VisionWhat size is a Twitter header?
A Twitter header is 1500 x 500 pixels, the size X recommends for the banner at the top of your profile. This free Twitter header maker builds a header at exactly that size with your colors and text, shows where the profile photo and edge crop land, and downloads a PNG or JPEG.
The header is the biggest image on your profile, yet a lot of accounts leave it blank or use a random photo. That's wasted space. A simple header with one clear line about what you do can tell a visitor more than your whole bio.
How to use the Twitter header maker
- Choose a background: a solid color, a two-color gradient or a subtle pattern.
- Pick your colors. For gradients, set the direction. For patterns, choose dots, a grid or diagonal lines.
- Type a short headline and an optional subline.
- Set the alignment, font and headline size.
- Turn on the Desktop or Mobile photo guide and the crop zones to check that nothing important gets covered.
- Download a PNG or JPEG, then upload it on X under Edit profile.
The guides only appear in the preview. Your download is always a clean 1500 x 500 image with no overlay.
What gets cropped on an X header?
X's help center says up to 60 pixels at the top and bottom of a header can be cropped, depending on the screen and browser. So the safe area for text is roughly the middle 380 pixels of height.
That note comes from X's help page on uploading profile photos, as of October 2026. Here are the header specs in one place:
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Recommended size | 1500 x 500 pixels (3:1) |
| File types | JPEG, GIF or PNG |
| Animated GIF | Not supported for headers |
| Possible crop | About 60 px at the top and bottom |
The size and file types are listed in X's guide to customizing your profile.
Where does the profile photo cover the header?
Your round profile photo overlaps the lower-left part of the header on X, on both desktop and mobile. Anything you put in that corner will be hidden behind your face or logo.
Here's the honest part: X doesn't publish exact numbers for where the photo sits. The circles in this tool are an approximate guide based on X's usual layout, and the real position shifts a little with screen width and app version. Treat the lower-left quarter as a no-text zone and you'll be fine on any device. That's also why center or right alignment usually works better than left for headlines.
Header ideas that work
X's business guide suggests treating the header like a billboard for what's new or timely. I like that framing because it keeps headers simple. A few patterns that hold up well:
- One clear promise. "Helping small teams ship calmer software" says what you do in six words.
- What's new. A launch, a book or an event, with the date in the subline.
- Where to go next. "Free weekly newsletter" with the name of it, so the header backs up your bio link.
- Just texture. A calm gradient or pattern in your brand colors, no text at all. It still looks finished.
Keep contrast high. White text on a dark gradient, or dark text on a light solid, reads well at phone size. Thin, light text on a busy pattern does not.
You can read more of that billboard advice in X's guide to getting your business started.
Common header mistakes
The most common mistake is putting text near the edges. It looks fine in an editor, then gets cut off on a laptop or hidden by the profile photo. Keep words in the middle band.
- Writing too much. If it takes more than a few seconds to read, most people won't.
- Using a tiny font size. The header shows much smaller on phones than on your screen.
- Uploading the wrong shape. A 16:9 photo gets cropped to 3:1, and the part you cared about may be gone.
- Never updating it. An old launch date makes the whole profile look stale.
Which tools go well with the header maker?
Your header and profile photo are seen together, so make them match. Crop your photo with the Twitter Profile Picture Resizer. If you already have a header photo, check it with the Twitter Banner Crop Preview and shrink big files using the Twitter Image Compressor. Then see the full result in the Twitter Profile Preview.
For design ideas, browse these Twitter header ideas for businesses and learn how to make your X profile stand out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Twitter header look cropped?
A Twitter header looks cropped because X displays it differently on different screens and browsers. X's help center says about 60 pixels at the top and bottom can be cut. Use a 1500 x 500 image and keep text and logos in the middle, away from the top, bottom and lower-left corner.
Can I use a photo as my Twitter header?
Yes, you can use any JPEG, GIF or PNG photo as your Twitter header, but animated GIFs aren't supported. Crop it to 1500 x 500 pixels first so X doesn't cut it in odd places. This header maker focuses on color and text designs, so pair it with an image cropping tool for photo headers.
What should I put on my X header?
Put one clear message on your X header: what you do, what you're launching, or where people can learn more. Keep it to a short headline and an optional subline. A clean gradient with no text also works well. Avoid long lists, small print and anything in the lower-left corner.
Is this Twitter header maker free?
Yes, this Twitter header maker is free with no sign-up and no watermark. It draws your header on a canvas in your browser, so nothing is uploaded to a server. You can make as many 1500 x 500 headers as you like and download each one as a PNG or a JPEG file.
Should I save my header as PNG or JPEG?
Save your header as a PNG if it has flat colors and text, since PNG keeps letters sharp. Save it as a JPEG if it's mostly a photo or a soft gradient, since JPEG files are usually smaller. Both formats work on X, and this header maker exports either one at 1500 x 500.