Create a Facebook Cover Photo in Under 2 Minutes

Creating the Perfect Facebook Cover Image

When someone arrives at your Facebook Page, the first thing they see is your Facebook cover photo — a huge image that takes up almost a quarter of your screen. It introduces your brand to potential Facebook followers and sets the tone for their interaction with you, so it can make or break your Facebook marketing efforts. A good cover photo will encourage people to follow you, interact with your page and visit your website, while a bad one will have them tapping “Back” before you can say “Facebook.”

So what’s the best way to create a great Facebook cover photo -- and make the most out of it?

This article will show you how to easily create that perfect cover photo for your business and give you some great Facebook cover photo templates to get started!

Facebook Cover Photo Size

Facebook cover photos are displayed at 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels tall on desktops, and 640 pixels wide by 360 pixels tall on smartphones. You must have a minimum size of 400 x 150 pixels.

For images with a logo or text, using a PNG file is the best option.

Keep in mind that if your cover image is too big, Facebook will crop it, and if the image is too small, it might look stretched and pixelated.

If you want a no-hassle way to make sure your cover photos are the right size, use our Facebook Cover Image pre-set size to ensure they look great on all devices.

Important Note: In Stencil, we use a slightly different size for the Facebook Cover Image: 820px x 360px These dimensions use the Facebook recommended desktop width and mobile height. By doing this you can use our "Safe Area" feature to create a single image that will look perfect on all devices.

Creating Facebook Cover Photos: Best Practices

A great Facebook cover image should grab attention and encourage people to take action on your page. It's the very first thing they see when visiting your Facebook page, so it's a huge opportunity to make a great impression. Here are some things you should keep in mind when creating your cover photo:

Follow Facebook's cover photo guidelines

If you’re caught violating Facebook’s guidelines, Facebook might take action against your page. While it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the complete list of their policies, here are a few important things to keep in mind:

• Your cover must not be deceptive or misleading in any way.
• Make sure you’re not infringing on anyone’s copyright.
• You can't ask people to upload your cover to their personal timelines for advertising purposes.

Make it relevant to your brand

Your Facebook page is an extension of your business, so it's important to keep things familiar right off the bat. Use memorable imagery with colors that reflect your brand to make sure visitors know they're on the right page.

Don't worry about the old '20% text' rule, but still try to stay visual

The old "20% text" rule doesn't apply to cover images anymore, but it's typically best to avoid using too much text or graphics.

Match your Facebook cover photo with your profile picture

A Facebook cover photo that matches with the profile picture looks professional and makes a great first impression.

Show what’s behind your brand

You may want to show your followers what’s going on behind-the-scenes and introduce them to your enthusiastic and friendly team. Or you may demonstrate how they can make the most out of your offering by showing your current customers using your products.

Advertise your upcoming events or special offers

If you have an event coming up soon or you are running a promotion, be sure to feature them in your cover photo.

Brands Who Got It Right: Facebook Cover Photo Examples