uBlur
Basic Editing

How to Resize an Image for Instagram, YouTube, and Websites

Exact dimensions and free tools to resize visuals for every major platform.

By Sarthak KuchhalFounder, uBlurPublished 17/02/20257 min read
Editorial review

Reviewed by Sarthak Kuchhal

Builds and maintains uBlur's privacy-first screenshot editor and reviews core product guides against the live web app before major updates.

  • Product-first guides are reviewed against the current uBlur web editor.
  • We update workflows when the UI or export behavior changes.
  • If you spot drift, email [email protected] and we will review it.

Every social platform has its own quirks--portrait ratios grab more vertical real estate on Instagram, while YouTube wants 1280×720 thumbnails minimum. Rather than memorising specs, use a resizing workflow that ensures you never upload a stretched or pixelated image again.

Essential Dimensions in 2025

  • Instagram Feed: 1080×1350 (4:5 portrait) for maximum screen coverage.
  • Instagram Stories & Reels: 1080×1920 (9:16).
  • YouTube Thumbnails: 1280×720 (16:9) with file size under 2 MB.
  • LinkedIn Landscape: 1200×628 (approx. 1.91:1).
  • Website Hero Banners: aim for 1920×1080 or larger, then optimise.

Step-by-Step in Free Tools

Using Photopea (Browser)

  1. Open your source image (File > Open).
  2. Go to Image > Image Size. Enter the new width/height and enableResample: Bicubic Sharper for reductions.
  3. If you need a specific aspect ratio, add a new canvas (Image > Canvas Size) or use the crop tool with a fixed ratio.

Using Canva (Free)

  1. Create a design using a built-in template (e.g. "Instagram Post").
  2. Upload your image, then drag it to cover the canvas to avoid gaps.
  3. Use Download > PNG for crisp UI or JPG for photos; Canva handles the size for you.

Need Batch Resizing?

Use BulkResizePhotos or Squoosh to process multiple images simultaneously.

Protect Sharpness

  • Always downscale (reduce) rather than enlarge to avoid pixelation.
  • Keep text and UI elements at least 1080 px wide for Instagram.
  • Export to WEBP for websites--it delivers smaller files than JPG/PNG without visible loss.

Finish in uBlur

After resizing, drop the image into uBlur to blur sensitive details, add callout boxes, or highlight conversion buttons before posting. Resizing plus smart annotations is a winning combo.

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