Pinterest Aspect Ratios: Pin, Story, Video & Ad Image Sizes
Updated March 2026
Pinterest is the one social platform where vertical images aren't just preferred - they're practically required. The entire feed is a grid of tall, scrollable cards, and anything that doesn't fit the vertical format gets pushed aside visually. A landscape photo that looks great on Facebook or Twitter will look tiny and lost on Pinterest.
Getting the right dimensions matters more on Pinterest than almost any other platform. A properly sized pin takes up prime real estate in the feed grid, while an oddly shaped one gets compressed, cropped, or just ignored. This guide covers every image and video format Pinterest supports so your pins show up the way you intended.
Quick Reference: Pinterest Dimensions
| Placement | Aspect Ratio | Resolution | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Pin | 2:3 | 1000 × 1500 | Recommended default |
| Square Pin | 1:1 | 1000 × 1000 | Less visibility in feed |
| Long Pin | 1:2.1 | 1000 × 2100 | Max before truncation |
| Idea Pin | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 | Full-screen vertical |
| Video Pin | 2:3, 1:1, or 9:16 | 1000 × 1500 | 4 sec to 15 min |
| Profile Picture | 1:1 | 280 × 280+ | Cropped to circle |
| Board Cover | 2:3 | 600 × 600+ | Selected from a pin |
| Promoted Pin | 2:3 | 1000 × 1500 | Same as standard pin |
Standard Pin Images
The standard pin is the bread and butter of Pinterest. It's the tall, vertical image card that fills the feed grid. Pinterest officially recommends a 2:3 aspect ratio - and they mean it. Pins that deviate significantly from 2:3 get penalized in distribution because they break the grid layout.
This is the sweet spot. Pinterest's own creative best practices page lists 2:3 as the recommended ratio. It fills the column width perfectly and shows the entire image without any cropping in the feed. If you're only going to remember one number, make it 1000 × 1500.
Square pins work technically, but they take up less vertical space in the feed than 2:3 pins. You'll see about 33% less real estate compared to a standard pin. Use this if you're repurposing content from Instagram and don't have time to create a dedicated Pinterest version.
Long pins used to be popular for infographics, but Pinterest now truncates images taller than about 2.1:1 in the feed. Users see a "..." and need to click to view the full pin. This can actually boost clicks, but it hurts impressions and the algorithm may deprioritize them.
Pinterest accepts JPEG and PNG formats. The maximum file size is 20 MB for static images. For best quality, use PNG for graphics with text and JPEG for photographs. Pinterest compresses images during upload, so starting with higher resolution helps maintain clarity.
One thing that catches people off guard: Pinterest's feed columns are only about 236px wide on desktop and even narrower on mobile. Your 1000px-wide image gets scaled down significantly. So any text on your pin needs to be large enough to read at that reduced size - think 40pt or bigger for headlines.
Idea Pins (Formerly Story Pins)
Idea Pins are Pinterest's multi-page, full-screen format - similar to Instagram Stories but permanent (they don't disappear after 24 hours). Each Idea Pin can contain up to 20 pages of images or short video clips, and they display at 9:16 full-screen on mobile.
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 (1080 × 1920 pixels)
- Up to 20 pages per Idea Pin
- Images: JPEG, PNG, BMP, TIFF, or WEBP
- Video clips: MP4 or MOV, 3-60 seconds per page
- Max file size: 16 MB per image, 1 GB per video
- Safe zone: keep text and key elements 60px from edges
Idea Pins are Pinterest's fastest-growing format and the platform actively pushes them in the feed algorithm. They're great for tutorials, recipes, DIY projects, and anything that benefits from a step-by-step walkthrough.
When Idea Pins appear in the home feed, they show as a truncated preview with a small "pages" indicator. The cover page is what users see first, so make it visually strong with clear text overlays. The same 9:16 dimensions used for TikTok and Instagram Stories work perfectly here.
Pinterest Video Pins
Video pins auto-play in the feed (muted) and can be incredibly effective for engagement. Pinterest supports several aspect ratios for video, but vertical formats perform best because they take up more screen space in the grid.
2:3, 9:16, 1:1, 4:5, 16:9
2:3 and 9:16 get the most feed visibility. Square and landscape work but take up less space. Avoid 16:9 unless you're repurposing YouTube content.
4 seconds to 15 minutes
Pinterest recommends 15-60 seconds for best performance. Shorter videos loop automatically. Longer how-to and tutorial videos can work but watch your completion rates.
MP4, MOV, or M4V
H.264 encoded. MP4 is the safest choice. Pinterest processes your upload and may re-encode it, so start with the highest quality you can.
Max 2 GB
Keep files reasonable for faster upload and processing. A 1-minute 1080p video at good quality should be under 100 MB.
Video pins auto-play on mute in the feed, so the first few seconds need to grab attention visually. Add text overlays and make sure the thumbnail (cover image) is compelling. You can select a specific frame as the cover or upload a custom cover image at the same aspect ratio as the video.
Profile Picture & Board Covers
These are the less glamorous but still important image slots on Pinterest. A blank profile photo or messy board covers make your account look unfinished.
Upload at least 280 × 280 pixels. Pinterest displays it at 165 × 165 on your profile page and smaller throughout the platform. It gets cropped to a circle, so center your face or logo. For business accounts, your logo works best since it reinforces brand recognition every time someone sees your pin.
Max file size: 10 MB | Formats: JPG, PNG
Board covers are selected from an existing pin on that board - you can't upload a separate image. Pinterest displays them at roughly 222 × 150 pixels on your profile. Choose a pin that visually represents the board's theme with a clean, recognizable image.
Tip: Create a dedicated "cover pin" for each board if you want a cohesive look
Pinterest also shows a profile cover area at the top of your profile page on mobile. This is automatically assembled from your latest pins - you don't directly control it. But keeping a consistent visual style across your pins makes this auto-generated banner look intentional rather than random.
Pinterest Ad Dimensions
Pinterest ads look almost identical to organic pins, which is actually one of the platform's strengths for advertisers. Users often engage with promoted pins the same way they do with regular content. But you still need to get the dimensions right.
| Ad Format | Aspect Ratio | Resolution | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Promoted Pin | 2:3 | 1000 × 1500 | Same as organic pins |
| Promoted Video Pin | 2:3, 1:1, or 16:9 | 1000 × 1500 | 6-15 sec recommended |
| Max-Width Video | 1:1 or 16:9 | 1000 × 1000+ | Spans full feed width |
| Carousel Ad | 1:1 or 2:3 | 1000 × 1000 or 1000 × 1500 | 2-5 cards |
| Shopping Ad | 2:3 | 1000 × 1500 | Product catalog pins |
| Collection Ad | 1:1 or 2:3 | 1000 × 1000 or 1000 × 1500 | Hero image + product grid |
Carousel ads are one of Pinterest's most effective formats for advertisers. Each card can link to a different landing page, which makes them great for showcasing product lines or telling a sequential story. All cards in a carousel must use the same aspect ratio - you can't mix 1:1 and 2:3 within the same ad.
Image Optimization Tips
Pinterest is essentially a visual search engine, and image quality directly impacts how well your pins perform. Here are practical things you can control:
Pinterest feed columns are about 236px wide on desktop. Your 1000px image gets scaled to roughly 24% of its original size. Headlines need to be at least 40pt in your design to remain readable. Body text should be at least 24pt. Test by viewing your design at 25% zoom - if you can't read it, neither can Pinterest users.
Pinterest's background is white (or off-white in some views). Images with bright colors and high contrast stand out more in the grid. Red, orange, and warm tones tend to get more engagement than cool blues and grays. Dark images with low contrast can disappear into the feed.
Pinterest compresses images during upload. Start with the highest quality you can - at least 1000px wide for standard pins. PNG works better for graphics and text-heavy designs. JPEG is fine for photographs. WebP is accepted but not all pin creation tools support it yet.
Pinterest vs Other Platforms
Pinterest's vertical-first approach makes it unique among social platforms. Here's how the key dimensions compare:
| Content Type | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Feed Image | 2:3 (1000×1500) | 4:5 (1080×1350) | 4:5 (1080×1350) |
| Stories/Idea Pins | 9:16 (1080×1920) | 9:16 (1080×1920) | 9:16 (1080×1920) |
| Video | 2:3 (1000×1500) | 9:16 (1080×1920) | 4:5 (1080×1350) |
| Profile | 1:1 (280×280+) | 1:1 (320×320+) | 1:1 (170×170+) |
The key difference: Pinterest's feed image ratio (2:3) is taller than Instagram's optimal 4:5 and Facebook's 4:5. You can't just crop an Instagram post for Pinterest - it won't be tall enough. Stories and Idea Pins share the same 9:16 ratio across all three platforms, so those can be repurposed freely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best aspect ratio for Pinterest pins?
The best aspect ratio for Pinterest pins is 2:3 (1000 × 1500 pixels). Pinterest recommends this ratio because it fills the feed grid nicely without getting truncated. Taller ratios like 1:2 or 1:2.1 may get cut off in the feed, and wider ratios like 1:1 take up less space and get less engagement.
What size should Pinterest Idea Pins be?
Pinterest Idea Pins (formerly Story Pins) should be 9:16 at 1080 × 1920 pixels, the same dimensions as Instagram Stories or TikTok videos. Each Idea Pin can contain up to 20 pages of images or video clips. Use the full vertical canvas since these display full-screen on mobile.
What are the Pinterest video pin dimensions?
Pinterest video pins work best at 2:3 (1000 × 1500), 1:1 (1000 × 1000), or 9:16 (1080 × 1920). The 2:3 and 9:16 ratios get the most visibility in the feed. Videos can be 4 seconds to 15 minutes long, though Pinterest recommends keeping them between 15 seconds and 1 minute for best performance. Maximum file size is 2 GB.
What size is a Pinterest profile picture?
Pinterest profile pictures use a 1:1 square aspect ratio, displayed at 165 × 165 pixels but you should upload at least 280 × 280 pixels for sharpness. The image gets cropped into a circle. For business accounts, use your logo. For personal accounts, a clear headshot works best.
Related Aspect Ratio Calculators
Use these calculators to find exact pixel dimensions for your Pinterest content: