GIF Dimensions for Social Media
The shape of a GIF decides how much space it claims in a feed. Here are the ratios that work and when to use each.
Updated · 2026-06-19
Aspect ratio vs dimensions
Aspect ratio is the shape (square, tall, wide); dimensions are the actual pixel size. Pick the ratio for where the GIF is going, then choose a width that balances sharpness against file size — you rarely need more than 480–720px wide.
The ratios that matter
- 1:1 square — the safest all-rounder; fills space in most feeds and chat.
- 4:5 portrait — claims more vertical room in a scrolling feed without going full-screen.
- 9:16 vertical — stories and full-screen mobile.
- 16:9 landscape — desktop timeline cards and screen recordings.
Suggested shapes by platform
- X / Twitter — 16:9 for the desktop card, or 1:1 for mobile feed presence.
- Discord & Slack — shape is flexible; 1:1 or 16:9 both read well in channels.
- Custom emoji (Discord/Slack) — 1:1 at a tiny width (~128px).
- Stories / vertical — 9:16.
Width and file size
Bigger is not better for a GIF. Width drives file size hard, and most feeds display GIFs fairly small, so 480px is a sensible default and 720px is plenty for detailed or text-heavy clips. Set the shape with a crop preset, then dial the width.
Set the crop shape and width, then export:
Open the converterFAQ
What is the best aspect ratio for a GIF in a feed?▾
1:1 square is the safest all-rounder, and 4:5 portrait claims more vertical space. Use 9:16 for full-screen vertical and 16:9 for landscape cards.
What width should a social-media GIF be?▾
Around 480px is a good default; go up to 720px for detailed or text-heavy clips. Larger mainly adds file size, not visible quality.
Does a bigger GIF look better?▾
Not usually. Feeds display GIFs small, and width drives file size quickly, so oversizing just makes a heavier file with no real gain.