What Is the Best Screenshot Size? Complete Guide for Every Platform

Screenshot size matters more than you think. Wrong dimensions mean awkward cropping, blurry images, or wasted space.

Here's the definitive guide to getting it right.

The Short Answer

For most uses: Capture at the largest size possible, then export at 2x your display size. Example: If your image displays at 800px wide on a website, export it at 1600px wide.

This ensures sharp display on retina/high-DPI screens.

Best Screenshot Sizes by Platform

Website Hero Images

| Use Case | Recommended Size | Aspect Ratio |

|----------|-----------------|--------------|

| Desktop hero | 1920 x 1080 px | 16:9 |

| Retina desktop | 3840 x 2160 px | 16:9 |

| Full-width banner | 2560 x 600 px | ~4:1 |

Export tip: Use WebP format for smaller file sizes without quality loss.

Social Media Screenshots

| Platform | Recommended Size | Notes |

|----------|-----------------|-------|

| Twitter/X | 1200 x 675 px | 16:9, displays fully in feed |

| LinkedIn | 1200 x 627 px | ~1.91:1 ratio |

| Instagram Square | 1080 x 1080 px | 1:1 |

| Instagram Portrait | 1080 x 1350 px | 4:5 |

| Facebook | 1200 x 630 px | Landscape preferred |

Pro tip: Export at 2x these sizes for retina displays (e.g., 2400 x 1350 for Twitter).

App Store Screenshots

| Device | Portrait | Landscape |

|--------|----------|-----------|

| iPhone 6.7" | 1290 x 2796 px | 2796 x 1290 px |

| iPhone 6.5" | 1284 x 2778 px | 2778 x 1284 px |

| iPhone 5.5" | 1242 x 2208 px | 2208 x 1242 px |

| iPad Pro 12.9" | 2048 x 2732 px | 2732 x 2048 px |

Important: Apple requires exact dimensions. Don't deviate.

Google Play Screenshots

| Type | Minimum | Maximum | Recommended |

|------|---------|---------|-------------|

| Phone | 320 x 320 px | 3840 x 3840 px | 1080 x 1920 px |

| Tablet | 320 x 320 px | 3840 x 3840 px | 1920 x 1200 px |

| Feature Graphic | 1024 x 500 px | 1024 x 500 px | Exact size |

Product Hunt

| Image Type | Recommended Size |

|------------|-----------------|

| Gallery images | 1270 x 760 px |

| Thumbnail | Crops to ~16:9 |

Tip: Design at 2540 x 1520 px for retina quality.

Understanding Resolution and DPI

What Is 2x Resolution?

Modern screens (retina, high-DPI) pack more pixels into the same physical space. A "2x" image has twice the pixels in each dimension.

| Display Size | 1x Resolution | 2x Resolution |

|--------------|--------------|---------------|

| 400px wide | 400 x 300 px | 800 x 600 px |

| 800px wide | 800 x 600 px | 1600 x 1200 px |

| 1200px wide | 1200 x 900 px | 2400 x 1800 px |

Rule of thumb: Always export at 2x for web use.

What About 3x?

Some devices (iPhone Plus models, some Android phones) use 3x resolution. For critical images, 3x ensures maximum sharpness:

• 1x = Standard displays
• 2x = Most retina displays (recommended minimum)
• 3x = Highest-density displays (optional but ideal)

How to Capture the Right Size

Method 1: Browser DevTools

1. Open DevTools (F12 or right-click → Inspect)

2. Click the device toolbar icon

3. Set custom dimensions

4. Take screenshot

This gives you exact control over capture size.

Method 2: OS Screenshot Tools

Mac: Cmd + Shift + 4 (selection) or Cmd + Shift + 3 (full screen) Windows: Win + Shift + S (Snip & Sketch) Linux: Various tools depending on distro

These capture at your screen's native resolution.

Method 3: Screenshot Apps

Dedicated apps like CleanShot X (Mac) or ShareX (Windows) offer:

• Custom dimension presets
• Scrolling capture for long pages
• Automatic retina handling

File Size vs. Quality Trade-offs

Bigger isn't always better. Consider:

| Format | Best For | File Size |

|--------|----------|-----------|

| PNG | Text, UI, sharp edges | Larger |

| JPEG | Photos, gradients | Smaller |

| WebP | Web use (best of both) | Smallest |

Website tip: Use WebP with PNG fallback for best performance.

Common Screenshot Size Mistakes

Mistake 1: Capturing Too Small

Upscaling small images creates blur. Always capture larger than needed.

Mistake 2: Ignoring Aspect Ratios

Each platform has preferred ratios. Mismatched ratios get cropped awkwardly.

Mistake 3: Forgetting Retina

1x images look blurry on modern screens. Always export at 2x minimum.

Mistake 4: Oversizing for Web

Huge images slow down websites. Balance quality with file size.

Related Reading

• Screenshot Size Guide: Dimensions for Every Platform - Platform-specific dimensions
• PNG vs JPEG vs WebP: Which Format for Your Screenshots? - Format comparison
• 7 Screenshot Mistakes That Make Your Product Look Amateur - Common mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best resolution for screenshots?

For web use, capture at the highest resolution possible and export at 2x your display size. For example, if an image displays at 600px wide, export at 1200px. This ensures sharp display on retina screens. For print, aim for 300 DPI.

What size screenshot for a website?

For website hero images, use 1920 x 1080 pixels minimum, or 3840 x 2160 for retina displays. For smaller images, calculate 2x your display size. A 400px wide thumbnail should be exported at 800px.

What is 2x resolution?

2x resolution means an image has twice the pixels in each dimension compared to its display size. A 2x image displaying at 500 x 300 pixels is actually 1000 x 600 pixels. This ensures sharp display on high-DPI (retina) screens.

Should I use PNG or JPEG for screenshots?

Use PNG for screenshots with text, UI elements, or sharp edges. PNG preserves quality without compression artifacts. Use JPEG for photo-heavy images where file size matters more. WebP offers the best balance for web use.

What screenshot size for social media?

Twitter: 1200 x 675 px. LinkedIn: 1200 x 627 px. Instagram Square: 1080 x 1080 px. Instagram Portrait: 1080 x 1350 px. Export at 2x these dimensions for retina quality.

Conclusion

The best screenshot size depends on your platform and use case. When in doubt:

1. Capture at the largest size possible

2. Export at 2x your display dimensions

3. Use PNG for UI, WebP for web

Get the dimensions right, and your screenshots will look sharp everywhere.