Pinterest is different from most social networks because the feed is built around discovery rather than a simple chronological stream.
That makes the shape of your creative especially important.
Tall Pins occupy more vertical space, fit naturally into Pinterest’s grid, and give designers room to combine imagery with useful context. Wide creative is usually less effective because it becomes visually smaller inside the feed.
For current Pinterest dimensions, formats, and downloadable templates, use the Pinterest specifications on Media Cheat Sheet.
The most important Pinterest aspect ratio
For standard Pins, 2:3 is the key ratio to know.
A common working size is 1000 × 1500 px.
This gives you a tall image without creating an excessively long Pin that becomes awkward to scan.
The ratio is more important than memorizing one exact pixel size.
Why 2:3 works so well on Pinterest
Pinterest uses a multi-column visual feed.
A vertical image naturally occupies more room inside that layout than a wide one.
That gives the Pin more visual presence, more room for text, more space for product imagery, and better mobile readability.
This does not mean every Pin should be filled with copy.
The extra space should support hierarchy, not clutter.
Pinterest square Pins
Square creative can work, especially when the original asset is already 1:1, the subject is simple, or you need cross-platform reuse.
But if Pinterest is an important channel, designing a dedicated 2:3 version is usually worth the small amount of extra work.
A square post that looked large on Instagram can feel relatively small in a Pinterest grid full of vertical Pins.
Pinterest landscape Pins
Landscape images have legitimate uses, but they generally give away feed space.
Use them when the content genuinely depends on width: panoramas, charts, wide interiors, before-and-after comparisons, or screenshots.
Do not use horizontal formatting as your default simply because the source photo came from a landscape camera frame.
Pinterest video Pins
Video can also be used on Pinterest.
For vertical video, work from a mobile-friendly canvas and keep text readable without relying on audio.
The same general social video rules apply:
- H.264 is a safe codec;
- MP4 is a practical container;
- use progressive video;
- match the frame rate to the source;
- keep critical text away from interface areas;
- use clear first frames.
If you are exporting video for several networks, see Best Video Export Settings for Social Media.
Pinterest ad sizes
Pinterest supports several advertising formats.
The most useful design principle is the same as organic Pinterest: match the creative to the placement rather than forcing a universal asset into every ad type.
For image ads, 2:3 creative is a strong Pinterest-native starting point.
For video and other ad placements, verify the current dimensions before building production templates.
Use Media Cheat Sheet as the maintained reference rather than relying on an old screenshot of specs.
How much text should a Pin contain?
Pinterest is more tolerant of designed text than platforms where the visual is expected to look like a photograph.
That makes it useful for recipes, tutorials, checklists, guides, products, travel ideas, interior inspiration, and educational content.
But text still needs to be readable.
A good Pin usually has one clear headline, a strong visual, optional short supporting text, and branding where appropriate.
Avoid turning the Pin into an entire article.
The click should lead to the detail.
Pinterest typography
Design at mobile scale.
A headline that looks comfortably sized at 100% on a desktop monitor may become tiny in the Pinterest feed.
Test the Pin at roughly the size it will appear on a phone.
Use strong contrast, simple typefaces, fewer words, clear hierarchy, and enough spacing.
Pinterest SEO and visual design
Pinterest functions partly like a visual search engine.
The Pin’s visual and metadata should communicate the same topic.
If the content is about small kitchen storage, make the kitchen visible, use a relevant headline if text is present, write a clear title and description, and link to a page about small kitchen storage.
Visual clarity and keyword relevance should reinforce each other.
Pinterest file quality
Start from the best available source.
Avoid screenshots of already-compressed images, downloaded social posts, low-resolution thumbnails, and multiple rounds of JPEG saving.
Pinterest will process uploaded media. Your goal is to give it a clean source before that processing happens.
For more on file types, see JPEG vs PNG for Social Media.
Common Pinterest mistakes
Designing everything square
Square is convenient, but 2:3 is more native to Pinterest.
Making Pins too long
Extremely tall Pins can become awkward and may not display the way you expect.
Adding too much text
More vertical space does not mean more paragraphs.
Using tiny typography
Remember the multi-column mobile feed.
Ignoring the landing page
Pinterest discovery is only useful if the click leads somewhere relevant.
Reusing an Instagram post unchanged
A dedicated Pinterest crop often takes only a few minutes and gives the creative more presence.
Final Pinterest checklist
Before publishing a Pin, ask:
- Is the aspect ratio appropriate?
- Is the headline readable at feed size?
- Is the main subject obvious?
- Is the file sharp?
- Does the visual match the destination?
- Is the CTA or promise clear?
- Is text concise?
- Is the image designed for Pinterest rather than merely recycled?
Use the Media Cheat Sheet before export to verify current Pinterest image, video, and ad specifications.