Google Business Profile Post Dimensions
The recommended Google Business Profile post image size is 1200 × 900 pixels at a 4:3 horizontal aspect ratio. This is the format Google uses for post thumbnails on the Knowledge Panel, uploading at this exact ratio means no cropping when your post appears in local search results.
Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) posts appear directly in local search results and on Google Maps for users searching for your business. Photo quality and ratio match are part of how Google decides which posts surface most prominently.
Post types and image use
| Post Type | Image Required | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| Update | Strongly recommended | 7 days, then archived |
| Offer | Required | Custom date range |
| Event | Strongly recommended | Until event end date |
Mobile Display Crop
Even though you upload at 4:3, the post carousel on mobile search results crops to roughly 16:9 for the preview. Tap-through shows the full 4:3 image. Plan visuals so the most important content sits in the center 16:9 band, anything in the top or bottom 12% may be hidden in the preview.
File Format & Size Limits
- File format: JPG (recommended for photos), PNG (for graphics with sharp edges or text)
- Max file size: 5 MB per image
- Min file size: 10 KB (anything smaller is rejected as a possible icon / placeholder)
- Min resolution: 720 × 540 px
- Color mode: sRGB
- Animated GIFs: Not supported, use a still frame
What Google Rejects or Flags
Google moderates GBP photos automatically and via human review. Common rejection reasons:
- Screenshots, Google detects pixel patterns and often rejects them
- Stock photos, generic stock imagery is flagged as not authentic
- Heavy promotional overlays, text covering >25% of the image
- Low resolution, anything below 720 × 540 px
- Reused images across multiple unrelated businesses (treated as spam)
- QR codes covering the full image, flagged as not relevant
Image Quality & Local SEO
Google's local search algorithm factors in photo quality when ranking businesses in the local pack. Higher-resolution, original, in-focus photos correlate with better rankings. Specifically:
- Original photos taken on-site outperform stock or reused images
- Multiple recent post photos signal an active business
- Photos with descriptive filenames (e.g.
downtown-coffee-latte.jpg) get slight ranking benefit - Geotagged photos (EXIF GPS data) help confirm location authenticity
- Photos that match common search queries (e.g. "menu", "parking", "interior") surface more often in relevant searches
Tips for High-Performance GBP Posts
- Export at exactly 1200 × 900 px (4:3) in JPG at 80–90% quality
- Center key visuals in the 16:9 mobile preview band, top and bottom 12% may be hidden
- Use original photos taken on-site, not stock
- Keep text overlay under 25% of the image to avoid rejection
- Post weekly so recent content stays visible (Update posts archive after 7 days)
- Pair with a clear, action-oriented CTA button (Order, Book, Learn More)
- Need 4:3 cropping? Use our Photo Resizer, supports any preset.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best image size for a Google Business Profile post?
The best image size for a Google Business Profile post is 1200 × 900 pixels at a 4:3 aspect ratio. This matches the 4:3 frame Google uses for post thumbnails on the Knowledge Panel and avoids cropping when your post appears in local search results.
What is the minimum image size for a GBP post?
The minimum is 720 × 540 pixels (4:3) and at least 10 KB in file size. Anything smaller fails to upload. Google rejects screenshots and stock images that don't meet quality thresholds, so always use original photos at 1200 × 900 or larger.
What is the maximum file size for a GBP post image?
Google Business Profile accepts images up to 5 MB per post. JPG at 80% quality at 1200 × 900 typically lands around 250–500 KB, well below the cap. There is no benefit to uploading larger files, Google compresses everything for the local results panel.
How is a GBP post image cropped on mobile?
On mobile search results, GBP posts crop to roughly 16:9 in the carousel preview. Tap-through shows the full 4:3 image. Keep faces, text, and key elements in the center 16:9 band so nothing important is hidden in the preview.
Can I use the same image for posts and the cover photo?
You can, but the aspect ratios differ, posts are 4:3, cover is 16:9. Reusing a 16:9 image in a post wastes vertical space (gets letterboxed). For consistency, design two crops of the same source: one 1200 × 900 (post) and one 1080 × 608 (cover).
Do GBP posts expire?
Standard "Update" posts are visible for 7 days, then move to your post archive (still accessible to anyone who clicks through, but not on the main panel). "Offer" and "Event" posts can have custom date ranges. Re-post weekly to keep your latest content visible.
Why does my GBP post image look low quality?
Google compresses post images aggressively for fast local search rendering. To minimize loss: upload at exactly 1200 × 900, use JPG at 80–90% quality in sRGB, avoid heavy text overlays (Google's compression artifacts hit text hardest), and skip uploading screenshots, Google sometimes rejects them outright.
How does Google rank GBP posts in local search?
Google uses recency, post engagement, photo quality, and post-text relevance to local search queries. Recent posts with high-quality photos that match what searchers ask about (e.g. "happy hour", "menu") show up more prominently. Posts with low-resolution or stock images get suppressed.