A featured image (also known as a post thumbnail) is often displayed on blog pages, search results, post grid/carousel galleries, and sometimes at the top of single post pages. This document is a step-by-step guide on how to set a featured image for a post in WordPress.
- Create or Edit a Post
- In WP Admin, under Posts click Add New.
- Or, click All Posts and select a post to edit.
- Locate the Set featured image button.
- On the right-hand sidebar, scroll down to the Set featured image button.
- If you don’t see it, make sure to click on the Post tab on the top of the settings section.
- Click the Set featured image button.
- You can select an existing image from the Media Library.
- Or, you can upload a new image.
- Once selected, click the Set featured image button on the bottom-right of your screen.
- Save your post.
- You should see a thumbnail of your featured image in the Post settings panel.
- Click Publish (for new posts) or Update (for existing posts) to save your changes.
What Image Size (Dimensions) Should I Use?
Here are some suggested featured image sizes to consider:
Landscape Images:
- 1200 x 900 – Landscape 4:3 ratio
- 1200 x 800 – Landscape 3:2 ratio
- 1200 x 675 – Landscape 16:9 ratio
Portrait Images:
- 1200 x 1600 – Portrait 3:4 ratio
- 1200 x 1800 – Portrait 2:3 ratio
Square Images:
- 1200 x 1200 – Square 1:1 ratio
Generally you’ll want your images to be at least 1200px wide. No matter which size you choose, try to keep the main focus of the image near the center, with ample space above, below, and to the sides of that focus, whenever possible. Since most social sharing services crop the edges, you won’t have to worry about cropping out important parts of the image.
If you’re tailoring your featured images for sharing on social media, check with your preferred social media platform for recommended sizes and aspect ratios.
