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Use a 1200 × 627 pixel image (a 1.91:1 aspect ratio) for a LinkedIn link preview in 2026. Export it as JPG or PNG, keep the file at or below 5 MB, and expose it through the page’s Open Graph metadata. LinkedIn’s crawler reads og:image and the related title, description, and URL tags when someone shares your page.
The correct LinkedIn link-preview dimensions
LinkedIn’s official Page guidance specifies a 1.91:1 ratio and 1200 × 627 pixels. That is the safest production canvas for a website link shared to LinkedIn, rather than a square social post or a 1200 × 630 image copied from a generic Open Graph template.
| Setting | Recommended value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 1200 pixels | Meets LinkedIn’s stated minimum for a full-size preview. |
| Height | 627 pixels | Creates the official 1.91:1 canvas. |
| Aspect ratio | 1.91:1 | Matches LinkedIn’s sharing-module guidance. |
| File format | JPG or PNG | Both are practical web formats for the image URL. |
| Maximum file size | 5 MB | LinkedIn’s website-sharing guidance lists this limit. |
Images narrower than 200 pixels may lose LinkedIn’s larger Page-preview treatment. LinkedIn’s website-sharing guidance separately says images under 401 pixels wide can appear as thumbnails. A 1200-pixel-wide asset avoids both small-image outcomes.
Why 1200 × 627 is preferable to 1200 × 630
1200 × 630 is a common generic Open Graph size, but it has a 1.90:1 ratio. LinkedIn’s stated target is 1.91:1, which is 1200 × 627. The three-pixel height difference is small, yet starting with the exact LinkedIn canvas avoids relying on an unknown crop or padding step.
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|---|---|---|---|
| 1200 × 627 | 1.91:1 | Yes; exact stated target | Least need for platform adjustment. |
| 1200 × 630 | 1.90:1 | Yes; dimensions are large enough | May receive slight crop or padding depending on presentation. |
| Under 401 pixels wide | Varies | Not a reliable full-size asset | LinkedIn says it may display as a thumbnail. |
For either canvas, keep the headline, logo, and essential numbers in a central safe area. Desktop and mobile presentations can differ, so an edge-to-edge design that looks correct on a wide screen may lose context when the card is narrowed or padded.
How LinkedIn chooses the preview image
When a member shares a URL, LinkedIn’s crawler examines the source HTML for Open Graph metadata. The page should provide all four of these tags:
og:title— the title shown with the shared link.og:image— an absolute URL to the 1200 × 627 image.og:description— the supporting description.og:url— the canonical URL represented by the share.
Place the tags inside the document’s <head>. Use an absolute HTTPS image URL that LinkedIn can request without logging in, solving a challenge, or sending a site-specific cookie. Do not put the image only in CSS, JavaScript, a sitemap, or a social-sharing plugin’s private database; those locations do not replace og:image in the page source.
Minimal HTML example
<head>
<meta property="og:title" content="Your article title">
<meta property="og:image" content="https://example.com/images/linkedin-preview.jpg">
<meta property="og:description" content="A concise description of the page.">
<meta property="og:url" content="https://example.com/your-article">
</head>Serve the image with a normal HTTP response and the correct image content type. If your CMS has separate fields for social title, social description, and social image, verify the generated source rather than assuming the fields were published correctly.
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Keep a central safe area
Leave breathing room around the outer edges. Put the primary headline and logo toward the center, and avoid placing a critical word exactly at the top, bottom, or side boundary. The preview card may be rendered at a different width or with padding on mobile.
Use readable type
At 1200 pixels, text can look large in an editor but become small in a feed. Use a short headline, strong contrast, and one visual hierarchy. A long article title belongs in og:title; the image should communicate the subject quickly.
Export for the web
Export a JPG or PNG at exactly 1200 × 627 pixels. Remove unnecessary metadata and compress until the file is comfortably below 5 MB without making small text or logos blurry. A smaller file is easier for crawlers and visitors to retrieve, but do not reduce the dimensions below LinkedIn’s target just to save bytes.
Step-by-step: publish and verify a LinkedIn preview
- Create the canvas. Set the document to 1200 pixels wide by 627 pixels high.
- Design within the safe area. Keep the headline, logo, and key visual away from the outer edges.
- Export. Save a JPG or PNG and confirm the pixel dimensions and file size are 5 MB or less.
- Upload publicly. Put the file at an HTTPS URL that does not require authentication, a password, or a session cookie.
- Add metadata. Insert
og:title,og:image,og:description, andog:urlin the shared page’s<head>. - Check the raw source. View the page source (not only the DOM after JavaScript runs) and confirm each value, including the complete image URL.
- Test both layouts. Share or preview the URL on desktop and mobile. Check that the title, image, and description correspond to the same page.
- Republish after changes. If you replace an image at the same URL, use a new filename or cache-busting strategy when appropriate, then verify that the crawler receives the new asset.
Troubleshooting a missing, small, or wrong image
The preview is only a small thumbnail
Confirm the image is at least 401 pixels wide; LinkedIn says images below that width can display as thumbnails. Also check that the file is actually 1200 × 627 and that the response is an image rather than an HTML error page.
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LinkedIn says the site may be blocking its crawler or the image may be in a protected directory. Remove authentication requirements from the image path, check robots and firewall rules that deny the crawler, and make sure the URL is reachable from outside your network. Verify that the server returns the image directly over HTTPS.
LinkedIn shows an old image
Inspect the current page source and confirm that og:image points to the new file. If the URL is unchanged, a cached copy may still be associated with the shared page. Publish the replacement under a new image URL, update the tag, and test the page again rather than repeatedly editing the same asset in place.
Rank #3
The wrong image from the page is selected
Look for duplicate Open Graph tags generated by your theme, SEO plugin, and social-sharing plugin. Keep one authoritative og:image, and ensure it is in the initial HTML source. A visually prominent article image does not override a correctly declared Open Graph image.
The image looks clipped on a phone
Recheck the 1.91:1 canvas and move essential content inward. Compare desktop and mobile presentations; LinkedIn’s rendering can differ by device even when the source image is valid.
The preview has a title or URL from another page
Check that og:title, og:description, and og:url are generated for the exact canonical URL being shared. Canonical redirects, locale variants, and template-level metadata can cause a different page’s values to be returned.
Performance, accessibility, and maintenance checks
- Performance: Keep the file well below the 5 MB ceiling and use efficient compression. Do not trade away the 1200-pixel width.
- Availability: Host the image on a stable, publicly reachable origin. A temporary staging URL, signed URL that expires too quickly, or private object-storage path can fail when LinkedIn crawls it later.
- Consistency: Use the same subject and branding in the image,
og:title, and description so the card is understandable without opening the link. - Updates: When the article’s main image changes, update the metadata and verify the new URL rather than assuming a social cache has refreshed.
- Accessibility: Open Graph metadata does not replace meaningful page text or alternative text for the image on your own site.
Or skip the browser setup
If you need a visual check of the published page, ScreenshotNeo can capture the URL through one API request; it does not replace the Open Graph tags or create the source image for you. It is useful for checking what a rendered page looks like after you have set the metadata.
ScreenshotNeo removes cookie/consent banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture. Bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, timeouts, and cache hits are not billed, and each response reports the result with X-Page-Verdict and X-Billed headers. Its MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients.
Use the API documentation at https://screenshotneo.com/docs/ for parameter details. A basic capture of your published article looks like this:
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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com/your-article -o shot.webpimport requests
r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://example.com/your-article"}, timeout=90)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://example.com/your-article' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card. Paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots, and every feature is available on every plan. Create a free ScreenshotNeo account to test the page capture.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
Can I use a square image for a LinkedIn link?
You can provide one, but it does not follow LinkedIn’s stated 1.91:1 sharing target and is more likely to be presented with unused space or a crop. Use 1200 × 627 for a predictable link card.
Does changing the image’s alt text change the LinkedIn preview?
No. LinkedIn reads the Open Graph metadata for the shared card. Alt text remains important for your own page’s accessibility but is not a substitute for og:image.
Is PNG better than JPG for LinkedIn?
Neither format is universally better. Choose the one that keeps text and graphics crisp while remaining at or below 5 MB; both are suitable export formats for the image URL.
Why does a valid preview differ between desktop and mobile?
LinkedIn can render the sharing module differently by device. Test both views and keep critical design elements in the central safe area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a square image for a LinkedIn link?
You can, but it does not match LinkedIn’s 1.91:1 target. A 1200 × 627 image gives the most predictable link-card presentation.
Does changing image alt text change the LinkedIn preview?
No. The shared card uses Open Graph metadata; alt text serves your own page’s accessibility.
Is PNG better than JPG?
Neither is universally better. Use the format that preserves clarity while keeping the file at or below 5 MB.
Why can desktop and mobile previews differ?
LinkedIn may render the sharing module differently by device, so keep key content centered and test both layouts.
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