There is no single website thumbnail size. The correct dimensions depend on where the image appears: a CMS or theme thumbnail, a social link preview, or a Google Discover preview. Start with the display and crop rules, then create a source image large enough for the most demanding placement. For Google Discover’s large-image treatment, Google recommends at least 1,200 pixels wide, more than 300,000 total pixels, and a 16:9 ratio. A 1,280 × 720 image meets those recommendations, but eligibility never guarantees that Discover will show your page or select that image.
Choose the size for the image’s destination
“Thumbnail” describes several different outputs. A WordPress theme may generate a small card image, an og:image may appear when someone shares a URL, and Google may select a completely different image for Search or Discover. Treat these as separate placements rather than forcing one derivative to fit every surface.
| Placement | Useful starting dimensions | Aspect or crop guidance | What controls the result |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress or theme card | Use the dimensions configured by the theme; there is no universal value | Follow the component’s ratio; exact cropping may be enabled | WordPress Media settings, registered theme sizes, and CSS |
| Google Discover large preview | At least 1,200 px wide and more than 300,000 total pixels | 16:9 is Google’s recommended ratio; 1,280 × 720 is a compliant example | Image quality, relevance, max-image-preview:large (or AMP), and Google’s automated selection |
| LinkedIn link preview | Minimum 1,200 × 627 px | Recommended 1.91:1; LinkedIn lists a 5 MB maximum for its sharing module | Open Graph data and LinkedIn’s sharing renderer |
| Facebook shared link | 1,200 × 630 px is a commonly published guide value | About 1.91:1 | Open Graph data and Facebook’s current preview behavior |
The LinkedIn and Facebook figures describe those sharing contexts, not a WordPress theme’s “thumbnail” setting. If one image must serve several placements, compose it so important text and subjects remain near the center, or create separate crops.
WordPress thumbnail size: find the setting before changing it
Check the Media setting
- In the WordPress dashboard, open Settings → Media.
- Review the Thumbnail size width and height fields.
- Check whether Crop thumbnails to exact dimensions is enabled. With exact cropping on, WordPress cuts the image to the specified box; with it off, the image is scaled to fit while preserving its proportions.
- Save only after confirming that the values match the component you are trying to fix.
These fields govern WordPress’s “thumbnail” image size, not necessarily the image used by a post card. Themes and plugins can register their own sizes and select them in template code.
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Check the theme’s registered post-thumbnail size
A theme can call set_post_thumbnail_size() or register a named image size. The function accepts width, height, and a crop setting. A false crop value scales the image to fit. true center-crops it. An array can specify a crop position such as left, center, or right and top, center, or bottom.
Changing the registration does not resize existing uploads. New dimensions affect future derivatives; old media needs thumbnail regeneration through a suitable regeneration workflow. If a card still shows the old shape, inspect the template, the selected image size, and any CSS object-fit rule before changing the Media setting again.
Design for the crop
- Keep faces, logos, and critical text away from the outer edges.
- Use a source image larger than the largest displayed derivative so resizing does not soften it.
- Do not put essential words in a region that a center crop can remove.
- Test landscape, portrait, and unusually narrow cards if the same post appears in several layouts.
Google Discover: dimensions are eligibility guidance, not a promise
Google’s current Discover guidance recommends images at least 1,200 pixels wide, with more than 300,000 total pixels, and a 16:9 ratio for large-image previews. The arithmetic matters: 1,280 × 720 equals 921,600 pixels, comfortably above the pixel threshold. A smaller 1,200 × 675 image also uses 16:9 and exceeds 300,000 pixels.
Enable the large preview treatment
Set the page’s robots directive to max-image-preview:large, or use AMP where applicable. This allows a large preview, but it does not force Discover to use one. Google says image selection is automated and can draw from multiple sources on the page. The chosen image should be relevant, representative, high resolution, and not merely a generic logo.
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Compose a Discover-ready source
- Use a clear subject that matches the article’s topic.
- Keep text legible at a reduced preview size.
- Prefer a 16:9 master when Discover is a priority.
- Provide descriptive image information and consistent page metadata.
- Understand that meeting dimensions and metadata does not guarantee indexing, Discover distribution, or a particular image choice.
Social link previews need their own crop
Open Graph basics
Publish an og:image URL that points to a relevant, high-resolution file. Social crawlers may cache a preview, so a changed image can take time to appear after the page is updated. Use an absolute, publicly reachable URL and verify that access controls, hotlink protection, or a blocked user agent are not preventing retrieval.
LinkedIn’s sharing module lists a minimum of 1,200 × 627 pixels, recommends a 1.91:1 ratio, and lists a 5 MB maximum. A 1,200 × 627 file is therefore a safe minimum for that surface, while a 1,200 × 630 file is a convenient near-equivalent crop used by other sharing guides.
A Canva Design Wiki guide lists 1,200 × 630 pixels for Facebook shared-link images. That is a secondary recommendation, so check Facebook’s current developer guidance if a campaign depends on exact rendering. Do not assume a Facebook crop is identical to a theme thumbnail or Discover preview.
One master image or several derivatives?
Use one master only when the composition survives every crop. Otherwise, keep a high-resolution original and export purpose-built derivatives:
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- Discover: 16:9, at least 1,200 pixels wide and over 300,000 pixels total.
- Social: approximately 1.91:1, such as 1,200 × 627 or 1,200 × 630, depending on the target.
- Theme cards: the exact dimensions and crop mode registered by the theme.
Export in a format your site supports, keep compression moderate enough to preserve text and edges, and confirm the final file’s pixel dimensions rather than relying on an editor’s canvas label.
How to verify what visitors will see
- Open the page in an incognito window and inspect each card or listing where the image appears.
- Inspect the HTML for
og:imageand any structured-data image property. Confirm that the URL resolves without authentication. - Check the image’s intrinsic dimensions and file size, not only its CSS-rendered size.
- View the page at mobile and desktop widths; responsive CSS may change the crop.
- After changing a social image, allow for crawler caching and recheck the rendered preview.
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Troubleshooting thumbnail and preview problems
The image is blurry
Check the original pixel dimensions and the selected WordPress derivative. A small source enlarged by CSS cannot regain detail. Upload a larger source and regenerate derivatives after changing registered sizes.
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The subject’s face or text is cut off
The active crop is probably center-based or controlled by CSS. Disable exact cropping only if the layout permits variable heights, or create a composition with safe margins and a dedicated crop.
The social preview shows an old image
Social crawlers cache previews. Confirm the new og:image URL, ensure it is publicly fetchable, and wait for the platform to recrawl. Changing the URL when you publish a genuinely new asset can help distinguish it from a cached file.
Discover does not show a large image
Verify width, total pixels, 16:9 composition, and max-image-preview:large. Those conditions make the page eligible for the large treatment; they do not control Google’s selection or guarantee Discover exposure.
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The theme may use a separately registered post-thumbnail size, a plugin-generated derivative, or CSS cropping. Inspect the rendered srcset, template configuration, and computed styles to identify which layer controls the output.
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Final sizing checklist
- Identify the exact destination: theme card, social preview, Discover, or all three.
- Record the destination’s minimum dimensions and aspect ratio.
- Keep important content inside the safest area for the crop.
- Use a high-resolution source and verify generated derivatives.
- Configure WordPress sizes and crop mode deliberately.
- Set
og:imageand relevant structured-data image properties. - For Discover, use at least 1,200 pixels width, over 300,000 pixels, 16:9, and
max-image-preview:large. - Render the page on the devices and platforms that matter, then correct the crop rather than guessing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 1,200 × 630 pixels everywhere?
It is a practical social-preview canvas, but it is not a universal WordPress or Discover requirement. Discover recommends 16:9, while a theme may use an entirely different registered size.
Does setting an Open Graph image control Google Discover?
No. Google’s image selection is automated and can use multiple page images. Open Graph is a signal for link-sharing previews, not a command to Discover.
Why did changing a WordPress thumbnail dimension not update old posts?
Registered sizes do not resize existing uploads. Existing derivatives must be regenerated, and the template must actually request the changed size.
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Only when it remains readable after the smallest expected rendering and every required crop. Keep it away from edges and test the actual card and social previews.
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