TikTok Photo Requirements Guide
Photo Carousel Dimensions
TikTok photo carousels (Photo Mode) allow up to 35 images in a swipeable post. These perform increasingly well for educational content, product showcases, and storytelling. Recommended dimensions: 1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16 vertical). This fills the full screen. Landscape and square images are supported but display with black bars, reducing impact. Design in the safe zone: keep text and important content away from the top 150px (username) and bottom 250px (caption, buttons). The center 1080x1520 area is fully visible. Carousel posts can include text overlays added in the TikTok editor, or you can design complete graphics externally and upload them. External graphics give you more design control. Photo carousels get distributed through the For You Page just like videos. The algorithm measures time spent, swipe-through rate, shares, and saves.
Design at 1080x1920
Full vertical format fills the screen. Avoid landscape or square that shows black bars.
Keep content in safe zone
Top 150px and bottom 250px are covered by UI. Keep important text in the center.
Hook on slide 1
First image determines whether users swipe. Make it compelling with a clear hook.
Up to 35 slides
More content for educational posts. Keep each slide focused on one point.
Profile Photo Size
TikTok profile photos: minimum 200x200 pixels, displayed as a circle. For best quality, upload 400x400 or larger. The profile photo appears small in most TikTok contexts: tiny in the For You Page feed, small in comments, and medium on your profile page. Design for legibility at small sizes. For creators: a clear, expressive headshot or recognizable brand avatar. High contrast colors stand out in the small circular display. For businesses: simple logo or icon. Remove text that becomes illegible at small sizes. The icon alone is often more recognizable than the full logo.
Upload 400x400+
Square format, displayed as circle. Center your face or logo for circular crop.
High contrast
Bold colors and strong contrast ensure recognition at the tiny display sizes TikTok uses.
Test at small sizes
Preview at 50px or smaller. If you can't tell what it is, simplify.
TikTok Shop Product Images
TikTok Shop has specific image requirements for product listings that differ from regular TikTok content. Main product image: minimum 800x800 pixels, 1:1 square aspect ratio, white or light-colored background. Product should fill at least 80% of the frame. Additional images: up to 9 images. These can show the product in use, detail shots, and lifestyle contexts. The same quality and resolution requirements apply. TikTok Shop images should look professional but not overly polished. The TikTok audience responds to authenticity. A clean product shot with good lighting works better than an overproduced studio image. Banned content: no promotional text, prices, or watermarks on product images. No comparison with competitor products. No before/after images that misrepresent the product.
800x800+ square for main image
White background, product filling 80%+ of frame. Professional but authentic.
Show the product in use
TikTok's audience values seeing products in real-life context over studio perfection.
No text or overlays
No prices, promotional text, watermarks, or competitor comparisons on product images.
Use up to 9 images
Multiple angles, details, scale references, and lifestyle shots build buyer confidence.
Video Cover Images
Every TikTok video has a cover image that appears on your profile grid and in certain discovery contexts. You can choose a frame from the video or upload a custom cover. Custom covers: 1080 x 1920 (9:16 vertical). This matches the video format. Design covers that look good in both the full 9:16 view and the 1:1 center crop used in some grid views. Consistent cover style across your profile creates a polished, professional look. Use consistent fonts, colors, and layout for your video covers. The cover is also used as the video thumbnail when shared to other platforms, so it should clearly communicate what the video is about.
Design custom covers
1080x1920 with key content centered. Consistent style across your profile.
Center important elements
The grid view may show a cropped version. Keep text and key visuals centered.
Make it clear what the video is about
The cover should communicate the topic at a glance. Text overlays help.
Editing Photos for TikTok
TikTok content should feel native and authentic. Over-polished, heavily edited photos can feel out of place on the platform. For carousels: vibrant colors, high contrast, and clear text. 'Make the colors more vivid and increase contrast' gives photos the punchy look that performs on TikTok. For TikTok Shop: 'Remove the background and make it white' for product main images. 'Place this product in a lifestyle setting' for additional images. For converting landscape photos to vertical: 'Extend the background above and below to make this photo 9:16 vertical for TikTok' fills the vertical format without awkward cropping.
Boost vibrancy
'Make colors more vivid and increase contrast' for the punchy look TikTok rewards.
Convert to vertical
'Extend background to make 9:16 vertical' for landscape photos you want to use on TikTok.
Keep it authentic
Don't over-edit. TikTok's audience values authenticity over perfection.
Frequently Asked Questions
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