TL;DR:
- Standard pin: 1000x1500 px (2:3 ratio). This is the optimal size for 99% of pins.
- Idea Pins (story format): 1080x1920 px (9:16). Same as TikTok / Reels.
- Profile picture: 165x165 px. Cover image: 800x450 px. Board cover: 222x150 px.
All Pinterest Image Sizes — Cheat Sheet
| Element | Recommended size | Aspect ratio | File |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard pin | 1000x1500 px | 2:3 | JPG/PNG, 32 MB max |
| Square pin | 1000x1000 px | 1:1 | JPG/PNG |
| Long pin (max) | 1000x2100 px | 1:2.1 | JPG/PNG |
| Idea Pin / Story Pin | 1080x1920 px | 9:16 | JPG/PNG/MP4 |
| Video pin | 1080x1920 px | 9:16 or 1:1 | MP4/MOV, max 2GB |
| Carousel pin | 1000x1500 px (each) | 2:3 | JPG/PNG |
| Profile picture | 165x165 px | 1:1 | JPG/PNG |
| Profile cover | 800x450 px | 16:9 | JPG/PNG |
| Board cover | 222x150 px | 3:2 | JPG/PNG |
| Pinterest Ads | 1000x1500 px (standard) or 1080x1920 (idea) | 2:3 or 9:16 | JPG/PNG/MP4 |
Why 1000x1500 Px Is the Best Pin Size
Pinterest's algorithm favors vertical pins. Long pins take up more screen space, get more saves, and rank better in search.
- 2:3 ratio (1000x1500) is Pinterest's sweet spot — large but not cropped.
- Square pins (1:1) work but get less reach.
- Pins longer than 2.1:1 ratio get truncated in feeds.
- Pins shorter than 2:3 look small and ignored.
Idea Pins (Story Pins) — Vertical Full-Screen
Idea Pins are Pinterest's TikTok-style format. Use:
- 1080x1920 px (9:16) — same as Instagram Stories/Reels.
- Up to 20 pages per Idea Pin.
- Include text overlays, music, voiceover.
- Drives engagement and follower growth, less direct traffic.
Pinterest Video Pin Specs
| Spec | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 9:16, 2:3, or 1:1 |
| Length | 5-60 seconds (max 15 min for Idea Pins) |
| Resolution | 1080x1920 px (9:16) / 1000x1500 px (2:3) |
| File size | Max 2 GB |
| File type | MP4, MOV, M4V |
| Frame rate | 24-30 fps |
Pinterest Profile and Board Image Sizes
- Profile picture — 165x165 px (1:1). Square; uses center crop.
- Profile cover — 800x450 px (16:9). Shows on top of your profile.
- Board cover — 222x150 px (3:2). Pick a high-impact pin from the board.
Pin Design Best Practices (2026)
- Vertical orientation — 1000x1500 px or 1000x2100 (long).
- High contrast — text readable on mobile thumbnails.
- Bold, large title text — top of pin works best.
- Brand element (logo or URL) — small at bottom.
- One focal image — busy collages get ignored.
- Bright, saturated colors — Pinterest's algorithm favors them.
- Text-image balance — image ~70%, text ~30%.
Tools for Designing Pinterest Pins
- Canva (free + Pro) — pre-made Pinterest templates.
- Tailwind Create — auto-generates 100s of pin variations.
- Adobe Express — quick branded pins.
- Photoshop / Affinity — custom design.
- Figma — for batch templating.
Common Pinterest Image Mistakes
- Square pins — work but get less reach than 2:3.
- Horizontal pins — Pinterest may crop or ignore them.
- Low-res images — blurry on retina displays.
- Tiny text — unreadable on mobile thumbnails.
- Watermarks too large — distract from content.
- White backgrounds — disappear in Pinterest's white feed; use color.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Pinterest image size?
1000x1500 pixels (2:3 aspect ratio). This is Pinterest's recommended and best-performing size.
Can Pinterest pins be square?
Yes (1000x1000), but they don't perform as well as vertical 2:3 pins. Use square only for product photos.
What's the maximum length for a Pinterest pin?
1000x2100 pixels (1:2.1 ratio). Longer than this gets truncated in feeds.
What size are Pinterest Idea Pins?
1080x1920 px (9:16) — same as Instagram Stories or TikTok.
Should I use PNG or JPG for Pinterest?
JPG for photos (smaller files). PNG for designs with text or transparent backgrounds.
Key Takeaways
- Standard pin: 1000x1500 px (2:3).
- Idea Pin: 1080x1920 px (9:16).
- Profile pic: 165x165 px; profile cover: 800x450.
- Vertical, high-contrast, bold text on top — gets the most saves.
- Use Canva or Tailwind Create for fast batch templating.
Drive every pin to one optimised page
Send all Pinterest traffic to a single UniLink page — your blog, store, newsletter, and YouTube. Track which pins convert best.