# Headshot Sizes for LinkedIn, Websites and Print

Choose a headshot's shape for its destination, then check the pixel dimensions and file-size limit. Keep a full-resolution original and make a separate export for each use.

Resource. Published 2026-11-06, updated 2026-11-06. 5 min read.

![Pencil-drawn headshot shown inside square, vertical and circular crop outlines above a ruler](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/assets/guides/covers/headshot-size-guide.webp)

There is no universal headshot size. A directory thumbnail, a conference brochure and a printed portrait can use the same photograph, but their exports may need different crops and resolutions.

## Start with the destination's requirements

These are named examples, not rules for every employer or university. Check the upload form again when submitting, because requirements can change.

| Destination | Shape and pixel guidance | Format and file size |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LinkedIn profile | Minimum 400 x 400 pixels; a square makes the circular preview easier to compose | JPG or PNG, maximum 8 MB |
| FIU Core faculty/staff profile guidance | Square preferred, at least 500 x 500 pixels | JPG or PNG, less than 1 MB |
| Georgia Tech BuzzCard | 500 x 500 to 4000 x 4000 pixels; its own face and background rules also apply | JPEG or PNG |
| Your organization's website | Ask for the actual template ratio and export dimensions | Follow the site's upload limit |
| An 8 x 10-inch print at 300 PPI | 4:5 portrait, 2400 x 3000 pixels | Ask the printer for its file and color requirements |

LinkedIn's [upload specification](https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a549049) sets the 400 x 400 minimum, 8 MB maximum and JPG/PNG formats. FIU's [profile-photo advice](https://core.fiu.edu/blog/2026/headshots-that-work-best-practices-for-profile-photos.html) and Georgia Tech's [BuzzCard requirements](https://www.buzzcard.gatech.edu/online-photo-submission/) serve different institutional purposes. A BuzzCard photo is an ID submission, not a general faculty-portrait standard.

## Four measurements that mean different things

**Aspect ratio is shape.** A 1:1 image is square. A vertical 4:5 image has four units of width for every five of height. Ratio says nothing about sharpness: both 400 x 500 and 2400 x 3000 are 4:5.

**Pixel dimensions describe the image grid.** An 800 x 800 file contains 800 pixels along each side. Cropping removes pixels; resizing can reduce them or calculate additional ones. Adding pixels does not guarantee recovered photographic detail.

**Print dimensions are physical measurements.** An 8 x 10-inch portrait describes the paper area. It does not tell you how much image detail the file contains.

**PPI connects pixels to print size.** Pixels per inch describes how densely image pixels are placed in a print. DPI, dots per inch, describes printer output and is often used loosely in submission instructions. If someone requests "300 DPI," clarify the required print dimensions as well.

Adobe's [image-size explanation](https://helpx.adobe.com/ro/photoshop/desktop/crop-resize-transform/resize-adjust-resolution/image-size-resolution-and-resampling.html) distinguishes pixel dimensions from physical size and explains why changing resolution metadata alone does not change the image's screen detail.

## Calculate pixels for a print

Multiply each print dimension in inches by the requested PPI. For an 8 x 10-inch portrait at 300 PPI, the calculation is 8 x 300 = 2400 pixels wide and 10 x 300 = 3000 pixels high.

| Print size | Pixels at 300 PPI | Aspect ratio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 4 x 6 inches | 1200 x 1800 | 2:3 |
| 5 x 7 inches | 1500 x 2100 | 5:7 |
| 8 x 10 inches | 2400 x 3000 | 4:5 |

These are calculated examples, not mandatory print sizes. Adobe describes 300 PPI as a common [high-quality print target](https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/desktop/crop-resize-transform/resize-adjust-resolution/resolution-specs-for-printing-images.html). Your printer may specify something else based on paper, output size and viewing distance. For casting submissions, follow the particular agency or platform's brief instead of assuming every upload needs a printed 8 x 10 format.

## Make a square work inside a circle

A square file and a circular display are different things. The circle hides the square's corners. Hair that fits at the top center may still be clipped near the upper corners, and shoulders can disappear at the lower edges.

Keep the face near the center and leave some space around the hair and chin. Preview before saving. LinkedIn's [profile-picture advice](https://nonprofit.linkedin.com/blog/2022/03/how-to-pick-your-linkedin-profile-picture-as-a-nonprofit-pro) describes its round crop and repositioning tools.

Use the [profile photo cropper](/tools/profile-photo-cropper) to prepare the shape, then the [profile picture tester](/tools/profile-picture-tester) to inspect small displays. If the original is already tight, shrinking the whole image inside a larger canvas or choosing a wider original may work better than cutting away more hair.

## One original, three exports

Suppose your original is 2400 x 3000 pixels and includes enough space around your shoulders.

1. **For LinkedIn:** crop a 2400 x 2400 square around the face, then export an 800 x 800 JPG. That export is an editorial suggestion within the published limits, not LinkedIn's required size. Verify it stays below 8 MB.
2. **For a website:** ask the editor for dimensions. If the template needs 600 x 750 pixels, resize the original proportionally to that 4:5 shape.
3. **For an 8 x 10 print:** retain 2400 x 3000 pixels and specify 300 PPI, subject to the printer's instructions.

## Fix an upload without damaging the original

If the file is rejected, check the extension, pixel dimensions and byte size separately. A large pixel count does not always mean a large file: compression and image content matter too.

For a file over the limit, export a JPG copy at a suitable quality and inspect it before reducing quality further. For visible blur, return to the original rather than sharpening a screenshot. For a poor crop, reposition the frame rather than lowering resolution. Our [phone headshot guide](/guides/how-to-take-a-headshot-with-your-phone) helps when the source itself needs replacing.

## FAQ

### What is the standard headshot size?

There is no single standard. LinkedIn has its own upload limits; websites and applications may specify another shape. An 8 x 10-inch print is a physical format, not a universal digital requirement.

### Is 400 x 400 enough for LinkedIn?

It meets LinkedIn's published minimum. A larger sharp original gives you more flexibility when cropping, but the uploaded file still needs to meet the format and file-size limits.

### Does changing 72 DPI to 300 DPI improve my photo?

Changing only the resolution metadata does not add detail. The pixel dimensions remain the same unless the software resamples the image. For online use, focus on pixels and the crop.

### Should I use JPG or PNG?

Use the format the destination accepts. JPG is often practical for photographs because it can produce smaller files. Inspect compression around eyes, hair and glasses before uploading.

### Why does my photo look cropped differently after upload?

The website may apply a circular mask, a fixed ratio or its own positioning. Preview the final placement and adjust the crop. A compliant file size does not guarantee a good composition.

## Sources

Requirements checked November 6, 2026: [LinkedIn upload specifications](https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a549049), [LinkedIn circular-crop guidance](https://nonprofit.linkedin.com/blog/2022/03/how-to-pick-your-linkedin-profile-picture-as-a-nonprofit-pro), [FIU profile photos](https://core.fiu.edu/blog/2026/headshots-that-work-best-practices-for-profile-photos.html), [Georgia Tech BuzzCard](https://www.buzzcard.gatech.edu/online-photo-submission/), and the Adobe references linked above. Export examples and pixel calculations are editorial guidance.

## Related guides

- [How to Change Your LinkedIn Profile Photo on Desktop or Mobile](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/guides/change-linkedin-profile-photo): Open your LinkedIn profile, select your existing photo and choose Add photo to replace it. Upload the new image, adjust its crop and save. Before you start, keep a copy of the old file and decide who should be able to see the replacement.
- [How to Take a Professional Headshot at Home With Your Phone](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/guides/how-to-take-a-headshot-with-your-phone): Face soft window light, put your phone at eye level about five feet away, and use a plain background. Take several photos with small changes in expression, then choose the sharpest frame that looks like you.
- [Academic Headshots for Faculty, Researchers and Speakers](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/guides/academic-headshots): An academic headshot should look like you and fit the page where it will appear. Start with the department or organizer's instructions, then choose the framing, clothing and file export for that specific use.

## Related headshot packs

- [LinkedIn Headshots](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/linkedin-headshots): The profile photo that gets recruiters to stop scrolling.
- [Professional Headshots](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/professional-headshots): Clean, corporate-ready portraits for any industry.

## Links

- [All guides](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/guides)
- [Create your headshots](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/start)
- [Home](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/)