{"id":13142,"date":"2025-06-11T17:10:47","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T17:10:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/?post_type=docs&#038;p=13142"},"modified":"2026-04-22T14:42:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T14:42:12","password":"","slug":"add-featured-image-to-post","status":"publish","type":"docs","link":"https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/docs\/kadence-theme\/add-featured-image-to-post\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Add a Featured Image to a WordPress Post"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id13142_240a40-da > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id13142_240a40-da > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id13142_240a40-da > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, calc(65% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem) * 1 )\/2)))minmax(0, calc(35% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem) * 1 )\/2)));}.kb-row-layout-id13142_240a40-da > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id13142_240a40-da > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id13142_240a40-da > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id13142_240a40-da alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column13142_b1f504-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column13142_b1f504-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column13142_b1f504-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column13142_b1f504-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column13142_b1f504-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column13142_b1f504-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column13142_b1f504-cb{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column13142_b1f504-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column13142_b1f504-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column13142_b1f504-cb\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Create or Edit a Post\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In WP Admin, under <strong>Posts<\/strong> click <strong>Add New<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Or, click <strong>All Posts<\/strong> and select a post to edit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Locate the <strong>Set featured image<\/strong> button.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>On the right-hand sidebar, scroll down to the <strong>Set featured image<\/strong> button.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you don&#8217;t see it, make sure to click on the <strong>Post<\/strong> tab on the top of the settings section.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click the <strong>Set featured image<\/strong> button.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You can select an existing image from the Media Library.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Or, you can upload a new image.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once selected, click the <strong>Set featured image<\/strong> button on the bottom-right of your screen.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Save your post.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You should see a thumbnail of your featured image in the Post settings panel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click Publish (for new posts) or Update (for existing posts) to save your changes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column13142_8067c8-e5 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column13142_8067c8-e5 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column13142_8067c8-e5 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column13142_8067c8-e5 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column13142_8067c8-e5 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column13142_8067c8-e5 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column13142_8067c8-e5{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column13142_8067c8-e5 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column13142_8067c8-e5 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column13142_8067c8-e5\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image13142_3c80ae-03.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image13142_3c80ae-03 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:250px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image13142_3c80ae-03.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image13142_3c80ae-03 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image13142_3c80ae-03 figure{max-width:250px;}.kb-image13142_3c80ae-03 .image-is-svg, .kb-image13142_3c80ae-03 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image13142_3c80ae-03 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image13142_3c80ae-03\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"420\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-06-10-at-2.17.25\u202fPM-420x1024.png\" alt=\"WordPress Post Settings - Featured Image\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-13143\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-06-10-at-2.17.25\u202fPM-420x1024.png 420w, https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-06-10-at-2.17.25\u202fPM-123x300.png 123w, https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-06-10-at-2.17.25\u202fPM-210x512.png 210w, https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-06-10-at-2.17.25\u202fPM.png 578w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_2e8c87-e4, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_2e8c87-e4[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13142_2e8c87-e4\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_2e8c87-e4 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_2e8c87-e4[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13142_2e8c87-e4\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_2e8c87-e4 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_2e8c87-e4[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13142_2e8c87-e4\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading13142_2e8c87-e4 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13142_2e8c87-e4\">What Image Size (Dimensions) Should I Use?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some suggested featured image sizes to consider:<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_250ab7-66, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_250ab7-66[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13142_250ab7-66\"]{margin-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_250ab7-66 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_250ab7-66[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13142_250ab7-66\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_250ab7-66 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_250ab7-66[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13142_250ab7-66\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading13142_250ab7-66 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13142_250ab7-66\"><strong>Landscape Images:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>1200 x 900 \u2013 Landscape 4:3 ratio<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1200 x 800 \u2013 Landscape 3:2 ratio<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1200 x 675 \u2013 Landscape 16:9 ratio<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_5c9418-e7, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_5c9418-e7[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13142_5c9418-e7\"]{margin-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_5c9418-e7 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_5c9418-e7[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13142_5c9418-e7\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_5c9418-e7 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_5c9418-e7[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13142_5c9418-e7\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading13142_5c9418-e7 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13142_5c9418-e7\"><strong>Portrait Images:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>1200 x 1600 \u2013 Portrait 3:4 ratio<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1200 x 1800 \u2013 Portrait 2:3 ratio<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_f523d4-6e, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_f523d4-6e[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13142_f523d4-6e\"]{margin-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_f523d4-6e mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_f523d4-6e[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13142_f523d4-6e\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_f523d4-6e img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13142_f523d4-6e[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13142_f523d4-6e\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading13142_f523d4-6e wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13142_f523d4-6e\"><strong>Square Images:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>1200 x 1200 \u2013 Square 1:1 ratio<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally you&#8217;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\u2019t have to worry about cropping out important parts of the image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re tailoring your featured images for sharing on social media, check with your preferred social media platform for recommended sizes and aspect ratios.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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. What Image Size (Dimensions) Should I Use? Here&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":227588,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"doc_category":[394],"doc_tag":[],"knowledge_base":[6],"class_list":["post-13142","docs","type-docs","status-publish","hentry","doc_category-theme-general","knowledge_base-kadence-theme"],"year_month":"2026-04","word_count":306,"total_views":"2953","reactions":{"happy":"2","normal":"0","sad":"2"},"author_info":{"display_name":"Anthony Paparelli","author_link":"https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/author\/anthony-paparelli\/"},"doc_category_info":[{"term_name":"General WordPress","term_url":"https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/knowledge-base\/kadence-theme\/theme-general\/"}],"doc_tag_info":[],"knowledge_base_info":[{"term_name":"Kadence Theme","term_url":"https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/knowledge-base\/kadence-theme\/","term_slug":"kadence-theme"}],"knowledge_base_slug":["kadence-theme"],"taxonomy_info":{"doc_category":[{"value":394,"label":"General WordPress"}],"knowledge_base":[{"value":6,"label":"Kadence Theme"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"comment_info":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/13142","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/docs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/227588"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13142"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/13142\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13161,"href":"https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/13142\/revisions\/13161"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"doc_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/doc_category?post=13142"},{"taxonomy":"doc_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/doc_tag?post=13142"},{"taxonomy":"knowledge_base","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kadencewp.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge_base?post=13142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}