HeadshotDB · Photo spec registry

Profile photo and headshot requirements, quoted from each platform

One square photo between 512 px and 1,024 px, saved as a JPG or PNG under 1 MB, meets the official limits of all 13 platforms below that publish any (use PNG for Discord, whose help pages disagree about JPG). 9 of the 22 platforms we checked publish no size, file limit or format at all. (Checked October 18, 2026.)

The one file that works everywhere

2 platforms set the limits. Everyone else’s rules fall inside them:

  • At least 512 px: the minimum set by Slack profile photo.
  • No more than 1,024 px: the cap set by Slack profile photo.
  • Under 1 MB: the file limit set by GitHub profile picture.
  • JPG or PNG: the only formats every platform that lists formats accepts. Discord’s help pages disagree with each other about JPG, so use PNG there.

ERAS residency applications are the exception: they want a portrait (not square) file. See the ERAS photo requirements.

Every platform, side by side

Sorted by how many people search for each platform’s photo size every month (US). “Not published” means the platform’s own help pages don’t say. It doesn’t mean there’s no limit.

Official profile photo requirements by platform
LinkedIn background (cover) photoSize ·1584 × 396 recommended (4:1)Max file ·under 8 MBFormats ·JPG, PNGSearches/mo ·8,360Spec ·Full spec
Facebook profile picture (Pages spec)Size ·320 px recommended; 176 × 176 desktop, 196 × 196 phone (Pages)Max file ·Not publishedFormats ·Not publishedSearches/mo ·2,900Spec ·Partial
Google Account / Gmail profile pictureSize ·Not publishedMax file ·5 MBFormats ·JPEG, PNGSearches/mo ·2,420Spec ·Partial
Instagram profile pictureSize ·Not publishedMax file ·Not publishedFormats ·Not publishedSearches/mo ·1,900Spec ·No spec
LinkedIn profile photoSize ·400 px – 4,320 pxMax file ·8 MBFormats ·JPG, PNGSearches/mo ·1,630Spec ·Full spec
YouTube channel profile pictureSize ·Renders at 98 × 98Max file ·15 MBFormats ·JPG, GIF, BMP, PNGSearches/mo ·1,300Spec ·Full spec
Microsoft 365 / Teams / Outlook profile photoSize ·Stored at sizes up to 648 × 648Max file ·4 MBFormats ·Not publishedSearches/mo ·960Spec ·Partial
Zoom profile pictureSize ·Not publishedMax file ·under 2 MBFormats ·JPG, GIF, PNGSearches/mo ·810Spec ·Partial
WhatsApp / WhatsApp Business profile photoSize ·Not publishedMax file ·Not publishedFormats ·Not publishedSearches/mo ·720Spec ·No spec
Slack profile photoSize ·512 px – 1,024 pxMax file ·Not publishedFormats ·JPEG, GIF, PNGSearches/mo ·680Spec ·Partial
Discord avatarSize ·Not publishedMax file ·Not publishedFormats ·PNGSearches/mo ·480Spec ·Partial
X (Twitter) profile photoSize ·400 px recommendedMax file ·2 MBFormats ·JPEG, GIF, PNGSearches/mo ·410Spec ·Full spec
Indeed job-seeker profile photoSize ·Not publishedMax file ·under 30 MBFormats ·JPG, PNG, HEICSearches/mo ·170Spec ·Partial
Fiverr freelancer profile pictureSize ·Not publishedMax file ·Not publishedFormats ·Not publishedSearches/mo ·70Spec ·No spec
Upwork freelancer profile photoSize ·250 px – 4,000 pxMax file ·5 MBFormats ·JPG, PNGSearches/mo ·50Spec ·Full spec
GitHub profile pictureSize ·max 3,000 px; 500 px recommendedMax file ·under 1 MBFormats ·PNG, JPG, GIFSearches/mo ·40Spec ·Full spec
Apple Account / iCloud / Contacts photoSize ·Not publishedMax file ·Not publishedFormats ·Not publishedSearches/mo ·—Spec ·No spec
Calendly profile picture (avatar)Size ·Not publishedMax file ·Not publishedFormats ·Not publishedSearches/mo ·—Spec ·No spec
Gravatar avatarSize ·Not publishedMax file ·under 10 MBFormats ·JPEG, PNG, HEICSearches/mo ·—Spec ·Partial
Medium profile imageSize ·Not publishedMax file ·Not publishedFormats ·Not publishedSearches/mo ·—Spec ·No spec
Okta End-User profileSize ·Not publishedMax file ·Not publishedFormats ·Not publishedSearches/mo ·—Spec ·No spec
Substack profile photoSize ·Not publishedMax file ·Not publishedFormats ·Not publishedSearches/mo ·—Spec ·No spec
Workday worker profile photoSize ·Not publishedMax file ·Not publishedFormats ·Not publishedSearches/mo ·—Spec ·No spec

Passports, job applications, casting and licensing

Passports and US visas forbid edited photos, including ours.

The State Department says photos must not be altered with filters, editing software or apps. Use an unedited photo from a pharmacy, post office or your own camera. We don’t sell passport or visa photos for this reason.

Passports and visas

Passports and visas photo requirements
US passport photo (print)Size ·2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm)Max file ·—Background ·white or off-white, plain, no shadows/texture/objects/linesRecency ·taken in the last 6 monthsNotes ·No edits allowed. color photo; no eyeglasses/sunglasses/tinted glasses (doctor's signed statement if medically unremovable) source
US passport online renewal (digital upload)Size ·Not specifiedMax file ·10 MBBackground ·plain, no shadows, texture, lines or objects (per State Dept guidance)Recency ·taken in the last 6 monthsNotes ·No edits allowed. The State Department page gives no pixel size for online renewal uploads. source
US visa photo (DS-160 digital upload)Size ·600x600 to 1200x1200 px, squareMax file ·240 KBBackground ·plain white or off-whiteRecency ·taken within the last 6 monthsNotes ·No edits allowed. 24-bit color, sRGB; compression ratio <= 20:1 source

Job applications by country

Job applications by country photo requirements
Germany job-application photo (Bewerbungsfoto)DESize ·approx. 4 x 6 cm to 4 x 8 cm on CV; up to 9 x 13 cm on cover sheet (BA 2026 guide); another BA office: min 4 x 6, max 6.5 x 8.5 cmMax file ·—Background ·calm, neutral backgroundRecency ·replace if older than one yearNotes ·not mandatory ('keine Pflicht'); since the AGG, job ads may not explicitly demand a photo source
Japan rirekisho (resume) photoJPSize ·usually 4 x 3 cm (H x W); MHLW template box 36-40 mm H x 24-30 mm WMax file ·—Background ·no background (無背景), front-facing upper bodyRecency ·roughly within 3 monthsNotes ·subject alone, chest up; no hat source
South Korea job-application photoKRSize ·Not specifiedMax file ·—Background ·—Recency ·—Notes ·The law bars requiring job-unrelated physical details in screening materials; it sets no photo size. source
France CV photoFRSize ·Not specifiedMax file ·—Background ·—Recency ·—Notes ·no legal requirement; requiring a photo should be exceptional; employers should not reject candidates for not providing a photo source
UK CV photo normGBSize ·Not specifiedMax file ·—Background ·—Recency ·—Notes ·Local-government careers guidance (Birmingham City Council); there is no national rule. source
US resume/application photo normSize ·Not specifiedMax file ·—Background ·—Recency ·—Notes ·employers should not ask for a photograph of an applicant; if needed for ID, obtain after offer is made and accepted source

Acting and casting

Acting and casting photo requirements
Actor headshot (print, industry standard)Size ·8 x 10 inMax file ·—Background ·—Recency ·—Notes ·Industry convention per Backstage's editorial guidance; no union or platform publishes it as a rule. source
Actors Access headshot uploadSize ·500 x 700 px (optimal)Max file ·—Background ·—Recency ·—Notes ·photo must be upright/portrait; rotate before uploading; free photo slots limited; remove older free photos to add new source
Casting Networks photo uploadSize ·minimum 360 x 360 pxMax file ·30 MBBackground ·—Recency ·—Notes · source
Backstage photo uploadSize ·Not specifiedMax file ·100 MBBackground ·—Recency ·—Notes ·square thumbnail crop of primary photo shown in Talent Database and applications; media must be added to profile from the profile Media section source

Licensing and bar exams

Licensing and bar exams photo requirements
New York real estate license pocket cardSize ·Not specifiedMax file ·—Background ·—Recency ·—Notes ·photo comes from NYS DMV (existing driver license/non-driver ID photo, or free DMV 'Image Capture Only' visit); applicant does not submit/upload a photo; pocket card must contain photo, name and business address; must be shown on demand source
Georgia real estate license (GREC)Size ·Not specifiedMax file ·—Background ·—Recency ·—Notes ·Certification of Accuracy (COA) statement includes candidate's photograph (captured at test site, per sample form) and must be presented with valid photo ID to obtain license; no applicant-supplied photo specs stated source
Florida bar exam applicant photoSize ·approx. 120 x 160 pxMax file ·100 KBBackground ·light-colored wall, very well-lit roomRecency ·—Notes ·color; head and shoulders square to camera (no 3/4 or profile) source
Texas bar applicant photoSize ·300 x 300 px after upload/cropMax file ·—Background ·plain whiteRecency ·within past 6 monthsNotes ·color; full face, neutral expression, eyes open source
Virginia bar exam applicant photosSize ·passport-style (size not specified)Max file ·—Background ·—Recency ·taken within the preceding twelve monthsNotes ·two identical unmounted photographs; snapshots not accepted source
California attorney profile photo / bar exam IDSize ·passport-type (no dimensions stated)Max file ·—Background ·—Recency ·—Notes ·one photo per profile, optional; bar exam: physical, valid government-issued photo ID required each session; no photo upload requirement found source
NCBE (MPRE) test-day identification photoSize ·Not specifiedMax file ·—Background ·—Recency ·—Notes ·no photo upload to NCBE Account found; primary ID must be government-issued with recent recognizable photo and signature source

No applicant photo required: we found no photo requirement for Texas real estate license (TREC), Florida real estate license (DBPR/FREC), California real estate license (DRE), Florida Bar member profile photo. Their official application pages ask for fingerprints or photo ID, but you don’t submit a headshot.

Applying for residency? The ERAS photo guide covers AAMC’s 2027 rules, dates and prices.

Who actually publishes a spec

Full spec (5): LinkedIn profile photo, GitHub profile picture, Upwork freelancer profile photo, X (Twitter) profile photo, YouTube channel profile picture.

Partial (8): Google Account / Gmail profile picture, Microsoft 365 / Teams / Outlook profile photo, Zoom profile picture, Slack profile photo, Indeed job-seeker profile photo, Facebook profile picture (Pages spec), Discord avatar, Gravatar avatar.

Nothing (9): Calendly profile picture (avatar), Okta End-User profile, Workday worker profile photo, Fiverr freelancer profile picture, Instagram profile picture, Substack profile photo, Medium profile image, WhatsApp / WhatsApp Business profile photo, Apple Account / iCloud / Contacts photo. Their help pages explain how to upload a photo but give no size, file limit or format.

Sizes you'll see quoted that the platforms don't publish

Size guides repeat these numbers, but we couldn’t find any of them in the platform’s own documentation. They may still work. They just aren’t official.

Commonly cited profile photo sizes not found in official documentation
LinkedIn profile photoClaim ·400x400 is the 'ideal'/recommended size (LinkedIn help gives it only as the lower bound of an accepted range)Where it comes from ·linkedin.com
LinkedIn profile photoClaim ·Profile photo displays as a circle (not stated in the LinkedIn help articles reviewed)Where it comes from ·Repeated widely, no single source
LinkedIn background (cover) photoClaim ·Older 4MB file-size limit for background photoWhere it comes from ·linkedin.com
Google Account / Gmail profile pictureClaim ·Minimum 250x250 px and 10 KB floorWhere it comes from ·support.google.com
Microsoft 365 / Teams / Outlook profile photoClaim ·Photo must be smaller than 4 MB and be .png, .jpg or .gif (older text of Microsoft support article, repeated by university KBs; not present in current page)Where it comes from ·service.purdue.edu
Microsoft 365 / Teams / Outlook profile photoClaim ·Recommended 648x648 pxWhere it comes from ·itssc.rpi.edu
Microsoft 365 / Teams / Outlook profile photoClaim ·Displayed as a circle / 1:1 square recommendedWhere it comes from ·learn.microsoft.com
Zoom profile pictureClaim ·Minimum 400x400, square 1:1Where it comes from ·community.zoom.com
Calendly profile picture (avatar)Claim ·Avatars must be at least 90x90 px and under 5 MB; square works bestWhere it comes from ·community.calendly.com
Okta End-User profileClaim ·Okta does not support uploading profile pictures (community answer)Where it comes from ·support.okta.com
Upwork freelancer profile photoClaim ·GIF accepted (community staff reply) - contradicts help center which bans GIF photosWhere it comes from ·community.upwork.com
Fiverr freelancer profile pictureClaim ·250x250 px or 400x600 px sizesWhere it comes from ·community.fiverr.com
Instagram profile pictureClaim ·320x320 px profile pictureWhere it comes from ·facebook.com
YouTube channel profile pictureClaim ·800x800 px recommended upload (widely repeated by third-party size guides; no specific source verified)Where it comes from ·Repeated widely, no single source
YouTube channel profile pictureClaim ·4MB max (YouTube Community video, conflicts with help center 15 MB)Where it comes from ·support.google.com
Substack profile photoClaim ·Square, at least 256x256 pxWhere it comes from ·adriennecoach.substack.com
Discord avatarClaim ·Recommended 512x512, any size with 1:1 ratio (community post quoting support)Where it comes from ·support.discord.com
Discord avatarClaim ·128x128 avatarWhere it comes from ·support.discord.com
Gravatar avatarClaim ·Max upload 512x512 px (WordPress.com support)Where it comes from ·wordpress.com

Platform details and exact wording

LinkedIn profile photo Full spec

Must reflect your likeness; logos, landscapes, celebrities and childhood photos can be removed.

  • Pixel size is between 400 (w) x 400 (h) pixels and 7680 (w) x 4320 (h) pixels. source
  • Maximum file size is 8MB. source
  • File type must be PNG or JPG. source
  • We don't support GIFs. source
  • your profile photo must reflect your likeness. source
  • Instead, aim to have your face filling about 60% of the space. source
LinkedIn background (cover) photo Full spec
  • 1584 (w) x 396 (h) pixels (recommended) source
  • Lesser than 8MB source
  • JPG or PNG file source
  • Recommended pixel dimensions are 1584 (w) x 396 (h) pixels. source
Google Account / Gmail profile picture Partial

Up to 20 megapixels; doesn't have to be square.

  • The file format is JPEG or PNG only. source
  • The maximum file size is 5 MB. source
  • The maximum pixel count is 20 million. source
  • Photos don't have to be square; they are scaled automatically. source
  • Your profile picture is used across all Google services. source
  • Whatever the size of the photo being uploaded, the API downsizes it to 96x96 pixels. source
Microsoft 365 / Teams / Outlook profile photo Partial
  • The maximum supported size of a photo is 4 MB. source
  • The size of the photo you can update to is limited to 4 MB. source
  • The supported sizes of HD photos on Microsoft 365 are as follows: 48x48, 64x64, 96x96, 120x120, 240x240, 360x360, 432x432, 504x504, and 648x648. source
Zoom profile picture Partial
  • Supported file types include JPG/JPEG, GIF, or PNG files smaller than 2MB source
Slack profile photo Partial
  • Your profile picture should be a minimum of 512x512 pixels, but no larger than 1024x1024 pixels. source
  • Please limit your images to a maximum size of 1024 by 1024 pixels. source
  • 512x512 pixels is the minimum. source
  • try passing a JPEG, GIF or PNG source
  • Width/height of crop box (always square) source
GitHub profile picture Full spec
  • Your profile picture should be a PNG, JPG, or GIF file source
  • it must be less than 1 MB in size and smaller than 3000 by 3000 pixels. source
  • For the best quality rendering, we recommend keeping the image at about 500 by 500 pixels. source
Calendly profile picture (avatar) No spec
  • Profile image: Go to Profile and select Update next to the profile picture. source
Okta End-User profile No spec

No official photo requirements found in this platform’s help pages.

Workday worker profile photo No spec

No official photo requirements found in this platform’s help pages.

Upwork freelancer profile photo Full spec

Close-up of head and shoulders, face clearly visible; no AI-generated photos.

  • Photo should be at least 250 x 250 pixels and no more than 4,000 x 4,000 pixels source
  • Accepted file types include .jpg and .png source
  • Maximum file size is 5 MB source
  • No fake or AI-generated photos source
  • Your profile picture must be a close-up image of your head and shoulders, clearly showing your face. source
Fiverr freelancer profile picture No spec

Show yourself clearly, facing the front; no GIFs, celebrities or other people.

  • If the photo is of yourself, show yourself clearly and face the front. source
  • Profile pictures should not be of another person, of a celebrity, be a GIF, or it should not misrepresent the service that you provide. source
Indeed job-seeker profile photo Partial

Focused on your face; employers don't see it.

  • Make sure the image is in JPG, PNG, or HEIC format. source
  • Files must be smaller than 30 MB. source
  • Use a photo that's focused on your face and a professional representation of yourself. source
X (Twitter) profile photo Full spec
  • Recommended dimensions for profile images are 400x400 pixels. source
  • Maximum file size for profile photos is 2MB. source
  • supports JPEG, GIF, and PNG file formats. source
  • Recommended dimensions for header images are 1500x500 pixels. source
Instagram profile picture No spec

No official photo requirements found in this platform’s help pages.

Facebook profile picture (Pages spec) Partial
  • Displays at 176x176 pixels on your Page on computers, 196x196 pixels on smartphones and 36x36 pixels on most feature phones. source
  • Is cropped to a circle. source
  • Should be 320 pixels wide and 320 pixels tall for best quality. source
  • For profile pictures and cover photos with your logo or text, you may get a better result by using a PNG file. source
YouTube channel profile picture Full spec
  • JPG, GIF, BMP, or PNG file (no animated GIFs) source
  • Image size should not exceed 15 MB. source
  • Image that renders at 98 X 98 px. source
  • It's best to upload a square or round image. source
Substack profile photo No spec
  • Click the current profile image and select a new image from your device. source
Medium profile image No spec
  • Change your profile image by clicking the Update button and uploading an image from your device. source
Discord avatar Partial

Help pages conflict on JPG; PNG is accepted by both.

  • Supported file types are PNG and GIF. source
  • Accepted file types for server avatars are JPG, PNG, and GIF files. The maximum file size is 8 MB. source
  • Like profile avatars, PNG and JPG are the supported file types and Nitro users can upload a GIF for their server avatars. source
WhatsApp / WhatsApp Business profile photo No spec

No official photo requirements found in this platform’s help pages.

Apple Account / iCloud / Contacts photo No spec

No official photo requirements found in this platform’s help pages.

Gravatar avatar Partial
  • Gravatar allows most common image formats: JPEG PNG HEIC source
  • Your image should be smaller than 10MB. source
  • You may request images anywhere from 1px up to 2048px source
  • By default, images are presented at 80px by 80px if no size parameter is supplied. source
  • passing a single pixel dimension (since the images are square) source

Download the data

The whole registry, including every source quote, is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Please link back to this page. It also covers the 1,460 monthly searches for generic queries like “headshot size” that don’t name a platform.

photo-specs.jsonphoto-specs.csv

How we collect this: methodology. Search volumes are US Google Ads estimates via DataForSEO.