Checked on October 4, 2026. Platforms often state different sizes or none, so official values and unofficial recommendations are listed separately.
| Platform | Size / shape | Source |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube channel icon | Shown as a circle, rendered at 98×98px; up to 15 MB; JPG, GIF (still), BMP, PNG | Official (YouTube Help) |
| Instagram profile | Square, shown as a circle | No pixel size in Help |
| TikTok profile | Minimum 20×20px | Official minimum |
Where there is no official size, you'll see numbers like 320×320 quoted online; treat them as unofficial. Any square image works.
Why square?
Profile pictures appear as small circles or squares across the app. If you upload a wide or tall photo, the service crops the center automatically. Starting with a square gives you predictable results everywhere.
How to make one
- Crop your photo to a square with the Image Resizer (1:1 preset).
- Zoom and position so the face or logo sits in the middle and nothing important touches the corners.
- Keep the background simple; skip small text.
- Save as JPG or PNG.
The circle-crop safe area
When a square is shown as a circle, roughly 10–15% at each corner disappears. Keep faces, logos and any letters inside the central 70–80%.
What makes a good profile picture
For a personal account, a clear front-facing photo is easiest to recognize. For a brand or channel, a logo made of a simple shape or initials reads better at small sizes than a wordmark. See how to make a logo for tips, or start in the Logo Maker.
One image for every platform
Make one large square (for example 800×800 or bigger) and let each platform scale it down. Scaling down loses almost nothing; scaling a small image up looks soft. If your only photo is small, the AI Photo Upscaler can enlarge it first.
Good vs. bad
- Good: the face or logo fills the center of the square.
- Bad: a small face in a corner, half of it lost to the circle.
- Good: a plain background that stays clear at icon size.
- Bad: busy background or text that turns to mush when small.
Checklist
- Square (1:1)?
- Subject inside the central 70–80%?
- Simple background?
- Under each platform's file size limit (YouTube 15 MB)?
FAQ
What size should my profile picture be?
Upload a square image. 800×800 or larger gives plenty of detail for every platform; YouTube displays its icon at 98×98.
Why is my profile picture cut off?
Most platforms crop it into a circle, which hides the corners. Keep the face or logo in the central 70–80% of the square.
Should I put my name in the profile picture?
Usually no. The image is shown very small, and the platform already shows your name next to it. Use a face or a simple symbol instead.