How to Convert Images for Twitter/X Posts
Twitter (now X) has some of the most aggressive image compression of any social platform. A sharp photo on your computer can turn into a blurry, artifact-riddled mess after uploading. The trick is understanding Twitter's format preferences and uploading images that survive its compression with minimal quality loss.
This guide covers the best formats and dimensions for Twitter images, how to minimize compression damage, and how to convert images that are not Twitter-ready.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Understand Twitter's image handling
Twitter supports JPG, PNG, GIF, and WebP uploads. Images are limited to 5 MB for photos and 15 MB for GIFs. Twitter applies heavy compression to JPG uploads but is gentler with PNG files under 5 MB. For the best quality, use PNG for graphics and JPG at maximum quality for photographs.
- Choose the right dimensions
Twitter in-stream images: 1200x675 pixels (16:9 ratio) for single images. Multi-image posts vary by layout. Profile picture: 400x400 pixels. Header image: 1500x500 pixels. Card images (link previews): 1200x628 pixels. The 16:9 ratio avoids cropping in the timeline.
- Convert your images
Open imageconvert.co and drag your images onto the converter. For photographs, use JPG at 95% quality since Twitter will compress further. For screenshots, infographics, or images with text, use PNG since Twitter compresses PNG less aggressively. Download the converted files.
- Upload and check in the preview
When composing a tweet, upload your image and check the preview. Twitter shows you how the image will be cropped in the timeline. If important content gets cropped, adjust your image dimensions or composition before posting.
The PNG Trick for Better Quality on Twitter
Twitter's compression algorithm treats JPG and PNG differently. JPG images are aggressively recompressed regardless of the upload quality. PNG images under 5 MB are treated more gently. This means that for images where quality matters most, uploading as PNG can preserve noticeably more detail.
This is especially useful for screenshots, charts, infographics, and any image containing text. The sharp edges and fine details in these images are exactly what JPG compression degrades most. PNG avoids this by using lossless compression that Twitter's algorithm respects.
Optimizing Photographs for Twitter
For photographs, PNG files are often too large (over 5 MB), so JPG is the practical choice. Upload at the highest quality setting (95-100%) and at exactly the recommended dimensions. Twitter's compression is applied on top of your existing compression, so starting with the highest possible quality gives the algorithm the most data to work with.
Avoid uploading photos that have already been compressed multiple times. Each generation of JPG compression degrades quality further. Start from the original or highest-quality version of any photo.
Twitter Card Images for Links
When sharing links, Twitter generates a preview card with an image from the linked page. For the best card appearance, ensure the linked page has an Open Graph image tag with an image at 1200x628 pixels. If you control the linked website, upload a properly sized JPG or PNG as the OG image.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best image format for Twitter?
PNG for graphics, screenshots, and images with text. JPG at 95% quality for photographs. Twitter compresses JPG more aggressively than PNG, so PNG preserves more quality for non-photographic content.
Why do my Twitter images look blurry?
Twitter applies aggressive compression to all uploaded images, especially JPGs. To minimize quality loss, upload at the exact recommended dimensions (1200x675 for timeline images) and use the highest quality setting. For screenshots and graphics, try uploading as PNG.
What is the maximum image size for Twitter?
Twitter accepts images up to 5 MB for JPG and PNG, and up to 15 MB for GIFs. For the best quality, keep images under 5 MB and upload as PNG when possible.
Convert images to PNG for Twitter