Featured Image Size
What size should your WordPress featured image be? The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the recommended size can vary depending on your WordPress theme and your own preferences. However, there are some general guidelines that you can follow to ensure that your featured images look great on your website.
First and foremost, it’s a good idea to use images that are at least 1200 pixels wide and 800 pixels tall. This size will ensure that your featured image looks good on most devices and will also provide enough detail for high-resolution displays. If you use an image that is too small, it may look blurry or pixelated on larger screens, which can make your website look unprofessional.
Optimize for the Web
It’s also important to ensure that your featured image is optimized for web use, with a file size that is not too large. Large image files can slow down your website’s load times, which can frustrate readers and hurt your website’s search engine rankings. To optimize your images for the web, you can use a free tool like TinyPNG or Compressor.io to compress your images without losing quality.
While a size of 1200×800 pixels is a good starting point, it’s important to note that some themes may have specific requirements for featured image sizes. For example, some themes may require that your featured image be exactly 900 pixels wide or have a specific aspect ratio. To ensure that your featured images look their best, it’s always a good idea to check your theme’s documentation or contact the theme developer for specific guidance.
Best Practices for Your Featured Images
Choose high-quality images
The quality of your featured images can have a big impact on how your website is perceived. Be sure to choose images that are high-resolution, clear, and visually appealing. You can find free high-quality images on websites like Unsplash or Pexels, or you can create your own images using a tool like Canva.
Optimize images for web use
As mentioned earlier, it’s important to optimize your WordPress featured image for the web to ensure that your website loads quickly. To do this, you can compress your images without losing quality using a tool like TinyPNG or Compressor.io. You should also make sure to use the correct file format (JPG, PNG, or GIF) and to keep the file size as small as possible.
Read our article 10 Free Image Editing Tools.
Use relevant images
Your featured images should be relevant to the content of your post. A good featured image can help to communicate the topic or message of your post, and it can also help to make your content more shareable on social media. Be sure to choose images that accurately represent the content of your post.
Follow your theme’s guidelines
As mentioned earlier, some WordPress themes may have specific guidelines for featured images. Make sure to follow your theme’s recommendations for image size and aspect ratio to ensure that your featured images look their best.
Add alt text and captions
Alt text and captions are important for accessibility and SEO. Alt text provides a text description of your image for visually impaired readers, while captions can help to provide context for your image. Be sure to add alt text and captions to your featured images for maximum impact.
In Summary
Featured images are an important part of any WordPress post, and the recommended size for these images is at least 1200 pixels wide and 800 pixels tall. By following these best practices, you can ensure that your WordPress featured images look great and help to make your content stand out. With a little attention to detail, your featured images can help to give your website a professional, polished look that will engage readers and keep them coming back for more.
