Google Business Profile Cover Photo Dimensions
The recommended Google Business Profile cover photo size is 1080 × 608 pixels at a 16:9 horizontal aspect ratio. This is the hero image at the top of your Knowledge Panel, Google's most prominent placement for your business in local search results.
Google displays the cover at smaller sizes depending on device and search context, but it always preserves the 16:9 ratio. Uploading at exactly 1080 × 608 means your cover displays without cropping on every screen.
How the cover displays across devices
| Surface | Display Size | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop search Knowledge Panel | ~520 × 293 px | 16:9 |
| Mobile search | ~390 × 220 px | 16:9 |
| Google Maps panel | ~390 × 220 px | 16:9 |
| Photos tab (full view) | 1080 × 608 px (full) | 16:9 |
Why Google May Not Display Your Selected Cover
Google's local algorithm overrides your cover selection when it thinks a different photo better matches the user's search intent. For example, if someone searches "[business name] menu", Google may show a menu photo instead of your cover.
To increase the chance your cover is honored:
- Upload at exactly 1080 × 608 px in high quality
- Use a real on-site photo (storefront, interior, team, hero product), not a logo or graphic
- Mark it as the cover in your Google Business Profile dashboard
- Confirm the photo is taken or uploaded by the verified business owner
- Avoid heavy text or promotional overlays, Google deprioritizes these
- Keep the rest of your gallery aligned with the same brand impression
Mobile vs. Desktop Cropping
While Google preserves 16:9, the exact crop varies slightly across surfaces. Mobile sometimes shows a slightly wider crop, and the bottom 5–10% may be obscured by overlay UI on mobile devices. Keep all critical content in the center 80% of the frame for safe display everywhere.
File Format & Quality Specifications
- File format: JPG (recommended for photos), PNG (only for graphics with sharp edges)
- Max file size: 5 MB
- Recommended file size: 200–500 KB for fast mobile loading
- Min file size: 10 KB
- Min resolution: 480 × 270 px (don't go this low, quality suffers)
- Color mode: sRGB
- Animated GIF: Not supported
Photo Quality & Local SEO Impact
Cover photo quality directly affects how often Google features your business in the local pack and Maps results. Specifically:
- Original, high-resolution on-site photos rank higher than stock or graphic designs
- Photos uploaded by the verified business owner outweigh user-submitted photos
- Photos with EXIF metadata (camera type, GPS) signal authenticity
- Recent photos signal an active, well-maintained business
- Photos that match common search queries for your category (e.g. "coffee shop", "dentist office") surface more often
Tips for a Strong GBP Cover Photo
- Export at exactly 1080 × 608 px (16:9) in JPG at 80–90% quality
- Use a real on-site photo, storefront, team, hero product or service
- Keep faces, logos, and key text in the center 80% of the frame
- Avoid heavy text overlays, Google deprioritizes graphic-heavy covers
- Update seasonally so the cover stays fresh and signals an active business
- Geo-tag the photo at the time of capture for stronger location authenticity
- Need exact 16:9 cropping? Use our Facebook cover sizing tools, same ratio works on GBP.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Google Business Profile cover photo size?
The Google Business Profile cover photo size is 1080 × 608 pixels at a 16:9 aspect ratio. This is the recommended upload size, Google may display the cover at smaller sizes depending on device, but uploading at this exact ratio prevents cropping.
How is the cover photo different from posts and other photos?
The cover photo is the wide hero image at the top of your Knowledge Panel, Google's most prominent placement for your business. Posts are recent updates that appear below it, and your logo / profile photo are smaller square brand assets. Each has a different size and purpose.
How do I get my cover photo to actually show as the cover?
Google does not always honor your selected cover photo, its algorithm picks the most relevant photo for the search query. To improve odds: upload a high-quality 1080 × 608 photo, mark it as the cover in your dashboard, confirm it represents the business well, and post it from the verified business owner account.
Why does my GBP cover photo look stretched on mobile?
On mobile, Google crops the cover to a slightly different aspect ratio (~16:9 but slightly wider). If your cover has key content near the edges, it may get clipped. Keep faces, logos, and important text in the center 80% of the frame.
What is the maximum file size for a GBP cover photo?
Google accepts cover photos up to 5 MB. For best results, target 200–500 KB by exporting JPG at 80% quality. Smaller files load faster on mobile, which slightly improves how Google ranks your local listing.
Can I use a logo or text-heavy graphic as my cover photo?
You can, but Google strongly prefers real photos over graphic designs for cover photos. Logo-only or heavy-text covers get suppressed by the algorithm and may not be selected for display. Use a real photo of your storefront, team, or product, with optional subtle text overlay.
Does Google rotate cover photos automatically?
Yes. Even with a cover selected, Google may temporarily display a different photo from your gallery if its algorithm determines it better matches the search query. To stabilize your cover: keep the gallery focused on photos that all reinforce the same brand impression.
What happens if I don't set a cover photo?
Google picks one automatically, typically your most recent or highest-quality photo. The auto-selected image often isn't flattering. Always upload and set a deliberate cover at 1080 × 608 to control how your business appears.