LinkedIn Background Dimensions in Pixels, Inches, and CM

Whether you are a graphic designer working in Illustrator, a marketer using Canva, or a professional resizing an image in Preview, you need LinkedIn background dimensions in the unit your tool uses. This reference covers pixels, inches, and centimetres so you can set up your canvas correctly the first time.

LinkedIn background dimensions reference chart

LinkedIn Background Size in Pixels

The standard LinkedIn background image size is:

These pixel dimensions are what LinkedIn recommends and what produces the sharpest result on both standard and high-DPI displays. When you create a new document in any design tool, start with these values.

Minimum accepted size

LinkedIn accepts background images as small as 1128 × 191 pixels, but images below the recommended size will be upscaled, introducing blur. Always aim for the full 1584 × 396.

Maximum file size

Regardless of pixel dimensions, your file must be under 8 MB. For JPG files at 1584 × 396, this is rarely an issue — most exports land between 200 KB and 1.5 MB.

LinkedIn Background Size in Inches

If your design tool uses inches (common in print-oriented software like InDesign or older versions of Photoshop), the conversion depends on your DPI setting:

At 72 DPI (standard for web)

At 96 DPI (Windows default)

At 150 DPI (mid-resolution)

At 300 DPI (print resolution)

Important: DPI does not affect how the image displays on LinkedIn. LinkedIn only cares about pixel dimensions. If your tool asks for DPI, set it to 72 and use the pixel dimensions directly. The inch measurements above are provided for tools that require a DPI-based canvas setup.

LinkedIn Background Size in Centimetres

For designers working in metric units:

At 72 DPI

At 96 DPI

At 150 DPI

At 300 DPI

Again, the pixel count is what matters for screen display. Use centimetres only if your design software requires them for canvas setup.

Quick Reference Table

Unit DPI Width Height
Pixels — 1584 396
Inches 72 22.00 5.50
Inches 96 16.50 4.13
Inches 150 10.56 2.64
Inches 300 5.28 1.32
Centimetres 72 55.88 13.97
Centimetres 96 41.91 10.48
Centimetres 150 26.82 6.71
Centimetres 300 13.41 3.35

Adobe Photoshop

  1. Go to File → New
  2. Set Width to 1584 pixels, Height to 396 pixels
  3. Set Resolution to 72 pixels/inch
  4. Colour Mode: RGB Color, 8 bit
  5. Click Create

Adobe Illustrator

  1. Go to File → New
  2. Switch units to Pixels in the dropdown
  3. Set Width to 1584, Height to 396
  4. Colour Mode: RGB
  5. Raster Effects: Screen (72 ppi)

Figma

  1. Press F for the Frame tool
  2. In the right panel, set Width to 1584 and Height to 396
  3. Figma always works in pixels, so no unit conversion is needed

Canva

  1. Click Create a design → Custom size
  2. Ensure the unit dropdown says px
  3. Enter 1584 × 396
  4. Click Create

GIMP

  1. Go to File → New
  2. Set Width to 1584, Height to 396
  3. Under Advanced Options, set X and Y resolution to 72 pixels/in
  4. Click OK

Microsoft PowerPoint

PowerPoint uses inches by default:

  1. Go to Design → Slide Size → Custom Slide Size
  2. Set Width to 22 inches, Height to 5.5 inches
  3. Design your banner
  4. Export as JPG or PNG

Understanding DPI vs Pixels for Web Images

A common source of confusion: DPI (dots per inch) does not affect how an image appears on screen. It only matters for print.

LinkedIn displays your cover photo at a fixed pixel size determined by the viewer's screen resolution. Whether your file is saved at 72 DPI or 300 DPI, if it is 1584 pixels wide, it will look identical on LinkedIn.

The only reason to care about DPI is when your design tool uses it to calculate the physical canvas size in inches or centimetres. In that case:

Bottom line: always think in pixels when designing for LinkedIn. Use the inch and centimetre values in this guide only as a convenience for tools that require them.

Aspect Ratio Explained

The 4:1 aspect ratio means the image is exactly four times as wide as it is tall. This is wider than most standard photo formats:

Format Aspect Ratio Comparison
LinkedIn cover 4:1 ← This one
YouTube thumbnail 16:9 (1.78:1) Much taller
Standard photo 3:2 (1.5:1) Much taller
Instagram post 1:1 Square
Twitter header 3:1 Slightly taller
Facebook cover 2.63:1 Noticeably taller

Because the LinkedIn banner is so wide relative to its height, panoramic photos and horizontal compositions work best. Vertical subjects (portraits, tall buildings) will be heavily cropped unless you position them carefully.

Tips for Sharp Results

  1. Always start at full size — design at 1584 × 396, never scale up from a smaller image
  2. Export as JPG at 90-92% quality — this keeps the file small without visible artifacts
  3. Use sRGB colour space — LinkedIn displays in sRGB; other colour spaces may shift colours
  4. Avoid heavy text — small text becomes unreadable after LinkedIn's compression
  5. Test on mobile — the banner displays differently on phones; check that nothing critical is cropped