Guide
LinkedIn profile picture size and tips
The size, file types and limits for a LinkedIn profile photo, why LinkedIn won't take a GIF, and practical tips for a photo that works in a small circle.
By the ProfilePicLab team · Updated · 2 min read
The short answer: upload a square JPG or PNG of at least 400 × 400 pixels, under 8 MB. Anything from 800 × 800 to about 1000 × 1000 is a comfortable size that stays sharp without being needlessly large.
LinkedIn’s requirements
LinkedIn’s own help pages give these limits for a profile photo:
| File types | PNG or JPG |
| Minimum size | 400 × 400 pixels |
| Maximum size | 7680 × 4320 pixels |
| Maximum file size | 8 MB |
| Shape shown | Circle |
LinkedIn shows your photo as a circle almost everywhere: on your profile, next to your posts and comments, in search results and in messages. Anything in the corners of a square photo is never seen.
Can you use a GIF on LinkedIn?
No. LinkedIn only accepts PNG and JPG for profile photos, so animated profile pictures aren’t possible there. If you’ve made an animated avatar for Gmail, use a still version for LinkedIn. The first frame of your GIF, saved as a PNG, keeps the two consistent.
The background (banner) image
The wide image behind your profile photo is a separate upload. LinkedIn recommends 1584 × 396 pixels for it. Your profile photo overlaps its bottom-left corner on desktop, so keep anything important away from that area.
Getting the photo right
LinkedIn is where people decide whether to reply to you, hire you or buy from you, so the photo matters more here than almost anywhere else. At the sizes LinkedIn shows it, often 40 to 70 pixels across, a few things make most of the difference:
- Crop close. Your face should fill around 60% of the circle. Head and top of the shoulders is the classic framing.
- Look at the camera, or just off it. Profile shots and sunglasses make you harder to recognise.
- Keep the background plain and uncluttered. A wall, an outdoor blur or a solid colour all work. A busy office or a group photo doesn’t.
- Good light beats a good camera. A phone photo facing a window looks better than a dim photo from an expensive camera.
- Look like you do now. People you meet should recognise you from it.
Making the file
- Open the profile picture resizer and add your photo.
- Drag and zoom so your face sits inside the dashed circle.
- Download the LinkedIn size (800 × 800 JPEG). Grab the other platforms at the same time if you want the same photo everywhere.
It runs in your browser, so your photo isn’t uploaded to us.
Uploading it
On a computer, go to your profile, click your current photo, choose Edit or Add photo, and upload the file. LinkedIn lets you adjust the crop and add filters before saving. Since your file is already square and framed, you can usually save it as it is.
LinkedIn also has a visibility setting for your photo (for example, showing it to everyone or only to your connections). If people say they can’t see your photo, check that setting on the photo editing screen.