What this header checker tests
- File spec.Width and height against the platform's size, whether the shape matches, and the file weight.
- Device crops. What each phone, tablet, desktop and TV profile shows of your image, and what the app draws on top.
- Element conflicts. Mark your logo, face or headline and every device gets a score, the percentage of each element that is covered, and a fix.
Most checkers show where the crops fall. This one tells you which of your elements get hit, on which device, and by how much.
Header sizes and safe zones by platform (verified October 2026)
Upload sizes from each platform's help pages; overlays from our device profiles.| Platform | Upload size | Ratio | What covers or crops it |
|---|
| X (Twitter) | 1500 × 500 | 3.00:1 | Profile photo lower left; status bar and Dynamic Island on iPhone |
| LinkedIn (Personal) | 1584 × 396 | 4.00:1 | Profile photo on the left; phone shows a smaller strip |
| LinkedIn (Company) | 1512 × 256 | 5.91:1 | Logo lower left; phone crops the sides |
| YouTube | 2560 × 1440 | 1.78:1 | Desktop 2560 × 423, tablet 1855 × 423, phone 1546 × 423; TV shows all |
| Facebook (Personal) | 851 × 315 | 2.70:1 | Profile picture lower left; phone crops the sides |
| Facebook (Page) | 820 × 312 | 2.63:1 | Profile picture lower left; phone crops the sides |
| Twitch | 1200 × 480 | 2.50:1 | Profile picture lower left; channel bar along the bottom |
| Instagram Story / Reel cover | 1080 × 1920 | 1:1.78 | Profile row at the top, reply bar at the bottom |
| TikTok video cover | 1080 × 1920 | 1:1.78 | Captions and buttons on the right and bottom |
| Substack publication header | 1100 × 400 | 2.75:1 | Publication name and buttons below; phone scales it down |
| GitHub social preview image | 1280 × 640 | 2.00:1 | Link cards crop to 1.91:1 or a square |
| Email signature banner | 600 × 120 | 5.00:1 | Scaled, not cropped; dark mode changes the background |
Where our device data comes from
Every device profile is measured from the live app or site on a named device: the visible strip, and the photo, name, buttons and system bars drawn over it. Profiles were last verified in October 2026 and are re-checked when a platform changes its layout. X and Facebook do not publish their crop values, so those come from our measurements, not from the platforms. The methodology page has the detail.
Why your header looks fine on desktop and wrong on your phone
Every platform publishes one banner size, but each device shows a different slice of that file and the app lays a profile picture, a name or a row of buttons on top. A template only guarantees the upload dimensions; it says nothing about what survives.
- Avatar overlap. X puts the profile photo over the lower left; LinkedIn over the left.
- TV overscan. Keep critical detail at least 50 px from any edge of a YouTube banner.
- Color. Export in sRGB, or colors shift once the platform recompresses the file.
What usually gets cut
| Problem | Device | Fix |
|---|
| Bottom third hidden by photo and name | Phones | Move text into the upper middle |
| Corners rounded or covered | Desktop | Keep logos off the corners |
| Center top under the status bar | iPhone with Dynamic Island | Leave the top band as background |
| Sides trimmed | YouTube on phone and tablet | Design inside 1546 × 423 |
How to check your social media header
- Pick a platform. Choose the platform you are designing for: X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, TikTok, Substack and more.
- Drop your image. Drop your header into the uploader. The size, shape and file weight are checked against that platform straight away.
- Mark what must stay visible. Use auto-detect or draw boxes around the headline, face, logo or call to action.
- Read the device scores. Run the check to see every phone, tablet, desktop and TV profile for that platform, with what each one crops or covers and how to fix it.
Only need the numbers? Use the header size calculator. Want a critique of the design? Try the header roast. Need new words for it? The headline generator writes them. For X specifics, read how to test your Twitter header without publishing it and the Dynamic Island guide.
Header checker FAQ
- What is a social media header checker?
- A tool that shows how one banner image is cropped and covered on each device a platform supports. This one also scores the parts you mark, so you know which element is hit, on which device, and by how much.
- Does a correct size guarantee my header won't be cropped?
- No. The upload size only decides the file. Each device then shows a different slice, and the app draws a profile photo, name and buttons on top. A 1500 × 500 X header can be perfect and still lose its logo on an iPhone.
- Why does my X header look different on iPhone and Android?
- The phones draw it at different widths and put different things on top: the status bar and Dynamic Island on newer iPhones, a punch-hole camera on Pixels, and the profile photo over the lower left on both.
- What is the YouTube banner safe area?
- The centered 1546 × 423 px of a 2560 × 1440 banner (1235 × 338 at the 2048 × 1152 minimum). It is the only part phones show, so text and logos belong there.
- Where does the profile picture cover my LinkedIn banner?
- On the left. On desktop the photo overlaps the lower left of the banner; on phones it sits lower left and covers a larger share. Keep text right of center.
- Is my image uploaded or stored?
- The file is uploaded to our storage so the device check can run against it. It is not posted to any social account, not shared, and never shown in the gallery unless you run a paid audit and opt in.
- What's the difference between the free check and the $3 audit?
- The free check shows every device profile for one platform and which of your marked areas each one clips. The $3 audit saves the report to your account, adds exact move coordinates and an export sheet, links your live handle and lets you re-audit after a redesign.
- Can I check a banner for a platform not listed?
- Pick the listed platform with the closest shape to see crops, or use the header size calculator for the dimensions. Tell us the platform from the support page and we will add its device profiles.
