Common Design Sizes

When creating graphics in Canva, you will often see designs measured using specific dimensions.

For example, you might see things like:

• 1080 × 1080 pixels
• 1920 × 1080 pixels
• 1500 × 500 pixels

These numbers represent the width and height of the design, usually measured in pixels.

Different platforms and types of content use different image sizes. Using the correct size helps ensure that your design appears properly without being cropped, stretched, or distorted.

This guide covers some of the most common design sizes you may encounter when working with Canva or creating graphics for online platforms.

Before we get into specific dimensions, there is one important thing to understand:

Social media platforms change their image sizes from time to time.

Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Etsy, YouTube, and Pinterest occasionally update their layouts, which can affect:

• banner sizes
• profile images
• cover photos
• thumbnail dimensions

Because of this, exact dimensions may change over time.

If you are creating graphics for a specific platform, it is always a good idea to check that platform’s current recommended size before finalizing your design.

Thankfully, Canva usually keeps its templates updated to match the latest recommended sizes.

Instagram still supports multiple feed post shapes, including:

• Square: 1080 × 1080 pixels
• Portrait: 1080 × 1350 pixels
• Landscape: about 1080 × 566 pixels
• 3:4 portrait: 1080 × 1440 pixels

The biggest change beginners should know is that Instagram profiles now preview posts in a taller rectangular grid, not the old strict square grid. Instagram also added support for 3:4 photos, which is especially useful because many phone cameras already shoot in that shape.

Because of that, designs made only with the old square mindset may look different on a profile than they used to. If you want a post to feel more natural in today’s Instagram layout, taller portrait formats usually make more sense than relying only on square graphics.

Many businesses and creators use this format for:

• social media graphics
• promotional posts
• announcements
• quote graphics
• product highlights

Instagram Stories are designed for a vertical screen.

The typical size is:

1080 × 1920 pixels

This tall format fills the entire phone screen when someone views a story.

Stories are commonly used for:

• quick updates
• behind-the-scenes content
• promotions
• announcements
• short videos or graphics

Pinterest pins are also vertical but usually slightly shorter than Instagram stories.

A common size is:

1000 × 1500 pixels

Pinterest favors vertical images because they take up more space in the feed and tend to attract more attention.

Pinterest graphics are often used for:

• blog posts
• tutorials
• product promotion
• infographics
• inspiration content

Etsy shops include a banner at the top of the store page.

Common Etsy banner sizes are:

3360 x 840 pixels
1200 x 300 pixels
1200×160 pixels

However, Etsy has multiple banner types, including:

• mini banners
• large shop banners
• cover-style banners

Since Etsy occasionally updates shop layouts, it’s always a good idea to check their current guidelines if you are designing a new banner.

Etsy listing images appear in product search results and inside your shop.

A commonly recommended size is:

2000 × 2000 pixels

Using a larger image helps ensure the product looks clear and detailed.

It also gives you flexibility if Etsy adjusts its cropping or layout in the future.

YouTube thumbnails are the images viewers see before clicking a video.

The standard size is:

1280 × 720 pixels

This wide format matches YouTube’s video player shape.

A good thumbnail should be:

• clear
• readable
• visually eye-catching
• easy to understand at small sizes

Because thumbnails appear small in search results, simple designs often work best.

Flyers and printable documents are usually measured in inches instead of pixels, since they are designed for printing.

Common flyer sizes include:

8.5 × 11 inches – Standard letter-size document
5 × 7 inches – Small flyer or invitation
11 × 17 inches – Larger poster-style flyer

When designing for print, resolution and image quality become more important to ensure the design prints clearly.

Using the correct dimensions helps your design display properly on the platform where it will appear.

If the design is the wrong size, you may run into problems such as:

• images being cropped
• important text getting cut off
• distorted graphics
• blurry images
• poor formatting

Starting with the correct size usually prevents these issues.

One helpful feature of Canva is that it already includes templates for many popular sizes.

For example, you can search directly for:

• Instagram Post
• YouTube Thumbnail
• Pinterest Pin
• Flyer
• Presentation

Canva will automatically create a design with the correct dimensions for that platform.

Because platforms occasionally update their sizes, Canva templates are often the easiest way to stay current.

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A Helpful Beginner Tip #

If you are unsure what size to use, it is usually better to start with a slightly larger design rather than a very small one.

Larger designs tend to stay sharper and give you more flexibility if the platform changes its layout or cropping later.

Different platforms use different image sizes because they display content in different shapes and layouts.

Using the correct design size helps ensure your graphics look clean, professional, and easy to view.

And while recommended sizes can change over time, tools like Canva make it much easier to create designs that match the current standards.