Launchpack by Świt StudioX (Twitter) header size: 1500 × 500, and the part that actually shows
The size is easy. The hard part is that nobody sees the whole 1500 × 500: phones crop it, desktop puts your photo on it, and every screen does it a little differently.
Upload 1500 × 500 pixels (a 3:1 ratio) as a JPG or PNG, and keep the file small (under 2 MB is the commonly cited limit).
Keep anything important inside the middle band, about 1500 × 380, because up to roughly 60 px can be cut from the top and bottom depending on the screen. Keep the lower-left corner empty: that's where your profile photo sits.
Header and profile photo sizes
| Image | Upload size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Header (banner) | 1500 × 500 | 3:1. JPG or PNG. Animated GIFs upload as a still image. |
| Profile photo | 400 × 400 | Shown as a circle (a rounded square for some business accounts), so corners are cut. |
| Image in a post | 1600 × 900 | 16:9 fills the timeline without cropping. Not related to the header. |
| Link card image | 1200 × 630 | Your site's OG image; X shows it at about 2:1. |
X itself has said little more than "1500 × 500 recommended". Third-party guides disagree on the file-size limit (2 MB and 5 MB both appear) and on exactly how much each device crops. The numbers below are the conservative version: if you design for them, the header works everywhere.
The safe zone
- Top and bottom 60 px can disappear on some screen sizes. Use them for background only.
- The lower-left quarter is covered by your profile photo on desktop and partly on mobile. Don't put text there; many people put their main message right of center to balance the photo.
- On phones the header is shown small, about 375–430 px wide. Text below roughly 40 px on the 1500 px canvas becomes unreadable.
- Your name and bio sit right under the header, so don't repeat your name on it. Use the space for what your name doesn't say.
What to put on it
For a founder or a product account, the header is the one place on your profile with room for a full sentence. Options that work, from simplest:
- What you're building, in one line. "Building Launchpack: launch images in 30 seconds." The most useful header for anyone who lands on your profile from a reply.
- A product screenshot in a browser or phone frame, on your brand color, with that one line beside it.
- Proof: a number you're proud of (users, MRR, downloads), if it's real and you're happy to update it.
- Your products as a row of icons, if you build several small things.
Avoid: tiny URLs (your bio has a link field), long lists of tools, and photos with busy detail behind text.
Using the header for a launch
On launch day your profile gets more visits than usual, from people who saw a reply or a repost and want to know who you are. Swap the header for the launch week:
- "Live on Product Hunt today" or "Just launched" with the product name and one line.
- The same colors and screenshot as your launch images, so the profile, the post and the Product Hunt gallery look like one thing.
- Change it back (or to a "now available" version) a week later. An old "launching tomorrow" header is worse than none.
Uploading without blur
- Upload exactly 1500 × 500. Larger images get resized by X and often come out softer; smaller ones get stretched.
- PNG for text and flat colors, JPG for photos. X re-compresses either; PNG keeps text edges cleaner.
- Check on your phone after uploading, then on desktop. Adjust the crop in X's editor if your text got cut.
Make the header with your launch kit
Launchpack makes a 1500 × 500 X header with your name and tagline in the safe area, plus a LinkedIn banner, an X post image, your OG image, Product Hunt images and favicons.
Questions
What size is the X (Twitter) header?
1500 × 500 pixels, a 3:1 ratio, as a JPG or PNG. Keep important content in the middle band (about 1500 × 380) and away from the lower-left corner where your profile photo sits.
Why does my X header look cropped on my phone?
X fits the header to each screen, cutting up to about 60 px from the top and bottom on some devices. Leave those strips for background only and keep text in the middle.
What is the maximum file size for an X header?
X doesn't state it clearly; guides cite 2 MB or 5 MB. A 1500 × 500 PNG or JPG is usually well under 1 MB, so keeping it small avoids the question.
Can my X header be a GIF?
You can upload one, but it shows as a still image. Use a PNG or JPG.
What size is the X profile photo?
Upload 400 × 400 pixels. It's shown as a circle, so keep your face or logo in the middle.