Google Business Profile Profile Photo Dimensions
The recommended Google Business Profile profile photo size is 720 × 720 pixels at a 1:1 square aspect ratio. This is the "face" of your business, the hero image that appears as the main thumbnail on Google Maps and on the Knowledge Panel.
Maximum upload size is 1080 × 1080 px. Google serves the higher-resolution version on retina and high-density displays, so uploading at 1080 × 1080 keeps the photo crisp on every screen.
Profile photo vs. logo vs. cover
| Asset | Size | Best Content |
|---|---|---|
| Logo | 720 × 720 (1:1) | Brand mark, transparent PNG |
| Profile photo | 720 × 720 (1:1) | Storefront, team, hero product (JPG) |
| Cover photo | 1080 × 608 (16:9) | Wide hero, on-site photography |
All three exist as separate slots in your Google Business Profile dashboard. Google uses each in different placements, duplicate uploads waste real estate.
Where the Profile Photo Appears
| Placement | Display Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Google Maps result card | ~80 × 80 px | Most visible, drives Maps taps |
| Knowledge Panel (mobile) | Variable | Sometimes the lead image, sometimes a thumbnail |
| Local pack thumbnail | ~80 × 80 px | 3-pack results in search |
| Photos tab (full view) | 720 × 720 px | When users browse all photos |
What to Use as the Profile Photo
The profile photo is the single most important image for driving taps from local search results. Treat it as your storefront window, it's often the first impression:
- Retail / restaurants: exterior storefront with signage clearly visible
- Professional services: clean office interior or polished team headshot
- Service area businesses: a vehicle with branding, or a team-on-site photo
- Healthcare / dental: welcoming reception area or warm team photo
- Hospitality: signature room, lobby, or scenic exterior shot
What to avoid
- Stock photos, Google detects and deprioritizes them
- Heavy graphic / promotional overlays, looks like an ad, performs worse
- Logo-only images, that's the logo slot's job
- Group photos with too many faces, at 80 px, individual faces become unrecognizable
- Low-light or blurry photos, even at 80 px, sharp photos out-convert soft ones
- Heavily filtered / oversaturated colors, Google's algorithm prefers natural color
File Format & Quality Specifications
- File format: JPG (recommended for photos), PNG (only for logo-style graphics)
- Max file size: 5 MB
- Recommended file size: under 500 KB
- Min file size: 10 KB
- Min resolution: 250 × 250 px (avoid, quality drops)
- Max resolution: 1080 × 1080 px
- Color mode: sRGB
- EXIF data: Keep GPS / camera info, signals photo authenticity
Tips for a High-Converting Profile Photo
- Use a real on-site photo, not a logo or graphic
- Upload at 1080 × 1080 px for retina sharpness
- Test the photo at 80 × 80 px, that's what most Maps users see
- Make sure key visuals (signage, faces, products) are central and clear at small sizes
- Refresh seasonally so the photo signals an active business
- Keep EXIF GPS data intact for location authenticity
- JPG at 80–90% quality in sRGB
- Need exact 1:1 cropping? Use our Photo Resizer, square presets ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Google Business Profile profile photo size?
The Google Business Profile profile photo size is 720 × 720 pixels at a 1:1 square aspect ratio. Maximum upload is 1080 × 1080. Use a real on-site photo (storefront, team, hero product), not a logo or graphic.
What is the difference between the profile photo and the logo?
The logo is your brand identity (usually a graphic mark on transparent background, 720 × 720 PNG). The profile photo is the "face" of your business, typically a hero shot like your storefront, team, or signature product. Both are 720 × 720 squares but serve different roles in the Knowledge Panel.
What is the difference between the profile photo and the cover photo?
The profile photo is square (720 × 720, 1:1) and represents the business with a single hero image. The cover photo is wide (1080 × 608, 16:9) and serves as the banner at the top of the Knowledge Panel. Both are important, design them as complementary visuals, not duplicates.
How does Google use the profile photo?
Google features the profile photo as the main thumbnail on Google Maps result cards and as a key image on the Knowledge Panel. It also appears in some local pack results. Unlike the cover, the profile photo display is more stable, Google rarely overrides your selection.
What kind of photo works best as the GBP profile photo?
For service businesses: a clear photo of your storefront with signage visible. For restaurants: an exterior shot or signature dish. For professional services: a team headshot or office interior. Avoid stock photos, generic graphics, and logo-only images, Google deprioritizes these and they convert worse.
Why does my GBP profile photo look low quality?
Most quality issues come from uploading below 720 × 720 (Google upscales with quality loss) or using heavy JPG compression. Re-upload at 720 × 720 minimum (1080 × 1080 ideal) using JPG at 80–90% quality in sRGB color.
Can I change the GBP profile photo later?
Yes. You can replace the profile photo any time from the Google Business Profile dashboard. Changes typically appear in search within a few hours. Refreshing the photo seasonally signals an active business and can modestly improve local search ranking.
Should the profile photo include text or branding?
Subtle branding is fine (e.g. signage in a storefront photo), but avoid heavy text overlays or graphic compositions. Google's algorithm prefers natural photos and may suppress branded graphics. Save heavy branding for the logo (which is built for that purpose).