Header size units
Header size in inches, centimetres and pixels
Every social platform measures headers in pixels. If a print designer, a template or a client asked you for inches, this page converts them and explains why DPI never changes what people see.
By Ian MacCallum · Checked on
Pixels are the only unit that matters on screen
X, LinkedIn, YouTube and the rest read the pixel width and height of your file and nothing else. The DPI (or PPI) number saved in the file is a note for printers. A 1500 × 500 header saved at 72 DPI and the same image saved at 300 DPI look exactly the same in the app.
Design tools that start in inches or millimetres are where the confusion comes from. If your canvas is set to 5 × 1.67 inches at 300 DPI, you are already at 1500 × 500 pixels. If it is set to 5 × 1.67 inches at 72 DPI, you are at 360 × 120 and the platform will blow it up until it is blurry.
Conversion table
Inches = pixels ÷ DPI. Centimetres = inches × 2.54.
| Header | Pixels | Inches at 72 DPI | Inches at 96 DPI | Inches at 300 DPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X header | 1500 × 500 | 20.83 × 6.94 | 15.63 × 5.21 | 5.00 × 1.67 |
| LinkedIn banner | 1584 × 396 | 22.00 × 5.50 | 16.50 × 4.13 | 5.28 × 1.32 |
| LinkedIn company cover | 1512 × 256 | 21.00 × 3.56 | 15.75 × 2.67 | 5.04 × 0.85 |
| YouTube channel art | 2560 × 1440 | 35.56 × 20.00 | 26.67 × 15.00 | 8.53 × 4.80 |
| Twitch banner | 1200 × 480 | 16.67 × 6.67 | 12.50 × 5.00 | 4.00 × 1.60 |
Which DPI to pick in a design tool
- Working in pixels? Ignore DPI and type the pixel size from the header size directory.
- Template in inches? Set 300 DPI and use the 300 DPI column above, so the export lands on the right pixel count.
- Retina worries?Export at the platform's size, not double. The platform downsizes for display anyway, and several cap the file size.
What size it actually appears
Physical size on screen depends on the device, not the file. A 1584 px LinkedIn banner renders near 792 px wide on a 1440p desktop and around 400 points on a phone. That scale change is what breaks small text, and it is why the header size calculator lists the display size per device next to the upload size.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the X header size in inches?
- 1500 × 500 pixels is 5 × 1.67 inches at 300 DPI, 15.63 × 5.21 inches at 96 DPI and 20.83 × 6.94 inches at 72 DPI. Only the pixel size matters on screen.
- What DPI should a social media header be?
- It does not matter. Platforms ignore the DPI value stored in the file and display the pixels. Set 72 or 300, export at the right pixel size, and the result on screen is identical.
- How do I convert pixels to centimetres?
- Divide pixels by the DPI to get inches, then multiply by 2.54. A 1500 px edge at 300 DPI is 5 inches, or 12.7 cm.
Check your header free
Upload your banner and see what every phone, tablet and desktop crops, in your browser.
Free preview. No signup. No card.
Need fix coordinates and a saved report? Full audit, $3
Token back within 30 days if the audit finds no device issue.