A lot of time is spent browsing through the dynamic Facebook ad guidelines to find the perfect combination of images and words to effectively capture attention. And since Facebook ads have no exception on image size, it is important to know the difference so you can avoid distorted images, be able to reach the right audience and stay up to date.
Creating a Facebook ad is an art. You can try the traditional one-size-fits-all method but it could easily be scrolled past by viewers. It likely would not get the attention you hope for. So to avoid this, follow our guide below to find out what image size is going to work best for your ad.
SINGLE IMAGE ADS
Oldest and simplest ad type consisting of a single image with a link, a brief description, and a headline. It works well to convey every ad objective except for a video view. This is a perfect introduction to Facebook ads because it reaches and builds interest in viewers quickly.
Image Specs:
- File type: jpg and png
- Ratio: 16:9 to 9:16
- Cropped to 1.91:1 if you include a link
- Size: 1200 x 628 pixels or 1080 x 1080
- Pro tip: 1080 x 1080 sized images work great for most placements and networks
- Amount of text allowed on image: no more than 20%
Text:
- Headline: 25 characters
- Link: 30 characters
- Description: maximum of 125 characters
Take note that to Promote Your Page, it is recommended to have an image size of 1200 x 444 pixels in a ratio of 8:3. And to Increase App Engagement, choose a ratio of 16:9.
SINGLE VIDEO AD
Same content like a single image ad except for the video added. Usually used to gain traffic and capture the eye of your audience.
Video Specs:
- File type: MOV and Mp4 (preferred)
- Aspect ratio: 16:9 or 9:16
- Resolution: 720p at minimum
- File size: 4 GB maximum
- Length: 1 second to 240 minutes
Text:
- Headline: 25 characters
- Link: 30 characters
- Description: maximum of 125 characters
SLIDESHOW ADS
A lightweight looping video with music containing 3-10 images from video stills or Facebook’s free photo library. Slideshow is created to allow devices like mobile phones and desktops to access the video at low connection speeds and without consuming a lot of data.
Images Specs:
- File type: jpg and png.
- Image ratio: 16:9, 1:1 or 2:3
- Automatically crops to 1:1 if images are different sizes
- Image size: 1280 x 720 pixels
- File size: maximum of 30 MB
- Amount of text allowed on image: No more than 20%
- Number of images: 3-10
Video Specs:
- File type: MOV and Mp4
- Video ratio: 9:16 or 16:9
- File size: maximum of 4GB
- Length: maximum of 15 seconds
Audio Specs:
- File type: WAV, MP3, M4A, FLAC, and OGC formats
Text:
- Headline: 25 characters
- Link: 30 characters
- Description: 90 characters
CANVAS AD
This type of Facebook ad that allows a user interaction effect through a unique full-screen branded experience. When a user clicks on the ad, they are routed to a new window where a full-scale experience awaits. A short highlighting video clip can be seen, a 360 degrees panorama view, tilt-to-pan images, or a gamification element is included by clicking a button or swiping.
Image Specs:
- Aspect Ratio: 1.91:1
- Image Size: 1200 x 628 pixels
- Tolerance about 3%
- Amount of text allowed on image: no more than 20%
Video Specs:
- File type: MOV and Mp4
- Aspect Ratio: Vertical 4:5
- File Size: maximum of 4GB
- Length: maximum of 15 seconds
Text:
- Headline: 45 characters
- Description: 90 characters
- Audience access: Clicking on either an image, video or carousel ad in the news feed
CAROUSEL AD
An engaging ad format that allows a combination of both images and videos to be scrolled through. Every image can be linked to a different page of a website. This is commonly used for Product Catalog Promotion because it provides an easy-to-understand story behind every image or video combo. It also features a 360 degrees panoramic view format for the image, making it a more interactive storytelling experience.
Image Specs:
- File type: jpg and png
- Aspect ratio: 1:1
- Image size: 1080 x 1080 pixels
- File size: 30 MB
- Amount of text allowed on image: no more than 20%
- It is recommended to use images with minimum to no text overlay.
Video Specs:
- File type: MOV and Mp4
- Aspect ratio: vertical 4:5
- File size: maximum of 4 GB
- Length: maximum of 240 minutes
Text:
- Headline: 40 characters
- Link: 20 characters
- Description: 125 characters
INSTANT ARTICLES AD
A mobile ad format that allows for a fast-loading. Interactive content is promoted over the Facebook app so it loads and displays the ad up to 10 times faster than the standard mobile web. It allows brands to reach out to potential customers with a feature similar to the Canvas ad format. Once clicked, it opens into a full-screen mode that can be tilted or rotated in the mobile view, expanding the content and show peripherals of the image. While on the Facebook news feed, it can be watched on auto-play without clicking or opening the ad itself.
Image Specs:
- File type: jpg and png
- Image ratio: 16:9 to 9:16
- Cropped to 1.91:1 if a link is added
- Image size: 1200 x 628 pixels
- Minimum width and height: 600 pixels
Video Specs:
- File type: MOV and Mp4
- Aspect ratio: between 9:16 to 16:9
- File size: maximum of 4GB
- Length: maximum of 240 minutes
Text:
- Headline: 25 characters
- Link: 30 characters
- Description: 125 characters
MARKETPLACE
Facebook’s merchant hub where people can buy and sell products. It can feature an image or video ad that helps potential customers find a one-stop interactive destination with every possible category. It also allows the ad to be automatically paused when a seller marks it as sold.
Image Specs:
- File type: jpg and png
- Image ratio: 16:9 to 9:16
- Cropped to 1.91:1 if a link is added
- Image size: 1200 x 628 pixels
- Minimum width and height: 600 pixels
Video Specs:
- File type: MOV and Mp4
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 to 16:9
- File size: maximum of 4GB
- Length: maximum of 240 minutes
Text:
- Headline: 25 characters
- Link: 30 characters
- Description: 125 characters
Messenger
Available in three categories:
Destination Ads: ideal for follow up with a cold prospect since the ad showed in the news feed and then links to a Messenger conversation. Here, call-to-action buttons are available allowing the customer to engage in inquiries instead of directly offering a sale.
Sponsored Ads: presented as direct messages and is used to target prospects who have shown interest in the past. This is a good method for maintaining interest while minimizing the risk of going cold.
Home Ads: a personalized customer service involving a one-on-one conversation after initial contact.
Image Specs:
- File type: jpg and png
- Image ratio: 16:9 to 9:16
- Cropped to 1.91:1 if a link is added
- Image size: 1200 x 628 pixels
- Minimum width and height: 254px x 133px
Text:
- Headline: 25 characters
- Link: 30 characters
- Description: 125 characters
In Conclusion
Every ad format has its own benefit that can apply to a specific campaign you are targeting. The key for a high success rate is to examine the campaign and evaluate what type of format can deliver what you are trying to show or achieve. Having the right ad sizes can prevent blurriness or distortion of images and provide the best ad you can deliver.
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