LinkedIn background banners might seem like a small detail in your professional online presence, but they pack a serious punch. That little rectangular space at the top of your profile is actually prime real estate for making a killer first impression and telling visitors exactly who you are before they read a single word of your profile. A well-designed LinkedIn banner can make your profile pop, showcase your personality, and even help you land your next big opportunity.
According to LinkedIn’s own data, profiles with customized banners get 11 times more views and 36 times more messages than those using the default blue background. Check out our Blog for more insights. That’s a massive difference for such a simple change! Whether you’re job hunting, building a personal brand, or growing your business connections, your banner is an opportunity you shouldn’t waste.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about creating the perfect LinkedIn background banner – from dimensions and design tips to step-by-step tutorials and inspiring examples. No design experience? No problem! We’ve got you covered with simple tools and templates that make the process painless.
A LinkedIn background banner (also called a LinkedIn cover photo) is the large rectangular image that sits at the top of your LinkedIn profile, behind your profile picture. It’s one of the first things people see when they visit your profile, making it a critical component of your professional brand on the platform.
This space gives you a chance to visually communicate who you are, what you do, and what makes you unique – before anyone even reads your headline or about section. Think of it as visual shorthand for your professional identity.
Getting your banner dimensions right is crucial for making sure your image displays properly across all devices. Here are the current specifications for 2025:
| Banner Type | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Max File Size | Supported Formats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Profile | 1584 x 396 pixels | 4:1 | 8MB | JPG, PNG |
| Company Page | 1128 x 191 pixels | 6:1 | 8MB | JPG, PNG |
Using the correct dimensions ensures your banner looks sharp and professional rather than blurry or awkwardly cropped. Remember that LinkedIn will automatically resize images that don’t match these specifications, which often leads to unexpected cropping or distortion.
An important consideration when designing your banner is how it will appear on different devices. Your banner will display differently on desktop and mobile:
Because of these differences, it’s best to position your main design elements in the middle or right side of your banner to ensure they remain visible across all devices. Avoid placing important text or visuals on the bottom-left portion where they might be obscured by your profile picture.
Your LinkedIn banner isn’t just decorative – it’s a powerful tool for making your profile more effective. Learn more about Performance Management. Here’s why it deserves your attention:
When someone lands on your profile, your banner is one of the first elements they notice. In the fast-paced digital world, these initial seconds matter tremendously. A professional, thoughtful banner signals that you care about your online presence and pay attention to details – qualities employers and connections value.
Your banner gives you additional space to express who you are professionally. Whether you’re highlighting your industry expertise, creative abilities, or company affiliation, your banner can reinforce key aspects of your personal brand that might be harder to convey through text alone. Understand Employee Motivation.
As mentioned earlier, LinkedIn profiles with customized banners receive significantly more views and messages. This increased engagement can lead to more networking opportunities, job prospects, or business connections – all from a simple image update!
The default LinkedIn banner is the same blue gradient everyone gets when they create an account. Learn how to promote Employee Recognition. By customizing yours, you immediately stand out from the hundreds of millions of LinkedIn users who never bother to change this default setting.
Before diving into creation, take some time to think about what message you want your banner to convey. A little planning goes a long way toward creating a banner that effectively represents you.
Ask yourself what you want to achieve with your banner:
Your answer should guide your design choices. For example, a job seeker might want to showcase relevant skills and experience, while a business owner might focus on their brand and services.
Depending on your goals, consider including some of these elements in your banner:
Colors evoke emotional responses and can strongly influence how people perceive your profile. Choose colors that:
For data analysts and technical professionals, using colors commonly associated with tech (blues, greens, and grays) can help reinforce your professional identity.
Now let’s get practical! Here’s how to create your own LinkedIn banner, even if you’ve never designed anything before.
First, you’ll need to create a blank document with the correct dimensions:
The foundation of your banner is the background:
When using photos, make sure you have the rights to use them. Free stock photo sites like Unsplash or Pexels are good sources of high-quality images.
Now it’s time to personalize your banner:
Remember to:
As mentioned earlier, your profile picture will cover part of your banner, especially on mobile. Create a “safe zone” by keeping important elements away from the bottom-left corner.
Here’s a helpful guideline:
This ensures your key content remains visible regardless of how someone views your profile.
Before finalizing your design:
Once you’re happy with your design:
Voila! Your new professional banner is live.
You don’t need expensive software or design skills to create a great LinkedIn banner. Here are some of the best tools available:
Canva is probably the most user-friendly option for beginners. It offers:
Adobe offers a free version of their Express tool that’s great for banner creation:
Snappa specializes in social media graphics with:
If you have design experience or want more control:
For subscription-based access to premium templates:
| Tool | Price | Ease of Use | Templates | Stock Images | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canva | Free/Premium | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | Beginners |
| Adobe Express | Free/Premium | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | Quick creation |
| Snappa | Free/Premium | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | Social media focus |
| Photoshop | Subscription | ★★ | ★★ | ★ | Design pros |
| Envato | Subscription | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Premium quality |
Follow these guidelines to ensure your banner makes the right impression:
While personality is important, remember that LinkedIn is a professional platform. Your banner should be appropriate for potential employers, clients, and colleagues to see. Understand Employee Engagement. See What Is Performance Management for more. Avoid controversial imagery, overly casual photos, or anything that could be seen as unprofessional.
A blurry, pixelated, or poorly designed banner can do more harm than good. Always use high-resolution images, readable fonts, and balanced design elements. When in doubt, simpler is better than cluttered or low-quality.
Your LinkedIn banner should feel connected to your overall professional brand. Use similar colors, fonts, and messaging to what appears in your other professional materials like business cards, personal website, or portfolio.
Your banner isn’t a “set it and forget it” element. Consider updating it :
Always check how your banner looks on both desktop and mobile before finalizing. What looks perfect on your computer screen might be awkwardly cropped on a phone. Most design tools offer preview options, or you can simply view your profile on different devices after uploading.
Even well-intentioned professionals make these common banner errors:
Your banner isn’t a resume – it’s a visual element. Keep text minimal (think 5-7 words maximum) and impactful. Too much text becomes illegible, especially on mobile.
Using low-resolution images or stretching small images to fit will result in a blurry, unprofessional banner. Always start with high-quality images sized correctly for LinkedIn’s specifications.
Many people design beautiful banners only to have key elements hidden behind their profile picture. Remember the “safe zone” concept discussed earlier!
A busy, cluttered banner with too many elements will confuse viewers rather than impress them. Embrace white space and simplicity for maximum impact.
While stock photos can work well, extremely generic images (like random cityscapes or office scenes) don’t add personality to your profile. If using stock photos, choose ones that specifically relate to your industry or message.
Looking at real-world examples can spark ideas for your own banner. Here are a few approaches that work well:
A minimal design with your name, title, and perhaps one key credential against a solid or subtly patterned background. This approach works for nearly any profession and is hard to get wrong.
Feature your company’s branding prominently, perhaps with a tagline or brief statement about your role. This works especially well for those representing their business on LinkedIn.
Include imagery that represents your journey or expertise. For example, a software developer might include subtle code elements, while a travel industry professional might use imagery from destinations they specialize in.
Highlight a major accomplishment, award, or milestone in your banner. This could be subtle (like including award logos) or more direct (mentioning a specific achievement).
Include a subtle CTA in your banner, like “Let’s connect about digital marketing solutions” or “Ask me about renewable energy innovations.” This works well for consultants and service providers.
Your LinkedIn background banner might seem like a small detail, but it’s a powerful tool for making your profile more effective and memorable. With the right design, you can instantly communicate who you are professionally, stand out from competitors, and make a strong first impression on potential employers, clients, or connections.
Best of all, creating an effective banner doesn’t require advanced design skills or expensive software. With the simple steps and tools outlined in this guide, you can create a professional, eye-catching banner in less than an hour.
Remember these key takeaways:
Ready to transform your LinkedIn presence? Set aside an hour this week to create your custom banner. Your professional brand will thank you!
