Pinterest Image Size Guide for Higher Engagement
Learn the best Pinterest image sizes, aspect ratios, and design tips to boost pin visibility, drive clicks, and increase engagement across devices.
Pinterest Image Size Guide for Higher Engagement
Pinterest is one of the most powerful visual search and discovery platforms, with millions of ideas shared daily. To maximize your impact on this visually driven network, using the correct size for Pinterest images is key. Proper dimensions not only make your content more eye-catching but also ensure better visibility in feeds, higher engagement rates, and stronger click-through performance.
This comprehensive guide explains the optimal Pinterest image sizes, aspect ratios, and file formats, along with expert tips for designing pins that convert—whether you’re creating standard, infographic, video, or story pins.
---
Why Pinterest Image Size Matters for Reach and Engagement
Pinterest’s “smart feed” algorithm favors content that is visually appealing and well-formatted. Correct pin sizes help you:
- Optimize appearance across desktop, tablet, and mobile.
- Boost click-through rates with crisp, clear images.
- Increase saves and shares by improving readability and design balance.
Incorrectly sized pins risk becoming blurry, cropped, or minimized in feeds, dramatically reducing their performance potential.
---
Recommended Standard Pin Size and Aspect Ratio
The ideal Pinterest pin size is 1000 x 1500 pixels with a 2:3 aspect ratio.
Why this standard works best:
- Vertically oriented to fill more space in scroll feeds.
- Scales effectively across devices without cropping.
- Maintains clarity while keeping file size manageable.
---
Ideal Sizes for Different Pin Types
Pinterest supports a range of pin types—each with unique design needs.
Standard Pins
- Size: 1000 x 1500 px
- Aspect Ratio: 2:3
- Usage: Recipes, DIYs, blog promos, lifestyle content.
Infographic Pins
- Size: 1000 x 3000 px (maximum recommended)
- Aspect Ratio: Up to 1:3.5
- Usage: Tutorials, timelines, guides.
- Tip: Avoid ultra-long designs to prevent truncation.
Story / Idea Pins
- Size: 1080 x 1920 px
- Aspect Ratio: 9:16
- Usage: Multi-frame narratives, behind-the-scenes content, step-by-step ideas.
Video Pins
- Size: 1000 x 1500 px (vertical) or 1080 x 1920 px (full screen vertical)
- Aspect Ratio: 2:3 or 9:16
- Usage: Product demos, animated graphics, marketing teasers.
---
How to Optimize for Mobile vs. Desktop Display
Over 80% of Pinterest traffic comes from mobile devices—meaning vertical designs tend to dominate.
Mobile Tips:
- Create vertical layouts that fill the screen.
- Ensure text overlays are large and legible.
- Use high-resolution files to prevent pixelation.
Desktop Tips:
- Maintain vertical emphasis for consistency.
- Test designs on widescreens to ensure balanced composition.
---
File Types and Size Limits for Sharp and Fast-Loading Images
Pinterest accepts various formats with specific constraints:
| File Type | Best For | Max File Size |
|---|---|---|
| JPEG | Photography, lifestyle imagery | 20 MB |
| PNG | Graphics, text overlays | 20 MB |
| MP4/MOV | Video content | 2 GB |
Pro Tip: Keep static images under 1 MB and short videos under 15 MB for faster load times and better engagement.
---
Vertical vs. Square Pins: Choosing the Right Shape
Vertical pins (2:3) usually win for reach and engagement, as they occupy more vertical feed space.
Square pins (1:1) are best for:
- Product grids or catalogs
- Cross-posting with Instagram
Limit square pins to specific scenarios to maintain maximum visibility.
---
Designing Eye-Catching Pins that Follow Size Best Practices
Even at the right size, poor design can reduce engagement. Follow these tips:
- Use high-resolution visuals for sharpness.
- Highlight a single focal point for clarity.
- Select contrasting colors to stand out in feeds.
- Use readable fonts (minimum 20pt for overlays).
---
Optimizing Text Placement to Avoid Cropping
Protect important elements from Pinterest’s display cropping:
- Keep text in the central “safe zone.”
- Allow at least 150px margins top/bottom and 50px sides for standard pins.
- Use preview tools before posting to ensure visibility.
---
Testing and Measuring Image Size Performance
Use Pinterest Analytics to monitor:
- Impressions to measure reach.
- Engagement rate for saves, clicks, and follows.
- Outbound clicks to track site traffic.
Experiment with small changes in:
- Pixel dimensions
- Aspect ratios and pin formats
Log all tests in a spreadsheet to identify patterns and refine your size strategies.
---
Common Pinterest Image Size Mistakes
Avoid:
- Stretched/distorted images
- Low resolution causing blur
- Overly long infographics that get cut off
- Tiny font size on mobile
- Excessive text clutter
---
Leveraging Templates for Consistent Sizing
Speed up workflow and ensure accuracy with templates:
- Canva: Pre-sized “Pinterest Pin” templates at 1000 x 1500 px.
- Photoshop: Create reusable presets for common sizes.
- Save your brand layouts as templates to maintain consistent style.
---
Conclusion
Getting the size for Pinterest images right is crucial to succeed on the platform. Whether you stick to 1000 x 1500 px for standard pins or adapt for videos, infographics, and story pins, proper sizing boosts clarity, visibility, and engagement.
Start implementing these Pinterest image size best practices today—test, tweak, and watch your pins gain more saves, clicks, and followers. For best results, integrate them into your regular content creation process and stay updated on any platform changes.
