October 12, 2026 · 6 min read
Facebook Photo Size and Upload Limit — What It Is and How to Stay Under It
Facebook's photo upload limit explained: max file size, pixel dimensions, and how to compress images to the right size before you post.
Facebook accepts photos up to 15 MB per file. If your image is larger than that, the upload will fail. For most camera phone shots that land around 3–8 MB, you will never hit this. But RAW exports, edited TIFFs, uncompressed PNGs, and burst shots from mirrorless cameras regularly come in above 15 MB and get rejected outright.
Knowing the limit is only half the answer. The more practical question is what Facebook actually does to your photo once it gets in — and what you can do before you upload to keep it looking the way you intended.
What is the Facebook photo upload size limit?
The hard limit is 15 MB per photo. Videos have separate limits (1 GB for standard uploads, up to 10 GB for certain formats). This post is about still images only.
If you are uploading via the mobile app, the limit is the same, but the app may compress the image before it even leaves your phone, so you will rarely see an error on mobile. On desktop — especially when uploading full-resolution exports — you will hit the wall if your file is over 15 MB.
Does Facebook compress photos after upload?
Yes, always. Even if your photo is 3 MB and comfortably under the limit, Facebook re-encodes it on their servers. The details change over time, but the general behaviour is:
- JPEG photos are re-compressed, often to around 85% quality or lower
- PNG files are converted to JPEG unless they have transparency, in which case Facebook may keep them as PNG but still re-encodes them
- HEIC files from iPhones are converted automatically
- Maximum stored resolution is typically capped around 2048 px on the long edge for standard posts, though Facebook has rolled out higher-resolution storage for some account types
This means uploading a 20 MP JPEG will not give you a sharper result than uploading a well-prepared 2048 px JPEG. Facebook is going to re-encode it either way. The practical consequence: it makes sense to take control of compression yourself before you upload, so you decide the quality trade-off rather than Facebook's algorithm.
Why do some photos look blurry after uploading?
Three reasons, usually in combination:
Double compression. Facebook compresses your photo; if you already exported a heavily compressed JPEG, Facebook's pass makes it worse. Starting from a high-quality export and letting Facebook do one compression pass produces a cleaner result than uploading something already degraded.
Resolution mismatch. If you upload a photo smaller than Facebook's display dimensions, it gets upscaled and looks soft. Aim for at least 1200 px on the long edge for single images, and 2048 px if you want the sharpest result Facebook will actually store.
Wrong format. PNG files with lots of solid colour or text look sharper on Facebook than JPEG equivalents, because JPEG introduces artefacts around edges. For screenshots or graphics, try uploading as PNG.
What pixel dimensions should I upload at?
Facebook's own guidance and the dimensions that produce consistently sharp results:
| Use case | Recommended dimensions |
|---|---|
| Single photo post | 1200 × 630 px minimum; 2048 px long edge ideal |
| Profile picture | 170 × 170 px display; upload at least 400 × 400 px |
| Cover photo | 820 × 312 px (desktop); 640 × 360 px (mobile) |
| Shared link image | 1200 × 630 px |
| Story | 1080 × 1920 px |
If you are uploading photos from an event or holiday where the display size does not matter much, aim for the long edge at 2048 px and save as JPEG at 80–90% quality. That keeps file size well under 15 MB while giving Facebook the best possible input.
How do I reduce a photo's file size before uploading?
If you are hitting the 15 MB limit, or if you want to control quality before Facebook does its own compression pass, you need to reduce the file size yourself. The options are:
In a photo editor (Photoshop, Lightroom, GIMP). Export as JPEG and use the quality slider. Quality 80 on most editors produces a file that looks indistinguishable from the original at normal viewing sizes. For a typical 20 MP camera shot, this usually lands between 4–8 MB — well within the limit.
On your phone. Both iOS and Android let you share photos at reduced sizes through the share sheet. The trade-off is you have less control over the exact output size.
With an online compressor. The fastest option when you have a specific target file size in mind, or when you want to compress a batch of photos without opening a desktop editor. If you need to get an image under 15 MB — or simply want to control what Facebook gets before its own re-encoding runs — share-pics.com/compress lets you compress images to a specific target file size without needing an account. You upload, set the size you are aiming for, and download the result. No sign-up, no software to install.
Can I upload RAW files to Facebook?
No. Facebook does not accept RAW formats (.CR2, .ARW, .NEF, .DNG, and so on). You need to export to JPEG or PNG before uploading. Most RAW files are also well over 15 MB, so you would hit the size limit even if Facebook accepted the format.
Does Facebook have a limit on how many photos I can upload at once?
In a single album upload session, Facebook allows up to 1,000 photos. There is no stated limit on total album size across multiple uploads, but individual upload sessions may time out if you are uploading hundreds of high-resolution files in one batch. If you are uploading a large set, breaking it into batches of 50–100 is more reliable.
What formats does Facebook actually accept?
Facebook accepts the following still-image formats for upload:
- JPEG / JPG
- PNG
- GIF (animated GIFs play in the feed)
- BMP
- TIFF (converted on upload)
- HEIC (converted on upload, iOS default format)
- WEBP
AVIF is not currently accepted. If you have AVIF images you want to post, convert them to JPEG or PNG first.
What if I want to share photos without Facebook compressing them at all?
That is a different problem entirely. Facebook will always re-encode uploads — there is no setting to disable it, no matter how you upload or what account type you have. If preserving the original file exactly as shot matters — for a client, a print lab, a collaborator — Facebook is the wrong tool for that job.
Quick summary
- The Facebook photo upload limit is 15 MB per file
- Facebook re-compresses every photo you upload, regardless of file size
- For sharpest results, upload JPEG at 2048 px on the long edge before Facebook applies its own compression
- To get a file under 15 MB, use a photo editor or an online compressor — share-pics.com/compress resizes images to a target file size with no account needed
- Facebook accepts JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, HEIC and WEBP; not RAW, not AVIF
- You can upload up to 1,000 photos in a single album session
