of actress steps.

  1. Navigate to your company page and mouse over the space at the pinnacle.
  2. Click Add a Cover in the summit left corner.
  3. Click Upload Photograph/Video and select the video you'd like to upload.
  4. A preview of your video will appear in the comprehend infinite. Click the video and drag it upwardly or downwards to the vertical orientation of your liking.
  5. Choose a thumbnail from the 10 available options Facebook provides (hint: choice the ane that's virtually likely to pique interest and reel someone in).
  6. Click Publish.

Facebook cover photos: best practices

Now that y'all know the basics of creating and uploading cover photos, it'due south time to await at some powerful examples, and the strategies backside them.

1. Use a simple image with a articulate focal betoken

The whole point of your profile banner is to grab attending and elicit curiosity so people take action on your page. Use memorable imagery with colors that reflect your brand, and don't be afraid to brand utilise of negative space, particularly if y'all're including re-create: information technology'll help your words stand up out.

Bonus: Download your costless pack of 5 customizable Facebook cover photo templates now. Save time and easily promote your brand with a professional person design.

Get the templates now!

Zendesk Facebook cover photo

This playful cover photo from Zendesk uses vivid colors and negative infinite to brand their re-create popular.

2. Pair your Facebook cover photo with your profile movie

A Facebook embrace photo that matches with the profile picture show e'er looks professional and put-together. It might audio limiting, just information technology's also a good opportunity to go creative.

Target Facebook cover photo

Target'south centre-catching Facebook cover photo makes clever use of their bullseye logo. The optical illusion caught me off-guard, earning this cover photograph my total attention.

three. Optimize your cover photo for mobile

When yous're choosing an image for your Facebook cover photo, think about how it'southward going to wait on the screens of Facebook'due south 1.xv billion smartphone users. If in that location'southward tiny text, volition it exist readable? How will the effectively details look on a smaller screen? What'southward being cut off when your cover photo is panned-and-scanned to mobile format?

I was surprised to find that many companies (large companies!) don't actually bother to optimize for this, making it an easy way to provide a better page experience than your competitors.

Duolingo Facebook cover photo

Duolingo Facebook Cover Photo mobile

Duolingo has smartly called an epitome that doesn't change likewise much between desktop and mobile. Nothing is lost in translation, providing both audiences with an as practiced browsing feel.

Every bit an added bonus, the brand name in the banner leaves the profile picture open for Lingo (their company mascot) to greet visitors to the page.

iv. Balance your Facebook comprehend photo with right-aligned elements

Centered images work well on cover photos, just aligning your image content to the right is aesthetically pleasing and has strategic value. Facebook's call-to-action buttons appear on the right side of your profile; ideally, your images should draw the centre to that section of the page. If possible, include elements that draw attention to your CTA.

How to Cake it Facebook cover photo

Here, YouTube star and cake-decorating sensation Yolanda Gampp uses the encompass photo to advertise her new cookbook, How to Cake It. This banner finer leads the eye, starting with the copy, then to the book embrace, which is placed right over the Watch Video CTA. It's a straight route to her YouTube channel—and an invitation join her 3.6 meg subscribers!

5. Update your cover photograph regularly

Your Facebook encompass photo is the platonic place to announce what's new at your company. Keep this space updated with fresh content, whether you're promoting a new product or service, or referencing current events in relation to your brand.

Here, KFC uses their cover video to advertise the Canadian launch of the latest twist on the infamous Double-Down. This contour video works well because the blitheness is on a brusque loop so it's non too distracting. It actually creates a mood!

half dozen. Link out from your Facebook cover photograph

Including a link within the cover photograph folio itself is a good way to drive traffic to your other pages via Facebook. Use a link shortener similar ow.ly to create a customized URL format that's unique to your brand. Information technology makes links more manageable, and conceals the UTM code you should be using to track your traffic sources.

Threadless Facebook cover photo

Hither, Threadless uses an all-too-relatable drawing of a true cat to drive traffic to their website. When yous click the encompass photo, you discover a link directing you to purchase the T-shirt. The link contains a UTM code, allowing Threadless to rails page views from their Facebook embrace photo.

Threadless Within Cover Pic

Although they haven't done it here, another strategy is to have this URL directly to the same page as the CTA on your chief contour, offering another chance for conversion. This likewise lets you experiment with other CTAs on your Facebook folio (Facebook currently has seven to cull from).

Check out this mail if you want to more almost how to write an irresistible call to activeness.

vii. Pin of import updates beneath your Facebook cover photo

Call back, the goal of a headline is to get you to read the article below, and Facebook cover photos are no dissimilar. Pin your about of import current content to the meridian of your Facebook page.

When people are drawn in by your cover photo, they'll come across the most relevant information as soon equally they gyre downward.

Hootsuite pinned post

Hootsuite is currently promoting an upcoming webinar series on Demystifying Social ROI. In addition to a encompass video highlighting the consequence, we've pinned information technology every bit the first post on our page so people remember to sign up.

Manage your brand'southward Facebook presence and your new Facebook encompass photo with Hootsuite. Engage followers, track results, and schedule new posts from a single dashboard. Try it free today.

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With files from Shannon Tien.