LinkedIn profile picture

What your LinkedIn profile picture should look like

Your LinkedIn profile picture is displayed as a small circle next to everything you do on the platform: posts, comments, connection requests, job applications. It gets judged at thumbnail size in a fraction of a second. This page covers the rules that matter, what the strongest profile pictures share, the mistakes that quietly cost credibility, and the fastest ways to get a photo that works.

Updated August 2026

Get my profile pictureFull LinkedIn headshot guide

The LinkedIn profile picture rules that matter

LinkedIn asks for a square upload of at least 400 by 400 pixels, under 8 MB, and displays it as a circle. Beyond the technical specs, the platform norms are consistent: you alone in the frame, your face taking up around 60 percent of it, a recent likeness, and no logos in place of a face on a personal profile. Note that your picture is visible beyond your connections by default; you can restrict visibility in settings, but a visible, professional photo is part of why profiles get opened at all.

  • Square upload, 400 by 400 pixels minimum, under 8 MB, shown as a circle.
  • Face at around 60 percent of the frame; leave margin for the circular crop.
  • For exact dimensions everywhere LinkedIn reuses the photo, see the size guide.

Profile picture or background photo: they do different jobs

The profile picture is you; the background banner behind it is context. The banner is a wide 1584 by 396 pixel image where a workspace, a speaking shot, or a simple branded color all work. Do not spend your best portrait on the banner, and do not put text you care about near its edges, where profile elements overlap it. Get the circle right first; it follows you everywhere on the platform, while the banner only appears on your profile page.

  • Profile picture: your face, judged at thumbnail size, follows you platform-wide.
  • Background photo: 1584 by 396 pixels, context and personality, profile page only.
  • Keep important banner content away from the left side, where the circle overlaps.

Common profile picture mistakes

The mistakes that cost the most are the quiet ones: a photo so wide your face is unreadable inside the circle, a cropped group shot with a stray shoulder, sunglasses or heavy filters that hide what you actually look like, a picture from a different decade, or no photo at all, which many people read as an inactive or unfinished profile. Every one of these is fixable in an afternoon.

  • Face too small inside the circle is the single most common mistake.
  • Sunglasses, heavy filters, and old photos undermine the trust the photo exists to build.
  • No photo at all reads as an incomplete profile and gets skipped.

How to get a profile picture that works

Three realistic routes: take it yourself with a phone, daylight from a window, and the camera at eye level; generate it with AI from one clear selfie, with professional framing, background, and outfit handled in about a minute; or book a photographer (typically $150 to $400) when the same image also serves press or executive branding. The full walkthrough of all three, including a step-by-step phone guide, is in the LinkedIn headshot guide linked below.

  • Phone route: costs time; the hard part is a result that does not read as a selfie.
  • AI route: one clear selfie, about 60 seconds per image, sized for the circular crop.
  • Photographer: $150 to $400, worth it when the photo has bigger jobs than LinkedIn.

See also

Direct answers

What should my LinkedIn profile picture be?

A recent, well-lit photo of you alone, head and shoulders, with your face taking up around 60 percent of a square frame that is at least 400 by 400 pixels. It should read clearly when shrunk to a small circle, because that is how everyone sees it.

What size is a LinkedIn profile picture?

Upload a square image of at least 400 by 400 pixels, under 8 MB. LinkedIn displays it as a circle, so center your face and leave margin at the edges. The LinkedIn headshot size guide covers every place the photo is reused and the exact dimensions for each.

Should my LinkedIn photo be a professional headshot?

It should look professional, which is not the same as requiring a studio session. A clear phone photo in good daylight or an AI-generated headshot from one clear selfie both meet the bar for most roles. What matters is lighting, framing, a current likeness, and an expression that reads as approachable.

Who can see my LinkedIn profile picture?

By default it is broadly visible, including outside your network, and LinkedIn lets you restrict it to connections or your network in the photo visibility settings. Most professionals keep it public: recruiters and clients routinely check profiles before reaching out, and a visible photo is part of why they do.

How many photos do I need?

One clear, recent selfie is enough to start. You can add more source photos, but you do not need a studio photo or a large upload set.

Can I create a free account?

Yes. You can create a free account, upload one clear selfie, and choose a paid pack when you are ready to generate finished headshots.

How much does a paid package cost?

One-time paid packs start at $4.99 for 2 professional photos. See the pricing page for every current pack.

Create your professional headshot

Create a free account, upload one clear selfie, and choose a paid pack when you are ready to generate finished photos.

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