OG Image Size Guide: 1200×630 as a Practical Starting Point

1200 × 630 pixels is a practical starting size for an Open Graph image. It has a 1.91:1 aspect ratio and is close to LinkedIn's published 1200 × 627 recommendation for Page link previews. It is not a pixel size required by the Open Graph protocol, and no single image is guaranteed to appear identically in every app.

Use this guide to choose a working canvas, publish complete metadata, and test the live result instead of relying on a platform-size table that will go stale.

The useful answer

Start with a 1200 × 630 px canvas when you want one share image for several destinations. Keep the title, logo, and important product UI away from the outer edges so the design remains legible if a service crops, scales, pads, or shows a compact preview.

Then test the published page on the services that matter to your audience. Preview behaviour depends on more than dimensions: the page must be crawlable, its metadata must resolve correctly, and the image URL must be publicly accessible.

You can create the working asset with the Screenhance OG image generator, inspect a published page with the OG image checker, compare 12 original OG image examples with layout analysis, and use the OG image best-practices guide for layout advice.

What the Open Graph protocol actually requires

The Open Graph protocol requires these four basic properties:

• `og:title`
• `og:type`
• `og:image`
• `og:url`

It also defines structured image properties such as `og:image:type`, `og:image:width`, `og:image:height`, and `og:image:alt`. The protocol recommends adding `og:image:alt` whenever an image is present. It does not prescribe 1200 × 630 or any other universal pixel size.

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Use absolute HTTPS URLs in the final page. If the image is generated dynamically, make sure a crawler can fetch it without signing in, accepting cookies, or running client-side application code.

Platform guidance you can verify

LinkedIn

LinkedIn's current Page help recommends a 1.91:1 link-preview image, specifically 1200 × 627 px, and says the image should be more than 200 px wide. LinkedIn also notes that other aspect ratios may appear with padding rather than being cropped on mobile.

Use LinkedIn Post Inspector to see what LinkedIn can fetch from a public URL and to request a fresh inspection after metadata changes.

Slack

Slack's official unfurl documentation says Slack crawls commonly used Open Graph and X metadata when it creates link previews. It does not publish one universal image dimension or file-size limit for ordinary page unfurls in that guide.

Treat 1200 × 630 as a design starting point, not a Slack guarantee. Slack can suppress unfurling for a message, so the link title and surrounding message still need to make sense without an image.

X, Facebook, Discord, and messaging apps

These services control their own preview layouts, caching, and eligibility rules. A 1200 × 630 image is a sensible shared source asset, but do not promise an exact crop, card width, or refresh time without testing the current product.

If one destination is commercially important, publish the page first and test the real URL in that destination. Where a platform supports its own metadata, you can provide a destination-specific image without changing the general `og:image`.

Design one image that degrades well

Keep the message short

The page title and post text already carry context. Use the image for one clear idea rather than a paragraph. Preview it at a small size before export; share cards are often much smaller than the design canvas.

Protect the edges

Leave breathing room around logos, headlines, and interface details. This is not a universal “safe-zone” measurement—each service can render the image differently—but it reduces damage from modest cropping or padding.

Show real product evidence

Use a genuine product screen or an accurate visual of the page being shared. Avoid invented ratings, fabricated customer quotes, and claims the destination page cannot support.

Choose an appropriate format

JPEG is often efficient for photography and complex gradients. PNG is useful for flat graphics and sharp interface details. Optimize the file without making small text unreadable, and verify that the final public URL returns the expected image content type.

Publishing checklist

1. Export a 1200 × 630 working image, or use the exact recommendation for your priority destination.

2. Add the four required Open Graph properties.

3. Add image type, width, height, and meaningful alt text.

4. Use absolute, public HTTPS URLs for both the page and image.

5. Check the page's rendered HTML to confirm the metadata is present server-side.

6. Inspect the published URL with a platform tool such as LinkedIn Post Inspector.

7. Share the URL privately on important destinations and check desktop and mobile layouts.

8. If you change the image, version its URL and inspect again; do not assume every service refreshes immediately.

Static or dynamically generated images?

A static file is the simplest choice for a landing page or article whose visual changes rarely. A dynamically generated image can be useful when the title, author, date, or product data changes per page. Either approach is valid if the final image URL is stable, public, fast to fetch, and represented accurately in the metadata.

Frequently asked questions

Is 1200 × 630 the official Open Graph image size?

No. The Open Graph protocol defines metadata properties, not a required pixel size. Screenhance recommends 1200 × 630 as a practical 1.91:1 working canvas for a shared asset.

Will 1200 × 630 render without cropping everywhere?

No image size can guarantee identical rendering across every service and layout. Keep important content away from the edges and test the published URL on the destinations that matter.

Should I create a separate image for LinkedIn?

Not necessarily. A 1200 × 630 image is very close to LinkedIn's 1200 × 627 recommendation. If LinkedIn is a priority and exact composition matters, export a dedicated 1200 × 627 version and inspect it with LinkedIn Post Inspector.

Why is my old image still showing?

Link-preview services cache fetched metadata and images on their own schedules. Confirm the live HTML first, use a versioned image URL when practical, and use the destination's official inspection or debugging tool where one is available. Do not rely on a universal cache duration.

Does an OG-image checker reproduce every platform exactly?

No. A checker can verify metadata and show a useful approximation, but only the destination controls its production rendering. Treat a checker as a publishing diagnostic, then test the real shared URL.

Next step

Create a focused 1200 × 630 starting asset in the OG image generator, publish complete metadata, and validate the live URL. The measurement is the easy part; reliable crawling and a legible, honest design are what make the preview useful.