29 Aug 4:5 Image Ratio in Pixels: Recommended Dimensions for Social Media Portrait Posts
Use 1080 × 1350 pixels for a 4:5 social media portrait post. That is the sweet spot for Instagram feed posts, Facebook portrait posts, LinkedIn image posts, and many ad placements. It fills more phone screen space than a square. It also avoids the awkward crop monster.
TLDR: A 4:5 image ratio means the image is 4 units wide and 5 units tall. The best everyday size is 1080 × 1350 px. For example, a small shop posting 30 product images at 4:5 may get more screen space than square posts, often around 25% more vertical room in the feed. If your product photo looks tiny in a square, 4:5 is your friend.
What does 4:5 mean in pixels?
A 4:5 ratio is just a shape.
It means the width and height follow this pattern:
- 4 parts wide
- 5 parts tall
Simple math. Cute math, even.
If the width is 1080 pixels, the height should be 1350 pixels.
Why?
Because 1080 ÷ 4 = 270. Then 270 × 5 = 1350.
So the file becomes 1080 × 1350 px. That is the classic 4:5 post size.
Best 4:5 image sizes for social media
Here are the most useful 4:5 dimensions:
- 1080 × 1350 px — best all purpose size
- 1200 × 1500 px — great for higher quality exports
- 1440 × 1800 px — sharp for design previews and ads
- 2160 × 2700 px — extra large, useful for future reuse
For most people, 1080 × 1350 px is enough.
It looks sharp. It uploads quickly. It does not create a monster file. Nice.
Why 1080 × 1350 px is the favorite
Instagram likes images around 1080 px wide. A 4:5 post at that width becomes 1350 px tall.
That gives your post more space on a phone screen.
A square post is 1080 × 1080 px. A 4:5 post is 1080 × 1350 px. That is 270 more pixels of height.
That extra height can show:
- More of a product
- A bigger face
- Room for text
- A stronger call to action
- More color and mood
It drives me a little nuts when a design app hides crop settings behind five tiny menus. You just want 1080 × 1350. Not a treasure hunt.
Where 4:5 works best
The 4:5 format is great for feed posts. It feels tall, but not too tall.
Use it on:
- Instagram feed posts
- Facebook image posts
- LinkedIn portrait image posts
- Meta ads
- Carousel slides
- Product announcements
- Personal brand posts
Do not confuse 4:5 with Stories or Reels. Those usually use 9:16, such as 1080 × 1920 px.
Think of it like this:
- 4:5 = feed portrait post
- 1:1 = square post
- 9:16 = Story, Reel, short video frame
Quick pixel chart
| Ratio | Pixel size | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| 4:5 | 1080 × 1350 px | Instagram feed, Facebook, ads |
| 4:5 | 1200 × 1500 px | Sharper uploads and promos |
| 1:1 | 1080 × 1080 px | Square posts and profile grids |
| 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 px | Stories, Reels, Shorts |
How to make any image 4:5
You do not need to be a designer. Promise.
Use this easy method:
- Open your image editor.
- Choose crop or resize.
- Set the ratio to 4:5.
- Set the size to 1080 × 1350 px.
- Keep the main subject in the center.
- Export as JPG or PNG.
If your image has text, use PNG. It keeps edges cleaner.
If your image is a photo, use JPG. It keeps the file smaller.
What should go inside a 4:5 post?
A 4:5 post gives you lovely vertical space. Use it wisely.
Good 4:5 posts often have:
- A clear subject near the middle
- Simple text at the top or bottom
- Breathing room around the edges
- Bright contrast for small screens
- One main idea, not twelve
Please do not cram a whole billboard into one post. Nobody wants to pinch and zoom while drinking coffee.
Safe zones matter
Social apps can be fussy. Some add buttons, captions, icons, or crop previews.
Keep key text away from the edges.
A safe rule:
- Leave at least 80 px of padding on the left and right
- Leave at least 100 px of padding at the top and bottom
- Keep logos inside the center area
This helps your post survive weird previews. Honestly, it feels like some apps change their cropping mood every Tuesday.
4:5 post ideas that work well
Need ideas? Here you go.
- Before and after photos
- Product close ups
- Mini tutorials
- Quote graphics
- Event announcements
- Restaurant specials
- Fitness progress images
- Fashion outfit posts
A bakery could post a 1080 × 1350 px photo of a tall layered cake. A square crop might cut the stand or the topping. A 4:5 crop keeps the full treat visible. Much better. Much less tragic.
Common mistakes to avoid
These mistakes are small. But they can make your post look messy.
- Using 1080 × 1920 px for a feed post and watching it get cropped
- Putting text too close to the edge
- Uploading tiny images, such as 400 × 500 px
- Stretching a square design into 4:5
- Forgetting mobile preview
Never stretch people. Faces get weird. Products get weird. Everyone loses.
Best export settings
Use these settings for clean results:
- Size: 1080 × 1350 px
- Color: sRGB
- Format: JPG for photos, PNG for graphics
- Quality: 80% to 100%
- File size: try to stay under 5 MB
Large files may upload slower. Tiny files may look fuzzy. Aim for the middle.
Final cheat sheet
If you remember only one thing, remember this:
For a 4:5 social media portrait post, use 1080 × 1350 pixels.
It is clean. It is common. It gives your post more room than a square. It works well for photos, carousels, quotes, promos, and ads.
Set your crop to 4:5. Keep text away from the edges. Preview on your phone before posting. Then send that portrait post out into the feed like it owns the place.
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